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49 Chapter Five: Coal and the Environment

controversial—there have been management problems, increasing costs, and planning conflicts between project leaders and state officials.

“Dirty” Coal Coal releases many other unwanted substances when burned. The sulfur and nitrogen oxides and hydrogen chloride cause problems because they are acidic gases. As they spread into the atmosphere, they dissolve in water droplets in clouds, and then in rain

The environmental impacts of coal are not limited to North America. This photo of Shanghai, China, shows the smog problem that plagues some parts of that country. In the foreground, coal barges carry more of the resources to power plants.