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Bill Orem
Lead Geologist
703.648.6273

Learn More about Energy Production Issues

Quick Facts

• Coal has been cited as the main anthropogenic source for potentially toxic trace elements.

• Trace elements can cause a wide range of health problems. Note: dose, speciation, and exposure pathways (ingestion, inhalation, contact with skin, etc.) are some of the critical factors that influence the toxic response.

• Compared to crustal abundances, many trace elements are concentrated in coal. Although these elements are present at part per million (ppm) levels in coal, the 1 billion tons of coal used annually in the U.S. could mobilize significant amounts of these elements.

• Volatile elements such as Hg, Cl, and F are largely released with the flue gas. However, most other elements are concentrated in the coal combustion by-products, especially the fly ash that can be captured by electrostatic precipitators or fabric filters (bag houses).
  

• Emission into the atmosphere of a significant proportion of many trace elements can be reduced by selective mining, coal cleaning, differentiation in the boiler, and by post combustion pollution control systems.

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