Major Air Pollutants:

Sulfur Dioxide and

Nitrogen Dioxide

 

       -gas

      -colorless, nonflammable, penetrating odor

      -reacts with a variety of airborne solid particles

      -water soluble

          -can be oxidized with airborne H2O droplets (5)

 

 The Sources

-coal-burning power plants and industries

-industrial boilers and processes

-coal-burning stoves

-refineries

      -fossil fuel combustion

      -smelting

      -manufacturing of sulfuric acid

      -incineration of refuse (4)

 

       -In a study conducted in March of 2000, monthly concentrations of SO2 were found to be as high as 99 µg/m3           compared to the annual limit of 60µg/m3.(6)

 

 

 

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      -gas

      -reddish-brown, nonflammable, detectable smell

      -released as Nitric Oxide (NO) and immediately mixed with

           O2 to form NO2

      -strong oxidizing agent-

          reacts with air to form corrosive nitric acid

          and toxic organic nitrates

      -major player in atmospheric reactions that produce ground-level ozone (5)

 

The Sources

-high-temperature fuel burning

      -cars, automobile emissions

      -heaters and cookers

 

       A study conducted in 2000 found daily NO2 concentrations ranging from 53-72 µg/m3.

      While these measurements are high, they do not exceed current air quality limits. (6)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)