Chief Causes for Concern
Sulfur Dioxide
- SO2 Home
- Emission Sources
- Causes for Concern
- Health & Enviro Impacts
- EPA Efforts to Reduce SO2
- EPA Offices
SO2 contributes
to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly,
and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.
SO2contributes to
the formation of acid rain, which:
- damages trees, crops, historic buildings, and monuments; and
- makes soils, lakes, and streams acidic.
SO2 can be transported over
long distances.
SO2 and the pollutants formed from SO2, such
as sulfate particles, can be transported over long distances and
deposited far from the point of origin. This means that problems
with SO2 are not confined to areas where it is emitted.
Short-term Peak Levels
High levels of SO2emitted over a short
period, such as a day, can be particularly problematic for people
with asthma. EPA encourages communities to learn about the
types of industries in their communities and to work with local
industrial facilities to address pollution control equipment failures
or process upsets that could result in peak levels of SO2.