Coal Plants and Mercury: Keeping Our Air Clean!
Hey there! Have you ever wondered how electricity gets to your home to power your video games and lights? A lot of it comes from power plants that burn coal. While coal helps create electricity, burning it can also release some not-so-great stuff into the air. One of these is mercury! 😮
What is Mercury?
Mercury is a shiny, silvery metal. It can be pretty cool in science class, but when it’s released into the environment, it can be harmful to animals and people. Mercury can travel through the air and end up in rivers and oceans, where it can affect fish and the animals (and humans!) who eat them.
Why is Mercury a Problem?
Mercury is toxic, which means it can make living things sick. For humans, too much mercury can affect our brains and nervous systems. This is especially dangerous for babies and young kids whose bodies are still growing.
How Do Coal Plants Fit In?
Coal-fired power plants are one of the biggest sources of mercury emissions. When coal is burned, mercury goes up the smokestack and into the air. But here’s the good news: there are ways to capture mercury before it gets released!
Cleaning Up the Air
Many countries have rules that require power plants to use special technologies to reduce mercury emissions. This helps keep the air cleaner and the environment safer. It’s like giving the planet a helping hand! 🌍🤝
What Can We Do?
You might be thinking, “I’m just a kid, what can I do?” Well, you can learn more about how energy is made and talk to your family and friends about using electricity wisely. Turning off lights when you leave a room and unplugging devices when they’re not in use can make a big difference!
Looking to the Future
There are also cleaner energy sources, like wind and solar power, that don’t pollute the air. As technology improves, we can use more of these renewable energy sources to power our world.
Together, we can help keep our air clean and our planet healthy! 🌟
Reference(s):
Trump exempts 70 coal plants from federal mercury pollution rule
cgtn.com
