Coal burning produces many pollutants.
Pollution from coal – fired power plants lead to numerous respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular effects.
The main contributor to the particulate matter is coal fly ash, and minor are sulphate and nitrate Coal fly ash is the incombustible materials that is 20% of the collected coal – ash.
Fly ash can travel up to 40 – 50 km in the down wind direction.
A study conducted in USA found that the underground dumped ash (produced by coal – fired power plants) has contaminated ground water.
Pollution from coal – fired power plants comes from the emission of gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides into the atmosphere.
Many of the heavy metals released in the burning of coal are environmentally and biologically toxic elements, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic, as well as radio isotopes.
Britain has built 30 gas fired power plants to replace coal powered plants.
"A 500 MW coal power plant produces 170 pounds of mercury per year Particulate matter emitted from coal plant has grave effects on public health A ton of fly ash can spread over up to 150,000 sq.
People who have seen the effects of Norochcolai power plant will not allow a power plant to be established in their areas.