Charcoal is obtained from the burning or carbonization of wood, after this process it results in a black substance.
In everyday life, charcoal is used as fuel for heaters, fireplaces, barbecues and wood stoves, in addition to supplying some industrial sectors, such as steel mills.
Charcoal is also used in medicine, in this case called activated charcoal from certain soft and non-resin woods.
This substance has been used since Antiquity, in Egyptian civilization had its widespread use in the purification of oils and medicinal use. In World War II, it served to remove toxic gases due to its high capacity to absorb impurities without changing its structure, due to its porous composition.
In Brazil there are reports of the use of charcoal by the Indians, who mixed the substance with animal fats in order to fight diseases such as tumors and ulcers.
Coal also excels in carrying oxygen and an efficient spreader of toxins. Given the many positive indications of charcoal, its use in the treatment of pain can be highlighted. stomachs, bad breath, thrush, intestinal gas, infectious diarrhea, hepatic dysentery and poisonings.
Brazil still uses charcoal in industrial production, a practice that was no longer developed in central countries, the country occupies the first place in the production of this substance. Therefore, around 85% of the charcoal produced is used in industries, homes account for 9% of consumption and the commercial sector such as pizzerias, bakeries and steak houses 1.5%.
Despite the benefits presented with the use of charcoal, it is necessary to analyze the consequences that its production causes. Firstly, it is important to analyze the social factor, when adults and even children work in charcoal works in conditions, in most cases, precarious work and very low wages.
Another factor no less important than the first is the environmental one, because for the development of this activity it is often necessary to remove the vegetation cover from important vegetative compositions contained in the Brazilian territory, which generally do not originate from reforestation wood or wood cultivated for this Finally, because some researches reveal that approximately 78% of the charcoal produced in Brazil comes from native vegetation, which causes enormous environmental damage.
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Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "Charcoal"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/carvao-vegetal.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
