Environmental Management of Sulfur Trioxide Emission: Impact of SO 3 on Human Health

Abstract

The major contributors to global acidification are sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides emitted mostly by the burning of fossil fuels. From the scientific point of view, it is necessary to make a clear distinction between sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide when referring to sulfur oxides. These two air pollutants have different properties. This paper reports the following aspects: the strong effect of sulfur trioxide on local human health (a case study of asthma in Yokkaichi), the problem of corrosion caused by sulfur trioxide, the difference in analytical methods for determining sulfur dioxide concentrations and sulfur trioxide concentrations, and the difference in removal methods for sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. An important initiative at the third European conference of environment ministers was that the issue of human health related to local air pollution should be given priority over that of global pollution. The declines in the emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides have mainly been effective in reducing acidification due to long-range transport. The reduction in sulfur trioxide may be more effective in improving local human health mentioned in the initiative.

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and chronic bronchitis incidence in the Azores, Portugal

“…While in Santa Maria humidity is low and there are no active volcanic manifestations, in Furnas humidity is higher and volcanic gas emissions are very common, even inside many of the houses, making easier for respiratory tissues to soak up hazardous gases. Since the atmosphere in Furnas is more humid, the possible transformation of SO 2 into sulfuric acid should also be considered as a factor depressing the integrity of the lungs (Kikuchi, 2001;Komarniski, 2003), and probably facilitating the incidence of chronic bronchitis. Herbarth et al (2001) established a correlation between SO 2 and the prevalence of bronchitis in children.…”

“…On contact with moist membranes, SO 2 forms sulfuric acid, which is responsible for severe irritant effects on the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin. Sulfuric acid also depresses pulmonary particle clearance, the major protective mechanism in lungs (Williams-Jones and Rymer, 2000;Kikuchi, 2001;Komarnisky et al, 2003).…”

Chronic exposure to volcanic environments and cancer incidence in the Azores, Portugal

“…Prolonged exposure to low concentrations of SO 2 may be dangerous for people with preexisting cardiopulmonary diseases. When SO 2 is released to the atmosphere, it oxidizes with OH radical in air to form sulfurous acid (SO 3 ), which then reacts with water to produce sulfuric acid particles (WilliamsJones and Kikuchi, 2001). According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), SO 2 is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans, while H 2 SO 4 is considered a carcinogenic for humans (IARC, 1992).…”

Formation of sulfur trioxide during the SCR of NO with NH3over a V2O5/TiO2catalyst

“…4,5 When the SO 3 concentration in ue gas is more than 5 ppm (18 mg m À3 ), an opaque plume is generated, and a "blue acid plume" appears in the downwind direction of the chimney. [6][7][8][9] To solve the problem of SO 3 pollution, strict emission standards have been established. 6 In the United States, 22 states have proposed SO 3 emission limits for coal-red ue gas, of which 14 states have a limit of 6 mg m À3 .…”

“…[6][7][8][9] To solve the problem of SO 3 pollution, strict emission standards have been established. 6 In the United States, 22 states have proposed SO 3 emission limits for coal-red ue gas, of which 14 states have a limit of 6 mg m À3 . The SO 3 emission limits in Singapore are 10 mg m À3 for ue gas from stationary sources.…”