[Solved] Consider the following statements: 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, and mercury. 2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment. 3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Q99. Consider the following statements:

1. Coal ash contains arsenic, and mercury.

2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment.

3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

· Coal ash is the waste that is left after coal is combusted (burned).

· It includes fly ash (fine powdery particles that are carried up the smoke stack and captured by pollution control devices) as well as coarser materials that fall to the bottom of the furnace.

· Coal itself isn’t a particularly toxic material.

· But after it’s burned, what remains in the ash includes lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and selenium, all in levels that may threaten human health.

· Thermal power plants produce large amounts of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide—the pollutants that cause acid rain—when they burn fossil fuels, especially coal, to produce energy.

· India’s domestic coal reserves have a high ash content—up to 40 to 45 percent.