Thread: Coal mining

How does coal mining affect the air quality of the surrounding area?

Originally Posted by wojang

How does coal mining affect the air quality of the surrounding area?

Mining itself, not much. Mining machinery has long been electrically powered so coal mines don't have those belching smokestacks they had in the 19th century.

But areas near coal mines (and I live in one such area) can have a tradition of using coal in the household, for heating and sometimes even cooking. That produces a lot of pollution from inefficient old stoves. Most buildings older than, say, 15 years around here are blackened with soot.

Coal mining releases methane into the atmosphere. Often vent holes are drilled down to the levels to vent gases to avoid explosion risk in the mine. Methane is light and odorless so probably doesn't remain in the vicintiy for too long, but it is a potent greenhouse gas.