Fossil Fuel and the

Environment
Health and Wellness 101
Professor Lauren Saks

Theadora Thomas
November 15, 2014

Introduction
For many years we have used fossil fuel to heat our homes,
have light and gas for our cars, airplanes and other necessities
that we have been accustomed to on a daily basis. But
because of this as a nation we are in jeopardy of running out
of fossil to continue with the way we currently live. With our
dumping of garbage, our environment is can no longer hold us
over. This has also cause global warming/climate changes
because of this we have encountered many climate disasters
all over the world. We have more earth quakes, flooding,
Tsunami, sink holes etc. Some countries are already
experiences a lack of crops growing. We have heard over the
past few years President Obama talk about climate change
and ways for us to save our environment. Time is running out
if we dont take notice and do something about saving our
planet, we wont have one.

 Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have

been important sources of energy. In the latter half of the 19th
century, the U. S. and other nations relied on coal (fossil fuel) to
provide the energy for industrialization. Coal remained a major
fuel source of many years. In 2000, fossil fuels accounted for
almost 90 percent of the worlds energy production. Because of
this the U.S. and other countries have renewed interest in
developing fossil fuels which contain only carbon and hydrogen),
and upon complete combustion yield carbon dioxide, a major
greenhouse gas. (encyclopedia.com/topic/Fossil_fuels.aspx).
Fossil fuel is important to our use and although it helps us it also
harms us and the environment.

How Fossil Fuel helps us

Their are three sources of energy (coal, oil and natural gas) that makes up
fossil fuels. We cannot manage without fossil fuel. These fuels are burned to
generate electricity for rooms and also run electric machines. Oils are used as
fuel for airplanes, cars and trucks and to make plastic. We burn natural gas at
home for heating and cooking. (Environmental and Energy Study Institute).
Until 150 years ago, we used very little fossil fuel; we burned wood for heat
and travel on horseback or walked. We then began to burn more coal when
steamed engines were invented. The first oil was drilled in 1859, and
gasoline driven cars were invented. Because fossil fuels were formed over
millions of years ago, when the remains of plants and animals became
trapped between layers of rock, these remains slowly turned into coal, oil and
natural gas. (Royston, Angela, pg. 4 (2008).

 In 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, natural gas was the
worlds number-three source of primary energy (behind petroleum and
coal) in terms of British Thermal Units (BTU) produced. Gases Fuel
(2014). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p.
Fossil fuels provide a tremendous amount of energy. In fact, most of the
energy modern people use comes from burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel.
(2014), pg. 1.
Fossil fuel will eventually run out, however, burning of fossil fuels is
causing a bigger problem its causing the Earths surface to become
warmer which entail is causing global warming. This high in the
atmosphere, cause carbon dioxide to trap heat from the Sun in much the
same way glass traps heat in a greenhouse, although this greenhouse effect
keeps the Earth at temperatures we are used to, this burning of fossil fuel
produces more

carbon dioxide that is harmful to our air. As we have

become aware in the past few years global warming is
already causing disaster around the world, because its
producing climate change. For example dry places such as
Australia, are becoming much drier. These places may get
so dry that they wont be able to produce any crops as time
goes on. Another problem with burning of fossil fuel is that
it releases harmful emissions that cause asthma and other
health problems. The pollution also leads to acid rain and
snow.

 Scientist have estimated that we will use

up our reserve of fossil fuel in
approximately 70 years. Many scientist
as well as citizens are concerned that all
this carbon dioxide from burning of fossil
fuel can cause unnaturally high
temperatures and as a result, can cause
major effects on weather that may be
devastating to the environment and all
the people on Earth.

 The good news is that scientist is already looking into

alternative new ways of generating electricity without
burning fossil fuel such as: solar power stations and wind
turbines. Wind turbine is the spinning motion of turbines
which will generate electricity. The other alternative
thats being examined is green energy. This energy is
renewable; it will constantly being replace and wont run
out. These consist of wind; water and sunlight are green
energy source. We need to take action, but first we need
to understand our energy alternative. The wind, water
and sunlight (which are solar energy) are now looking
more and more like the best energy choice to preserve our
planet. (Alternative Energy, pgs. 9-11).

Wind Turbine Energy

Solar panel Energy

References
Book:
Royston, Angela. Energy of the future (Eco-Action). Chicago:
Heinemann Library, 2008, and
http;//home.clara.net/darvill/altenerg/fossil.htm

Rau, Dana Meachen, (1971) Alternative Energy: Beyond Fossil Fuel

Sohn, Mary L. (2004) Chemistry: Foundations and Applications, from
http:www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Fossil_fuels.aspx

Fossil fuel, (2014). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p. 1.
Gases, Fuel. (2014). Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 1p.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (n.d), (
http://www.eesi.org/topics/fossil-fuels/description .