Sulfur-Dioxide
Table of Contents
Introduction
"Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gaseous air pollutant composed of sulfur and oxygen. SO2 forms when sulfur-containing fuel such as coal, petroleum oil, or diesel is burned." - American Lung Association
Effects
Sulfur dioxide gas can chemically change into sulfate particles in the atmosphere, a major part of fine particle pollution, which can blow hundreds of miles away, causing serious health effects on people and wildlife.
"Sulfur dioxide causes a range of harmful effects on the lungs:
Wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness and other problems, especially during exercise or physical activity. Rapid breathing during exercise helps SO2 reach the lower respiratory tract, as does breathing through the mouth.
Long-term exposure at high levels increases respiratory symptoms and reduces the ability of the lungs to function.
Short exposures to peak levels of SO2 in the air can make it difficult for people with asthma to breathe when they are active outdoors.
Increased risk of hospital admissions or emergency room visits, especially among children, older adults and people with asthma."Â
Sources of Sulfur Dioxide
"Power plants, commercial and institutional boilers, internal combustion engines, manufacturing, and industrial processes such as petroleum refining and metal processing are the largest sources of emissions, followed by diesel engines in old buses and trucks, locomotives, ships, and off-road equipment such as construction vehicles. Emissions of sulfur dioxide will decline as cleanup of many of these sources continue in future years." Â - American Lung Association
Fossil Fuels
Burning fossil fuels produces a variety of air pollutants including sulfur-dioxide.
Coal
"Coal-fired power plants remain one of the biggest sources of sulfur dioxide in the U.S., Columns of emissions (plumes) such as from chimneys of a coal-fired power plant are moved by wind over long distances before touching down at ground level at far away sites. These plumes could also get trapped at the ground level by unusual weather conditions such as a layer of warmer air occurring higher up in the atmosphere (inversion). ... People who live and work near these large sources get the highest exposure to SO2." - American Lung Association
Diesel
Petroleum Oil
Industrial
"Ports, smelters, and other sources of sulfur dioxide also cause high concentrations of emissions nearby." - American Lung Association
Solutions
"SO2 levels have improved over time, thanks to policies requiring cleaner fuels and pollution controls on power plants. The nation achieved major reductions in this pollutant through its successful program to reduce acid rain.
However, it remains a health concern. What’s more, even with pollution controls installed, high levels can occur when a polluting source such as a power plant is starting up or shutting down its operation or if its equipment malfunctions.
Individuals can take steps to protect themselves on days with unhealthy levels of air pollutants and also ask policymakers at all levels of government to continue to require cleanup of air pollution." - American Lung Association
Monitoring
Monitoring pollutants is one of the best ways to understand and prevent them.
Renewable Energy
Switching to energy sources that don't burn resources and produce air pollutants will help clean our air and mitigate climate change.
Greener Transportation
Switching to more environmentally sustainable travel options can help reduce many types of air pollution including sulfur dioxide. This includes using active transport (walking, bike riding, skate boarding, etc.), public transit which moves more people with less resources, and transitioning old models of public transit to newer, energy efficient models (diesil buses and trains to electric or hydrogen) will have a huge positive impact on our air quality.
Monitoring
Bioindicators
Lichen
Usnea is very sensitive to air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide.[18] Under poor growing conditions, such as areas high in pollution, they may grow no larger than a few millimetres, if they survive at all. Where the air is unpolluted, they can grow to 10–20 cm long. It can sometimes be used as a bioindicator, because it tends to only grow in those regions where the air is clean,[19] and of high quality." - Wikipedia: Usnea
Resources
International
DeSmog’s Agribusiness Database "find a record of companies and organisations’ current messaging on climate change, lobbying around climate action, and histories of climate science denial."
DeSmog’s Climate Disinformation Database "browse our extensive research on the individuals and organizations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming."
Europe
UK
DeSmog’s Air Pollution Lobbying Database "find out about organisations opposing or seeking to weaken planned air quality measures in the UK’s most polluted cities, including Clean Air Zones and London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone."
North America
USA
DeSmog’s Koch Network Database "browse our extensive research on the individuals and organizations linked to Charles Koch or other members of the Koch family, Koch Industries, and related entities."
Organizations
International
DeSmog "was founded in January 2006 to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science and solutions to climate change. Our team quickly became the world’s number one source for accurate, fact-based information regarding global warming misinformation campaigns.
DeSmog continues to expand our focus to other areas where misinformation has eroded public understanding and political action to address critical societal challenges, such as meeting the world’s energy needs, confronting environmental racism, and ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economic paradigm.
Through hard-hitting investigative journalism, in-depth research, and collaborations with other investigative outlets, DeSmog works tirelessly to provide climate accountability and serve as an antidote to science denial and disinformation. Supported by science and dedicated to equity, our team is helping to clear the way for clean energy solutions, environmental justice, and the preservation of democracy.
Now a global organization, with reporters and researchers spanning North and South America, the UK, Europe, Africa, and beyond, the DeSmog team works to expose corporate misinformation from major fossil fuel interests, including the likes of ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, and others with a documented history of undermining climate science and action. We conduct original research and reporting on a range of issues in the broader energy policy dialogue. In many cases, we find the same tactics, and many of the same people, that DeSmog first began exposing in our early research into the climate denial industry, are now sitting alongside a new breed of lobbyist, downplaying potential solutions to climate change, and promoting questionable “silver-bullet” solutions.
Our research databases provide vital information on over 800 organizations and individuals responsible for spreading misinformation on a range of energy and science topics. We first started reporting on Koch Industries’ funding of climate denial in 2007, and continue to track Koch-linked groups and operatives in our Koch Network Database. In 2020, we added two new databases — the Air Pollution Lobbying Database and Agribusiness Database — showing how vested interests are working to slow action across multiple sectors."
Europe
UK
Earthwatch Europe: Tiny Forest "brings the benefits of woodland right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces: connecting people with nature, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing nature-rich habitat to support urban wildlife."
North America
USA
The Clean Energy States Alliance "is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy.
CESA works with state leaders, federal agencies, industry representatives, and other stakeholders to develop clean energy programs and inclusive renewable energy markets. CESA members—mostly state agencies—include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country."
Grants
International
Open Philanthropy "Open Philanthropy’s mission is to give as effectively as we can and share our findings openly so that anyone can build on our work."
North America
USA
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund "The President’s Inflation Reduction Act created a first-of-its-kind, national-scale program: the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund—a $27 billion investment to mobilize financing and private capital to address the climate crisis, ensure our country’s economic competitiveness, and promote energy independence while delivering lower energy costs and economic revitalization to communities that have historically been left behind."
The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program "provides $5 billion in grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Authorized under Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act, this two-phase program provides $250 million for noncompetitive planning grants, and approximately $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants."
California
California Air Districts "California's 35 local Air Districts are responsible for regional air quality planning, monitoring, and stationary source and facility permitting. The districts administer air quality improvement grant programs and are CARB's primary partners in efforts to ensure that all Californians breathe clean air."
California Air Resources Board: Funding for Clean School Buses