Fossil Fuel Devastations
Every day, we spend money on fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas. Whether it be a utility bill or gas for your car, these represent the direct costs of fossil fuels. They are simplified to a single dollar but don't include the hidden impacts of these fuels - forces affecting us at the individual level and societal level. Known as externalities, the invisible costs of fossil fuels aren't represented in the amount we pay, despite fossil fuels' overwhelming impacts on land, air, and health. Unfortunately, nothing is as simple as a dollar, and nothing is free.
Let's start at the beginning, where humankind mines fossil fuels from our lands. Fossil fuels are hidden deep underground, beneath layers of rocks and soil, or underwater reserves. Massive infrastructure is required, from wells, access roads, processing facilities, and pipelines associated with oil and gas drilling operations. The Journal SCIENCE estimates that 3 million hectares of land (that's 11,583 square miles or 30,000 square kilometers) have been lost due to oil and gas well pads, storage tanks, and associated roads, in North America alone since the year 2000. This is equivalent to lost cropland that can produce e 120.2 million bushels of wheat. This area is not only being exploited through fossil fuel extraction but destroyed, along with ecosystems. Yearly oil spills have harmed or killed approximately 82,000 birds of 102 species, nearly 6,165 sea turtles, and up to 25,900 marine mammals. This figure does include other harmful impacts such as loss of biodiversity or air pollution produced by the combustion of fossil fuels.
Next, let's take a look at the most apparent impact of fossil fuels, air quality. Everywhere you go, pollution from fossil fuels is present, yet not always visible. Have you ever wondered what happens to the plums of black clouds emitted from factories, at a seemingly continuous rate? Well, they don't just disappear, contrary to what some people think. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels cost $2.9 trillion in 2018, calculated in the form of work absences, years of life lost, and premature deaths. This cost represents 3.3 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) or approximately$8 billion per day. When we burn fossil fuels, noxious gases are released, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. The gases emitted from fossil fuels are reflective gas, meaning that it can trap infrared radiation produced by the sun within the atmosphere. This "blanket" traps heat and makes the Earth warmer. Air pollution is not just warming our planet but is also harmful to our health, as described below.
Gasses By Impact:
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide is the main product of the combustion of fossil fuels, accounting for 60–90 percent of the pollution elements. Effects of CO2 on us include headaches, dizziness, restlessness, a tingling or pins or needles feeling, difficulty breathing, sweating, tiredness, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, coma, asphyxia, convulsions, and more. We have a whole article on CO2.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
The sister of CO2, CO, is so dangerous that we install sensors in our homes to detect it. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Too much exposure can even kill you, according to the CDC.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Primarily emitted from coal. SO2 emissions can exacerbate respiratory ailments, including asthma, nasal congestion, and pulmonary inflammation.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx):
Emitted from all fossil fuel combustion. This pollution is responsible for smog, with the health impacts of asthma, bronchitis, and more chronic respiratory diseases.
Airborne Mercury (Hg)
Often, mercury is emitted into the air through coal-fired power plants. This shiny, silvery, liquid metal makes its way into bodies of water where fish digest it. Seemingly harmless, it is passed down in the food chain to many other animals, and humans with neurological and neurobehavioral effects.
Soot (VOCs)
Volatile Organic Compounds (Soot) are emitted in fossil fuels and commercial products like cigars. Particulate matter emissions produce haze and can cause chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, and high occurrence of premature death. And too much can contribute to acid rain.
As you can see, fossil fuels affect our planet and our health. Our warmer atmosphere and the air we breathe that contain pollutants have immense impacts on our lives. An estimated 9 out of 10 people worldwide are exposed to air pollutants that exceed the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. These guidelines state that "Air pollution is the largest single environmental health risk, estimated to kill 1 in 8 people globally, due to heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, and cancer." That's more than all deaths from coronavirus, influenza, and even smoking combined. Fossil fuels are responsible for over 70% of global air pollution, with the remaining attributed to our agricultural industries. Air quality affecting our health is continuing to plummet, despite these eye-opening statistics.
The Impacts Of Fossil Fuels
Asthma (hospital admissions): 3,020
Pneumonia (hospital admissions): 4,040
Asthma (emergency room visits): 7,160
Cardiovascular ills (hospital admissions): 9,720
Chronic bronchitis: 18,600
Premature deaths: 30,100
Acute bronchitis: 59,000
Asthma attacks: 603,000
Lower respiratory ills: 630,000
Upper respiratory ills: 679,000
Lost workdays: 5.13 million
Minor restricted-activity days: 26.3 million
Overall, fossil fuels are changing our climate, land, and even health. Despite numerous scientific research papers and studies, we continue to extract dangerous fossil fuels from the ground, resulting in global warming and air pollution. Unfortunately, America rose in an era of fossil fuels with significant wealth generated. In an age where we are now able to quantify the impacts of fossil fuels, we need to become more aware of how our choices affect our world - even those as small as a utility bill. While fossil fuels may have brought our country to its power, they are bringing impacts that will change the world forever. Often, we forget these externalities, and instead, simplify it to a dollar. Nothing is ever as simple as a dollar, but a dollar can have an enormous impact.
