Consider the following statements:
- 1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead 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 is/are correct?
1 only
2 and 3 only
3 only
1, 2 and 3
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2020
Statement 2 is correct: Coal-fired power plants are major sources of air pollution. The combustion process releases sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) into the atmosphere, which are precursors to acid rain and contribute to respiratory problems.
Statement 3 is correct: Indian coal is known for having a relatively high ash content compared to coal found in many other parts of the world. This high ash content poses challenges for power plants in terms of handling and disposal of large volumes of ash and also affects the efficiency of combustion.