We report on an approach for sulfur dioxide monitoring using broadband absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet spectral range. The method was applied in real-time measurements and has the advantage of straightforward data evaluation, limited susceptibility for interference from other gases, and low degree of complexity compared with other real-time optical detection techniques having the same precision. Concentration measurement is demonstrated at atmospheric pressure, which is of interest for pollution emission monitoring, yielding a detection limit of about 1ppm with 3s integration time. Comparison is made with low pressure measurements for validation of the accuracy of the method.