Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas. Breathing it in can irritate your nose, throat and lungs. Sulfur dioxide is a common air pollutant that can impact human health and the environment.
Burning materials with a high sulfur content produces sulfur dioxide. In Victoria, sulfur dioxide levels are usually low. The most common sources of sulfur dioxide include:
- aluminium smelters
- coal-fired power stations
- diesel vehicles
- oil refineries
- shipping.
Sulfur dioxide and the law
The general environmental duty applies to activities that create emissions containing sulfur dioxide.
The Environment Reference Standard (ERS) sets the standard for sulfur dioxide in the air.
Businesses must control sulfur dioxide from their activities to:
- prevent harm
- comply with their duties
- meet community expectations.
The Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window) set out obligations to manage sulfur dioxide. This includes the requirement for some businesses to report their emissions to the National Pollutant Inventory.
In some cases, you must get our permission to conduct activities that release sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. Our permissions focus on activities that may have a significant impact on human health and the environment. Permissions have legal conditions that must be followed.
Activities involving sulfur dioxide emissions may need permission L01 – General discharges or emissions to the atmosphere.
Our role in sulfur dioxide
We monitor air quality around Victoria. We have air monitoring equipment that measures air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide. The data we collect supports our daily air quality forecasts.
We compare this data with sulfur dioxide standards in the ERS. The ERS provides a benchmark to understand air quality and how to protect it – for example, when we assess permission applications for air emissions.
Learn more about how we monitor the quality of the environment.
Impact of sulfur dioxide on your health
Breathing in sulfur dioxide can impact your health. It can affect your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. When levels are high, you can experience symptoms shortly after you breathe it in.
Some groups of people are more at risk of symptoms, such as:
- infants and children
- older people
- people with lung conditions, such as asthma.
Symptoms include:
- coughing
- wheezing
- shortness of breath.
If you experience symptoms, follow your treatment plan or seek medical advice.
If you're concerned about your health because of sulfur dioxide, find out who to contact.
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