How does coal mining affect Appalachian environment?

Burning coal is the leading cause of smog, acid rain, and toxic air pollution. 

Coal activities are responsible for 1/3 of America's carbon dioxide emissions. Coal is a huge contributor to global warming because of this. As of 2010, no national limits existed for air pollution.

 

Coal dust gets stirred up during the mining process and released during transport of the coal. This dust often causes severe respiratory problems in people. Some of the particulates include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Sulfur dioxide contributes to the formation of small acidic particulates which can penetrate human lungs. Nitrogen Oxides are caused by ground level smog, which can burn lung tissue. The World Health Organization did a report in 2008, it found that coal particulates pollution was estimated to shorten about 1,000,000 lives annually.