Environmental management of sulfur trioxide emission: impact of SO3 on human health.
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.
Kikuchi
R
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Department of Basic Science and Environment, Escola Superior Agraria de Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal.
D015258:Acid Rain; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D011634:Public Health; D013461:Sulfur Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis
D015258:Acid Rain; D000393:Air Pollutants; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D013461:Sulfur Oxides; C011118:sulfur trioxide