tailieunhanh - Energy & Air Pollution

Other considerations have also narrowed the scope of the report. The investigated sites making up the Blacksmith Institute’s database are located only in countries where political and logistical considerations allow for routine and safe access for investigators. The discussion of impacted geographic regions in the report is by no means complete and only represents the current sites investigated by Blacksmith Institute. Financial limitations constrain our ability to investigate sites in all countries as well; so the countries that are chosen are considered to be representative of similar low to middle-income countries. In addition, the current lack of reliable human-based studies. | Energy Air Pollution Introduction Fossil Fuels Oil Gas Fossil Fuels Coal Nuclear Energy Alternative Energy Resources Air Pollution Summary At the heart of modern society lies an economy driven by energy use. Unfortunately the same energy that brings us comfort convenience and prosperity also brings us pollution impoverishment and global warming. Our challenge is to maximize the benefits gained from energy consumption while minimizing the costs incurred. Douglas Foy A fuming smokestack is the perfect symbol of our national dilemma. On the one hand it means the jobs and products we need. On the other it means pollution. American Gas Association ad 1991 Introduction Fossil fuels oil gas coal makeup most of the energy consumed in the . Energy use increases with increasing population land area and industrial activity and energy use per capita is greatest in large sparsely populated states. Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources with limited life span and their combustion contributes to global warming. Alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power are renewable and hold the promise of a sustainable energy future. . Energy Use Current . energy use is weighted heavily toward fossil fuels oil natural gas and coal that account for approximately 90 of all energy used in the nation Fig. 1 . Environmental concerns over air pollution and the potential for global warming may encourage wider access to alternative energy sources such as nuclear power and wind or solar energy. Nuclear power accounts for about a fifth of . electricity generation but only 5 of total energy consumption. Alternative energy sources hydroelectric wind solar geothermal generate 5 of . energy production but may expand that share in the decades ahead. Energy use within the . varies with population size and character of energy demand Fig. 2 . States with large populations large land area greater distances to travel and Figure 1. . energy consumption per energy type 1949 to .