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Environmental Effects Of Fossil Fuels On Humans And The Environment

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Introduction
According to Botkin & Keller (2014), fossil fuels are forms of stored solar energy created from the incomplete biological decomposition of dead and buried organic material that is converted by complex chemical reactions in the geologic cycle. Fossil fuels provide about 90% of the world’s commercial energy supply (Botkin & Keller, 2014). Energy is essential in socio-economic development and one of the basic requirements for human life and technological advancement (Akuru, Okoro & Chikuni, 2013). Use of fossil fuel energy by humans has led to significant environmental problems such as air and water pollution, acid rain, global warming as well as human health impacts. In this paper, we will address the environmental and human health impacts caused by fossil fuel energy and how alternative energy sources can benefit humans and the environment.
Classification of fossil fuels
The major fossil fuels are crude oil, natural gas and coal.
Crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas are obtained from organic materials (mostly plants) that were buried with marine or lake sediments in depositional basins and coal is made up of partially decomposed vegetation buried in sediment that slowly transformed into carbonaceous rock (Botkin & Keller, 2014)

The effect of fossil fuels on humans and the environment
Burning of fossil fuels has emitted and continues to emit large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as well as other gases such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide

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