Sulphur dioxide how is it formed

Topics A-Z. Responsive Menu. Sulfur Dioxide Also known as: SO2, sulfurous anhydride, sulfuroxide, sulfurous oxide, sulfurous acid anhydride Sulfur dioxide, SO2, is a colorless gas or liquid with a strong, choking odor. Exposure Information You can be exposed to SO2 by breathing it in the air or getting it on your skin. To reduce the possibility of exposure to sulfur dioxide caused by a source in your home, you can: Use gas appliances with electronic pilotless ignition.

This will eliminate the continuous low-level pollutants from pilot lights. Use exhaust fans over gas stoves that are vented to the outdoors instead of fans that recirculate the air indoors. Keep the metal mesh filters on your exhaust fans clean most can be run through the dishwasher. Choose vented appliances whenever possible, and make sure they are vented to the outdoors.

Have a trained professional inspect your appliances annually. Never heat your home with a gas range or stove. Do not idle your car in the garage. Do not smoke indoors.

Language Access and Notice of Nondiscrimination. Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin. The Clean Air Act regulates sulfur dioxide as a criteria pollutant. The U. In and , the EPA reviewed the science related to the human health and environmental impacts of sulfur dioxide, respectively, and revised the NAAQS to reflect the most up-to-date information. The hourly primary standard sulfur dioxide emissions is currently 75 ppb and the three-hour secondary standard is ppb.

The state of Minnesota is currently in compliance with the national standards for sulfur dioxide. Skip to main content. Air How's the air?

Please click here to see any active alerts. SO 2 is the component of greatest concern and is used as the indicator for the larger group of gaseous sulfur oxides SO x. This may have the important co-benefit of reducing the formation of particulate sulfur pollutants, such as fine sulfate particles.

Emissions that lead to high concentrations of SO 2 generally also lead to the formation of other SO x. The largest sources of SO 2 emissions are from fossil fuel combustion at power plants andother industrial facilities. The largest source of SO 2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities.

Smaller sources of SO 2 emissions include: industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore; natural sources such as volcanoes; and locomotives, ships and other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn fuel with a high sulfur content. Short-term exposures to SO 2 can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult.

People with asthma, particularly children, are sensitive to these effects of SO 2. At high concentrations, gaseous SOx can harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth. Deposition of particles can also stain and damage stone and other materials, including culturally important objects such as statues and monuments.