Sulfur dioxide

Health effects

Sulfur dioxide is an irritant gas that attacks in the throat and lungs. Its effect on health is increased in the presence of airborne particles. Prolonged exposure to sulfur dioxide can lead to increases in respiratory illnesses like chronic bronchitis.

Sources

The main sources of sulfur dioxide are coal and oil used in power stations, industry and wood used for domestic heating. Industrial chemical manufacture is another source.

Current standards

The current one-hour, one-day and one-year standards are 0.20 parts per million (ppm), 0.08ppm and 0.02ppm respectively for sulfur dioxide.

Goal

Maximum allowable exceedences should be one day a year for both one-hour and one-day standard limits of sulfur dioxide. The one-year standard should not be exceeded.

Consequences

Significant concentrations of sulfur dioxide are only detected in Victoria in the vicinity of large industrial sources.

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