Sociology

The notion of stored energy use forms the basis of Industrial Age. Industrial revolution of 18th century witnessed drastic changes in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and transport, all of which were facilitated by energy resources. The revolution gave birth to modern technologies, from Jacquard loom to steam engine and textile mills, all empowered by stored energy. Technology denotes artifacts created by mankind and the methods used to create them. Energy is the force that makes technology feasible and worthwhile. Without energy, construction and use of modern technologies would be near impossible and the idea of technology, as we know it, may cease to exist in totality.
   
Coal and oil were the main energy sources of industrial revolution and they still constitute two of the most widely used energy sources in todays world. A number of characteristics make their use desirable and beneficial for industry but the same also pose certain dangers to people and environment. Let us first look at the industrial areas where coal and oil are commonly used.

Coal and Oil Uses in the 20th Century
For several centuries, coal was burnt in stoves for keeping houses and factories warm. However, the most crucial use of coal since 1940s has been as a fuel for generation of electricity. In US, over half the electricity generated comes from coal. Coal also serves a number of industrial and retail purposes. It is used in the manufacture of chemical elements, in stone, clay, and glass industries, in paper mills, for cement and ceramic manufacture, and in food, pharmaceutical, iron and steel and primary metal industries. Further, coal is extensively used in coke production, a prerequisite for steel making and other chemical processes. Coal is used to make dyes, insecticides, fertilizers, food preservatives, ammonia, synthetic rubber, medicines, explosives and nail polish. Coal is an essential raw material for making specialized products such as carbon fiber, activated carbon and silicon metal which, in turn, have various industrial uses. Lastly, for countries, such as US coal is a major export item and generator of revenue.
   
Oil constitutes another energy source and is used as a fuel in the form of gasoline, heating oil and jet fuel. It is also used for electricity generation. It is used for making plastics, which, in turn, are used for manufacturing cars, houses, computers, and clothing. Oil is also used for producing a host of things like paraffin wax, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, paints, furniture, packaging materials, photographic film, cosmetics, detergents and artificial fibers used in textile and clothing industries. Helium and sulphur, two valuable industry raw materials, are extracted from oil wells. From the food we eat and clothes we wear to electrical appliances that make our household and work responsibilities easier, to medicines, transport, cosmetics, plastics, furniture, and preservatives, coal, oil and oil byproducts have impacted  every aspect of modern age living. Throughout the 20th century, the two energy sources made life simpler, easier and faster.

Limitations and Drawbacks of Using Coal and Oil
Despite the various benefits of coal and oil, they suffer from severe limitations. Coal and oil are non-renewable energy resources, limited in quantity and consequently, in utility. Their scarcity and procurement, especially that of oil, greatly influences international politics and debates. Coal has little usage in transportation purposes, unless obsolete steam engines are used for transportation. Coal and oil pose serious threats to the environment. Coal is the single-biggest pollutant of air in coal burning nations and accounts for over one-fourth of the worlds annual carbon-dioxide emissions. Coal burning releases carbon into the atmosphere, which reacts with atmospheric oxygen to produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas and is responsible for increase in global warming and climate change. Presently, the problem of increasing carbon-dioxide can only be tackled through reduction in coal consumption. Oil also releases carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere, but to a lesser extent than coal. Another way in which coal and oil damage the environment is through release of sulphur, on burning. This sulphur reacts with oxygen to produce sulphur dioxides and trioxides, which change to sulphuric acid on oxidation. Sulphuric acid is harmful for the lungs and causes difficulty in breathing, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Further, it is the main component of acid rain, which is detrimental to forests and can cause erosion of rocks and natural and man-made masonry structures. Coal burning and gasoline release oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere that can damage life and property. Dirty coal burning is most dangerous to the environment.
   
Coal requires an extensive transportation system which also contributes to pollution through emissions from transportation vehicles. Coal mining can damage the landscape. Equipment used for mining is large and noisy and creates problems for local wildlife. Coal mining industry creates severe health concerns for miners and can even result in fatalities due to the dangerous nature of the work involved. Coal gasification puts occupational and offsite populations at risk of major health problems because of exposure to particulates, sulphur compounds, trace elements, aromatic amines and other nitrogenous compounds and radioactive nuclides. Coal fires release harmful particulate matter into the atmosphere. Coal combustion also releases radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium into the environment which can prove fatal to life.
   
Oil, being a liquid, can be easily transported but it also gets easily spilled. Oil spilling and leaks, a common occurrence in todays world, can severely endanger marine life, birds and coastlines. Many of the oil byproducts are highly toxic. Further, in comparison to natural gas, oil is neither clean nor efficient. Diesel, a byproduct of crude oil, releases particulate matter into air that is harmful to lungs. It may also result in ozone creation, one of the most dangerous components of smog in urban cities. Lastly, location of additional oil reserves drains nations of vast monetary resources. The significant shortcomings of coal and oil have encouraged scientists to look at alternative sources of energy but that will form the subject of the next presentation.