Pollutants and Biofuels Impact

Generating electricity

Manufacturing goods

Heating homes and cooking food

Powering vehicles

It produces too much pollution

It is not renewable

It is less energy dense and time-intensive to gather

It is too expensive

Modern carbon does not release CO2 when burned

Fossil carbon is renewable

Modern carbon is more energy dense

Modern carbon is from recently living organisms, while fossil carbon is from ancient organisms

It does not release any carbon dioxide

It uses advanced technology to capture carbon

It absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases

It releases carbon dioxide that was recently absorbed by plants

Carbon monoxide, NOx, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds

Sulfur dioxide, methane, and ozone

Lead, mercury, and arsenic

Chlorofluorocarbons and ammonia

Respiratory irritation and diseases

Increased risk of heart disease

Hearing loss

Skin cancer

Corn, sugarcane, and palm plants

Coal

Petroleum

Natural gas

It is not energy dense

It requires a lot of water and fertilizers, which can degrade soil

It cannot be mixed with gasoline

It can be produced from non-renewable resources

It can be grown in any climate

It does not need sunlight

It requires less water than corn

It produces more greenhouse gases

It is mixed with gasoline

It is less energy dense

It requires clearing tropical forests, which releases stored carbon

It uses more water