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Test: 4th Grade Science
| 1. | Coal Power The typical coal plant in the United States creates more than 125,000 tons of ash and 193,000 tons of sludge each year. On average, 42% of coal combustion waste ponds and landfills are unlined. This means that the substances in the waste can seep into the ground and nearby lakes. Some of the substances include arsenic, mercury, chromium, and cadmium. These can contaminate drinking water supplies and come in direct contact with the consumers who drink water from these areas. The disposal of coal plant waste has damaged many ecosystems. Once the coal plants have cycled through billions of gallons of water to cool the system, it is dumped back into the river, ocean, or lake it is pulling water from. When this hot water is released back into the body of water, it creates “thermal pollution,” and this can cause harm to the plants and animals living in this area. Many plants add chemicals to their cooling water, so this is released back into the lake, ocean, or river with the hot water. This article focuses on the various impacts that producing power with coal can have on the environment. Which answer choice(s) list a NEGATIVE example of how coal affects the environment? |
None of the answer choices are correct.
Waste substances can seep into the ground and drinking water contaminating it for those who consume it.
The water released from the power plants is much warmer than the body of water it flows into, so it creates thermal pollution.
Chemicals added to the cooling water are released back into rivers, ocean, or lakes.
All of the answer choices are correct.
