Air Pollution Effects on Humans

Air Pollution Effects: Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. SO2 is corrosive to organic materials and it irritates the eyes, nose and lungs; therefore it is quite a dangerous air pollutant. (4)

Coal Power Plant, USA Photo: Wigwam Jones

Sulfur is contained within all fossil fuels, and is released in the form of sulfur dioxide during fossil fuel combustion. Because of the widespread use of fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide is among the most common air pollutants produced in every part of the planet. Sulfur dioxide may often act in synergy with other pollutants (ex., airborne particles) to produce certain air pollution effects. Lets summarize some sulfur dioxide pollution effects on human health (5, 6, 7):

Irritation of eyes, nose, throat; damage to lungs when inhaled Acute and chronic asthma Bronchitis and emphysema (as a result of synergy between SO2 and suspended particulate matter) Lung cancer The Great Smog of London And Other Pollution Examples One of the best known sulfur-related pollution episodes took place in London between December 5-9, 1952 when high concentrations of air pollution were trapped to the ground due to specific weather conditions at the time. Because of the cold winter, Londoners were burning more low-quality, high-sulfur coal to heat their homes. Experts conclude that it may have been a combination of sulfur oxides with particulates and other air pollutants that produced such heavy pollution. (8) The results were 4,000 deaths which occurred during this period and another 8,000 in the months that followed. Many deaths were due to respiratory tract infections from hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the blood) and due to the obstruction of air passages by pus arising from lung infections. (9) In a more recent 1992 sulfur-pollution episode in the Mae Moh region of Thailand, where power plants were burning high-sulfur coal without emission controls, around 4,000 residents required medical treatment after weather conditions trapped sulfur dioxide pollution over the area. This episode also caused the death of cattle (with their hides blistered), and withering of crops. (10) In Poland, it was found that new army recruits living in areas polluted by sulfur dioxide had 4 times more asthma and 3 times more bronchitis than people from cleaner areas. Also, men living in the most polluted areas of Krakow were reported to have losses of lung function equivalent to the effects of smoking. (11)

Sulfur dioxide also affects animals, plants and the environment which we discuss below.