Use
Coal has many industrial applications. In fact, burning coal is the only way to produce steel industrially. Generally, though, it is used for power production. To create power with coal it is first burned. This produces many toxic pollutants. The heat created is used to boil water and the steam from that boiling water drives a turbine. This turbine uses electromagnets to produce electricity.
The main benefit to using coal to generate electricity is that it is cheap if the costs are externalized. However, there are many more detriments than benefits. The first of these is carbon dioxide being released by burning. Carbon dioxide is a green house gas that contributes to global warming and all its associated consequences. Carbon monoxide is also sometimes released as a result of incomplete combustion. This gas takes the place of oxygen in hemoglobin and is dangerous to all animals. Lead is generally released but many countries do not allow it to be. However in places where it is allowed to be released, lead can be a harmful pollutant. Lead damages the central nerves system and causes disease of the brain. Another and often overlooked pollutant released by coal burning is mercury. Mercury often causes damage to the lungs, kidneys, and brain with brain damage resulting in sensory impairment and a lack of coordination ability. Exposure can result in mercury poisoning and death. Another big pollutant is sulfur dioxide and it has many harmful effects. For one thing it contributes to acid rain. This causes damage to plants, erosion of buildings, and the acidification of water ways that can result in the death of aquatic species. Sulfur dioxide is also a contributor to photochemical smog and in general degrades the air quality of the local area.