Sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide is produced by the burning of fuels that contain sulphur. Coal is perhaps the major culprit in this respect. High concentrations of this gas cause the air tubes in people's lungs to constrict and breathing becomes increasingly difficult. Sulphur dioxide also combines with rain droplets eventually to form dilute sulphuric acid or acid rain.

This is carried by the winds and can fall many hundreds of miles from the sulphur dioxide source. Acid rain deposits increase the normal weathering effect on buildings and soil, corrode metals and textiles and damage trees and other vegetation