Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Background

SO2 is a colorless gas that is formed by combusting sulfurous compounds in fossil fuels, particularly coal. When SO2 is released and combines with moisture in the atmosphere one of the strongest acids found in nature can form known as sulfuric acid (acid rain). This acid can lead to detrimental effects on plants, animals, and minerals. Sulfuric acid can also cause secondary damage by leaching toxic metals from the soil into the groundwater.

The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for SO2 is a 24 hour average of 140 ppb (parts per billion), not to be exceeded more than once per year, and also an annual arithmetric mean of 30 ppb. This pollutant is monitored through a continuous method using electronic monitors since 1985 where before it was measured through pararosaniline methods. ARAQMD has had three sites for monitoring SO2 , two of which are operating currently located at East High School and Downtown Akron.

More in depth information about sulfur dioxide is available through the EPA including emission sources, causes of concern, health & environmental Impacts, EPA efforts to reduce SO2, and EPA offices


Trends