A large power point burns coal to generate electricity for nearby homes and businesses.
This contributes most directly to which short-term human-induced envrionmental change?

Pollution

Explanation:

Burning of coal contributes most directly to an environmental change described as pollution.

Pollution is generally defined as the presence of substance in the environment at a level that disrupt the normal biotic functioning of the environment. Pollutants are substances whose level of concentration in the environment affects the normal biotic functioning of the environment.

The burning of coal leads to the release of harmful substances to the environment. These substances could be in form of gases such as oxides of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen that are capable of causing acid rain and global warming, heavy metals such as mercury and lead,  as well as particulate matters.

Heavy metals are harmful to organisms when they find their ways into the food chains while particulate matters in the atmosphere reduce visibility and are capable of causing damages to properties when they are deposited on them.

Ashes remains from coal burning are also capable of causing pollution to nearby lakes and water bodies when they are washed down. This will lead to the disturbance of lives in the aquatic environment and decrease the quality of the water bodies for various uses.