Final answer:
The pollutants released when coal is burned can produce ozone in the lower atmosphere as a secondary pollutant. These emissions are directly associated with environmental issues like acid rain and respiratory health problems. Ozone is one of the significant secondary pollutants formed from coal combustion emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apart from being pollutants on their own, pollutants released when coal is burned have at least two major effects on the atmosphere. First, when they react with water vapor and oxygen, they produce nitric acid, causing acid rain. Further, their reactions produce ozone in the lower atmosphere. Burning coal emits various pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates, which can contribute to environmental issues including acid rain and respiratory illnesses in humans. Additionally, carbon dioxide, a byproduct of coal combustion, is a major greenhouse gas associated with global warming.
Regulations like the Clean Air Act aim to mitigate the negative impacts of coal burning by mandating reductions in pollutants. Such efforts are crucial because the combustion of coal is a significant source of air pollution, releasing primary pollutants directly into the air and contributing to the formation of secondary pollutants like ozone through atmospheric reactions.