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Sulphur dioxide - monitoring
Extract from 'The Pollutants of Concern, Stage 1 Air Quality Review'
- National Air Quality Strategy Standard:
100 Parts per billion as a 15-minute mean. 99.9th percentile compliance to be achieved by 2005
Concerns: Sulphur dioxide is an acute respiratory irritant, hence the short averaging time for the standard. Sulphur dioxide may also be converted through chemical reactions in the atmosphere to secondary sulphate particulate matter.
Sources: Nationally, The major source of sulphur dioxide is power stations, which account for 65% of emissions, with other major sources being industrial emissions (24%) and commercial and domestic heating (6%). (LAQM.TG4)
Monitoring: Some local monitoring of sulphur dioxide is undertaken as part of the national survey of smoke and sulphur dioxide. This method uses wet chemical techniques, and is only capable of giving daily average sulphur dioxide concentrations.
Concentrations: National sulphur dioxide monitoring data shows that recorded concentrations have exceeded the 100 ppb objective, especially in the vicinity of large point sources of sulphur dioxide, such as power stations. Exceedences have also been recorded in domestic coal burning areas of the north-east, and in the East Thames Gateway. (Broughton et al 1998).
Controls and Trends: Discussions at European level on measures to combat acid rain will influence future sulphur dioxide concentrations, as will the introduction of low sulphur diesel and its derivatives. Many large point sources are regulated by the Environment Agency, who review emission limits for industrial plant on a four yearly basis.
