Sulfur Dioxide

The vast majority of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions come from coal-fired power plants. A typical 500 MW coal-fired power plant emits 10,000 tons of SO2 annually.

But the real story about sulfur dioxide cannot be found in facts and figures, but in the effect that this pollution is having on our neighbors, friends and family here in the West. Like most other air pollutants, sulfur dioxide exacerbates asthma, especially in children. Since 1980, asthma rates in the United States have increased 100%, a stat that Utah can attest to. When you walk down the streets there, you will find that one in every 40 children suffers from asthma. While the numbers may be less in some areas, children who live downwind from coal-fired power plants are suffering even more.

And SO2 does much more to harm us than just trigger asthma. On the acute level, SO2 is a lung irritant and causes low birth weight in infants. Chronic exposure to SO2, common around power plants, can permanently reduce lung function and is associated with premature death.

SO2 harms our environment, too. Its presence contributes to both acid rain and poor visibility.

Acid Rain: When SO2 is emitted from our power plants and enters the atmosphere, it can react with water droplets in clouds to form rain (or other precipitation) with an unusually low pH. Lakes and streams are extremely susceptible to acid raid, and populations of fish and other aquatic life can be devastated or even pushed to extinction due to acidified waterways. Acid rain also affects plant life, because it strips away vital plant nutrients that are necessary for healthy trees, plants and forests. Finally, acid rain is probably most famous for accelerating or causing the decay of monuments, sculptures and buildings that are historical and irreplaceable. The likelihood of acid rain damage is becoming so high that manufacturers of American cars are now spending $61 million per year on acid-resistant car paint.

Poor Visibility: Just as SO2 is the primary cause of acid rain, it also accounts for more than 50% of the visibility reductions, which affect enjoyment of national parks. It is because of visibility concerns that coal-fired power plants are severely restricted in the areas surrounding our nation’s best, most beautiful and biggest national parks.