Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal

The report argues that coal is the 'dirtiest of all fuels' and that its entire lifecycle—mining, preparation, transport, combustion, and waste disposal—causes extensive damage to human health and ecosystems. It highlights the failure of regulatory enforcement and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.

• Coal mining causes severe land degradation and water pollution. Surface mining removes land from normal use and often leaves hundreds of thousands of acres unreclaimed, particularly in steep terrains like Appalachia. Acid mine drainage, caused by the exposure of pyrite to water and air, creates toxic runoff containing sulfuric acid and metals such as manganese, zinc, and nickel, which are lethal to aquatic life.
• Coal-fired power plants are major sources of air pollution and greenhouse gases. They account for two-thirds of U.S. sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, one-third of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and one-third of mercury emissions. These plants are also responsible for approximately 37 percent of CO2 released from fossil fuel combustion in 1998, contributing to global climate change.
• Air emissions from coal plants have severe public health consequences. Fine particle pollution from U.S. power plants is estimated to cause over 603,000 asthma attacks annually and result in more than 30,000 premature deaths each year. Additionally, mercury contamination in fish has led to consumption advisories in 40 states for inland waters.
• The disposal of coal combustion waste (CCW) is poorly regulated and poses high risks to groundwater and human health. An industry survey found that 80 percent of surface impoundments and 40 percent of landfills lack liners. EPA assessments indicate that health risks from metals in these waste units can be up to 10,000 times higher than allowable risk levels for cancer and other illnesses.
• Environmental and health burdens from coal facilities disproportionately affect marginalized communities. People living within one mile of power plant waste facilities have a poverty rate twice the national average, and the non-white population is 30 percent higher than the national average.

APA

Keating, M., Baum, E., & Hennen, A. (2001). Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093511/Cradle_to_Grave-300.pdf

Chicago

Keating, Martha, Ellen Baum, and Amy Hennen. Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal. Clean Air Task Force, 2001. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093511/Cradle_to_Grave-300.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Keating |first1=Martha |last2=Baum |first2=Ellen |last3=Hennen |first3=Amy |title=Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=June 2001 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093511/Cradle_to_Grave-300.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{keating2001cradle, author = {Keating, Martha and Baum, Ellen and Hennen, Amy}, title = {{Cradle to Grave: The Environmental Impacts from Coal}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2001}, month = jun, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/21093511/Cradle_to_Grave-300.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }