Research.

A kerosene lamp is just one of the methods to produce light. Nowadays, most people have electricity and we see it as something belonging to our era. When you think of electricity, you think of physics, transmission, etc. Do you think of coal? Do you think of pollution that goes along with it?
"Just as a battery converts relatively small amounts of chemical energy into electricity for temporary or intermittent use, the FFPP converts the energy stored in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas successively into thermal energy, mechanical energy, and finally electric energy for continuous use and distribution across a wide geographic area, " says one of my sources.

This link about coal presents numbers and facts of coal pollution. Burning coal is a leading cause of smog, acid rain and air toxics. The coal mines are not only harmful for the environment, but are also harmful to people who work there. This article talks about mining accidents that take away lives or make people handicapped for life. Some mining injuries affect eyes and hearing. This makes the victim unable to work and support his family.
One of the causes of such injuries is improper use of safety equipment, poorly-made safety equipment that miners take off because it's impossible to wear and carelessness.

Our dialogue with Meredith so far:
Me:Kerosene lamps are bad, they are dangerous for the environment.
Meredith: Kerosene lamps are not as bad as they seem. They have a magical essence to them.
Me: They do, but they still add up to the pollution.