So what occurs when we overuse fossil fuels? For a minute, completely disregard the studies that say we're reaching the peak of productivity and the inevitable decline of available energy and concentrate on the specific effects which have been studied for the past forty years.
The generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts. Many of the nitrogen oxides are colorless and odorless. However, one common pollutant, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) along with particles in the air can often be seen as a reddish-brown layer over many urban areas.
Nitrogen oxides form when fossil fuel is burned at high temperatures, as in a combustion process. The primary sources of NOx are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels.
Nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lungs and lower resistance to respiratory infections such as influenza. The effects of short-term exposure are still unclear, but continued or frequent exposure to concentrations higher than those normally found in the ambient air may cause increased incidence of acute respiratory disease in children.
Nitrogen oxides are an important precursor to both ozone and acidic precipitation (acid rain) and can affect both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Belongs to the family of sulfur oxide gases. These gases dissolve easily in water. Sulfur is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal, and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron. SOx gases are formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is burned, and when gasoline is extracted from oil, or metals is extracted from ore. SO2 dissolves in water vapor to form acid, and interacts with other gases and particles in the air to form sulfates and other products that can be harmful to people and their environment.
Over 65% of SO2 released to the air, or more than 13 million tons per year, comes from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal.
The major health concerns associated with exposure to high concentrations of SO2 include effects on breathing, respiratory illness, alterations in the lungs' defenses, and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease. Major sub-groups of the population that are most sensitive to SO2 include asthmatics and individuals with cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease, as well as children and the elderly.
Together, SO2 and NOx are the major precursors to acidic deposition (acid rain), which is associated with the acidification of lakes and streams, accelerated corrosion of buildings and monuments, and reduced visibility.
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as a result of fossil fuel combustion, forest clearing, biomass burning, and non-energy production processes such as cement production. Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have been increasing at a rate of about 0.5% per year and are now about 30% above pre-industrial levels. Increases in carbon dioxide concentrations contribute to global warming, which is predicted to raise average temperatures, alter precipitation patterns, and raise sea levels.
These changes may negatively impact quality of life, including increases in infectious diseases, respiratory illness, and weather-related deaths, and decreases in crop yields, water quality, and regional forest health and productivity.