Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Adverse Effects of Burning Fuels
- Steps to Reduce Harmful Effects of Fuels
- Summary
- Did You Know?
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we learnt about Fuels. In this segment, we will learn about the effects of burning fuels.
What are the adverse effects of burning fuels?
Burning of fuels like coal, petroleum, and diesel releases certain compounds. Let us look at these compounds and the impact they have on us and the environment.
Compounds released on complete combustion of fuels
Oxides like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide
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- Being corrosive in nature, these compounds spoil the surfaces of many articles.
- They are suffocating in nature and can cause serious issues of the respiratory system.
- When they combine with the water vapour present in the atmosphere, they come down on the earth in the form of acid rain, which is not only harmful to the precious monuments that man has built, but also for the living organisms.
Carbon dioxide
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- It is a greenhouse gas and its increase results in global warming.
Compounds released due to incomplete combustion of fuels
Carbon monoxide
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- Its toxic nature causes severe problems like carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Its molecules can affect the human heart and the central nervous system adversely.
Unburnt particles
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- They get mixed with the air and easily enter the respiratory system, leading to respiratory disorders like asthma.
How to reduce the harmful effects of fuels?
