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 above given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Coal ash, a catchall term for several kinds of waste left over at power plants that burn coal, typically contains a number of substances harmful to human health—arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury among them.

Statement 2 is correct

• Burning coal releases various pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to acid rain, smog, and respiratory problems

Statement 3 is correct

• Ash content of coal produced in the country is generally 25 to 45 %, whereas the average ash content of imported coal varies from 10 to 20 %.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy