Consider the following statements:Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury.Coal-fired power plant

Question

Consider the following statements:Coal ash contains arsenic, lead and mercury.Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment.High ash content is observed in Indian coal.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: Coal itself isn't a particularly toxic material. But after it's burned, what remains in the ash includes lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and selenium, all in levels that may threaten human health.Statement 2 is correct: Thermal power plants produce large amounts of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide—the pollutants that cause acid rain—when they burn fossil fuels, especially coal, to produce energy.Statement 3 is correct: India's domestic coal reserves have a high ash content—up to 40 to 45 percent.