5.1.3 POLLUTION FROM
FOSSIL FUELS
The Era of Fossil Fuels
• Fossil fuels: petroleum, natural gas and coal (organic)
• Currently 90% of current US energy from from fossil
fuels
• Expected oil production peak: 2020-2030
• Consumption currently increasing
• Projected world oil production will be exhausted by
2100
• Produces significant and diverse pollution problems
o Greenhouse gasses
o Gaseous Sulfur and nitrogen oxides
o Land-based disturbances
What Is Crude Oil?


Crude Oil is a liquid mixture of thousands of
organic chemicals found underground. It is the
result of organic matter decaying over thousands of
years; hence the name fossil fuel
Crude oil is found all over the world and varies
tremendously in its density, sulfur, and metals
content
Very Simplified
Petroleum and
Petrochemical
Flowchart
THE REFINERY
Natural
Gas
RX
Propane &
Butane RX
Naphtha
(C5 - C10)
Ethylene
RX
Gas Stove
Polyethylene (Glad Bags)
Polymers (7 UP Bottles)
RX
RX
Gasoline
Organic Chemicals (Aspirin, Hair Spray)
More Polymers (Football Helmet, Astro
Turf, Nylon)
Jet Fuel
Gas Oils (C10+)
Separations
and
Purifications
Crude Separations
Oil
Conversions
Kerosene &
Oil
Well
Diesel Fuels
Home Heating
Oil, Lubricating
Oil, Wax
Coke
(Carbon Material Similar to Coal)
Asphalt
Purifications remove sulfur and heavy metals
RX = Chemical Reactions
Fuel
(Barbeque Grills)
Roads
Fuel
Steel Making
Graphite Fibers
(Tennis Racquets)
Pot Holes
Proven world oil reserves in 1998.
© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers
Coal




World’s most abundant fossil fuel, but dirtiest!
Coal provides 25% of world’s commercial energy;
22% of US energy
Dangerous to mine, harms land, water and air –
causes smog, acid rain and global warming.
Burning coal releases thousands of time more
radioactive particles per unit of energy than a
nuclear power plant!
Fig 17.9 World coal
reserves in 1999.
© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers
Pollution

Health Impacts

More than 131 million Americans live in areas where
smog pollution makes their air unsafe to breathe, and
every year over 45,000 lives are cut short by air
pollution.

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that
every year 60,000 children may be born at a
significantly increased risk of neurological defects
primarily due to mothers eating mercury-contaminated
fish.
Pollution

Oil Spills

31,000 galloons of spilled into
waterways every day

Between 1973 and 1993
there were 200,000 oil spills
in U.S. waters, spilling more
than 230 million gallons of oil.
Pollution

Land Destruction

Mountaintop removal in West
Virginia

Tens of thousands of coalbed
methane wells in the Powder
River Basin in Wyoming
Pollution
Global Warming
With only 4 percent of the world's population, we produce
25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution
 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that
the Earth's average surface temperature will increase
between 2.5 and 10.4°F (1.4 to 5.8°C) between 1990 and
2100 if no major efforts are undertaken to reduce the
emissions of greenhouse gases (the "business-as-usual"
scenario).

Total energy consumption for the United States, 19501999.
© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers
“This [U.S. oil] is an industry that probably has larger
tax incentives relative to its size than any other
industry in the country.”
Statement of Hon. Donald C. Lubick, former Assistant Secretary for Tax
Policy, U.S. Department of Treasury
Taxes for 1 gal of
gasoline in U.S.
dollars equivalent for
selected countries,
1995.
© 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers
Current Energy Tax Breaks
Fiscal Years 2003-2007
1%
1%
2%
2%
12%
6%
76%
Nuclear
Tax Exempt Energy Bonds
Oil and Gas
Coal
Energy Conservation
Geothermal and Solar
Wind and Biomass
Historical Research and
Development Dollars
Department of Energy Research and Development
(Fiscal Year 1948-1998)
Energy Efficiency Renewables
7%
11%
$12 Billion
$8 Billion
$66 Billion
$26 Billion
Nuclear Energy
59%
Fossil Fuel
23%
Nuclear Energy
Fossil Fuel
Energy Efficiency
Renewables