Chapter 7 - Environmental and Health Impacts of Coal Fires

Abstract

Uncontrolled fires in underground coal mines and coal waste piles present a range of environmental and human-health hazards. In consuming large quantities of a valuable energy resource, these fires destroy the local ecosystem, pollute air and water, emit large volumes of greenhouse and toxic gases, and put at risk the health of coal miners and people living in nearby communities. On a global scale, large volumes of greenhouse and toxic gases released from burning coal beds and waste piles may contribute to climate change, alter ecosystems, and affect patterns of disease occurrence. On regional and local scales, the emissions from burning coal beds and waste piles of acidic gases, particulates, organic compounds, and trace elements may contribute to environmental degradation and a range of respiratory and other human-health problems. Coal fires also cause forest and range fires that may promote additional coal fires. These fires also destroy homes and other buildings, render ranch land useless, and may consume mining equipment. The combustion process mobilizes many elements that are concentrated in the coal. These elements commonly nucleate as compounds at the surface on rock and soil, dead vegetation, and on all sorts of refuse. The only solution to this cycle of environmental devastation and threat to human safety and health is vigorous efforts to extinguish existing fires and concerted efforts to prevent the inevitable coal fires from getting out of hand.