Sulfur Dioxide

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-027230",
  "term": "Sulfur Dioxide",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. High concentrations of sulfur dioxide affect breathing and may aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Sensitive populations include asthmatics, individuals with bronchitis or emphysema, children, and the elderly. Sulfur dioxide is also a primary contributor to acid rain, which causes acidification of lakes and streams and can damage trees, crops, historic buildings, and statues. In addition, sulfur compounds in the air contribute to visibility impairment in large parts of the country. This is especially noticeable in national parks. Sulfur dioxide is released primarily from burning fuels that contain sulfur (such as coal, oil, and diesel fuel). Stationary sources such as coal- and oil-fired power plants, steel mills, refineries, pulp and paper mills, and nonferrous smelters are the largest releasers.\n\n2. A gas that causes acid rain. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, releases SO₂ into the atmosphere. For more information, visit EPA's Air and Radiation Web site.\n\n3. A naturally occurring gas made of sulfur and oxygen that causes acid rain. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, releases SO2 into the atmosphere. Various EPA programs are reducing SO2 emissions, including the Acid Rain Program (http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/index.html).\n\n4. A pungent, colorless, gaseous pollutant formed primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels.\n\n5. A criteria air pollutant. Sulfur dioxide is a gas produced by burning coal, most notably in power plants. Some industrial processes, such as production of paper and smelting of metals, produce sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is closely related to sulfuric acid, a strong acid. Sulfur dioxide plays an important role in the production of acid rain.\n\n6. A pungent, colorless, gasformed primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels; becomes a pollutant when present in large amounts.\n\n7. A compound composed of one sulfur and two oxygen molecules. Sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere through natural and anthropogenic processes is changed in a complex series of chemical reactions in the atmosphere to sulfate aerosols. These aerosols are believed to result in negative radiative forcing (i.e., tending to cool the Earth's surface) and do result in acid deposition (e.g., acid rain). See aerosols, radiative forcing, acid deposition, acid rain.\n\n8. A non-flammable colorless gas. SO₂ is a component in atmospheric air pollution and is one of the factors responsible for acid rain. Coal-fired power plants and volcanoes are major sources of SO₂ on a global basis.\n\n9. A compound composed of one sulfur and two oxygen molecules. Sulfur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere through natural and anthropogenic processes is changed in a complex series of chemical reactions in the atmosphere to sulfate aerosols. These aerosols are believed to result in negative radiative forcing... (i.e., tending to cool the Earth's surface) and do result in acid deposition (e.g., acid rain).\n\n10. Sulfur dioxide.[40 CFR 53.1(CFR 2013)]\n\n11. A pungent, colorless, gaseous pollutant formed primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels. One of the six \"criteria\" pollutants for which EPA has set national ambient air quality standards.\n\n12. One of a group of gases called sulfur oxides (SOᵪ). While all of these gases are harmful to human health and the environment, SO₂ is of greater concern. The largest sources of SO₂ emissions are from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and other industrial facilities.",
  "abbreviation": "SO₂",
  "synonyms": [
    "SO2"
  ],
  "subject": "Air",
  "references": [
    "Clean Energy Glossary",
    "Greening EPA Glossary",
    "Acid Rain Glossary",
    "Childrens Health Protection Glossary",
    "Air Permitting Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions",
    "Glossary for UV Database",
    "40 CFR 58.1 (CFR 2013)",
    "ACE Glossary of Terms; America's Children and the Environment Terms",
    "Glossary for Air Pollution Terms in Particle Pollution and Your Patients' Health"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/sulfur-dioxide/"
}