Question

Natural resources have many costs, including labor (white, blue, and green collar), scouting sources, equipment, extractions, refining, transportation, usage, emissions, waste disposal, environmental damages, and human health effects. Environmental economists analyze and interpret these factors to determine and compare costs and benefits. Every natural resource has pros and cons associated with their uses. Research one (1) natural resource (such as, fossil fuel, alternative energy, timber, mineral, etc.- be specific of the type). Conduct a life-cycle analysis / assessment on the selected resource. Summarize the actions (extractions, production, transportation, etc.), costs, environmental impacts, benefits, and hazards

Answer 1

Fossil fuels

Extraction: it is extracted with the help of huge tools and machines by digging the earth or the ocean also. It is such a large process that has been done throughout the world for the production of coal, petroleum and other fossil fuels. This process affects the environment on a large scale whether it is soil, water, air and so on.

Production: Later on, it is refined in the refineries and impurities removed from it and this process is done in refineries which also affects nature in a bad way and the chemicals which are used in these refineries affect the soil and groundwater of the region on the large scale. It is a very costly process that raises its price.

Transportation: After getting ready from the refineries and mining areas, there is a need to send to the different locations and for petroleum, it is done by pipes mostly and when there is damage in the pipes that affect the soil and water of that region. In the case of the transportation of coal, it affects the air by the flow of dust and coal particles and many more.