Sulfur dioxide: Health effects
Description
Exposure to concentrations of 10 to 50 parts per million for 5 to 15 minutes causes irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, choking and coughing.
Exposure of the eyes to liquid sulfur dioxide, (from, for example an industrial accident) can cause severe burns, resulting in the loss of vision. On the skin it produces burns. Other health effects include headache, general discomfort and anxiety. Those with impaired heart or lung function and asthmatics are at increased risk. Repeated or prolonged exposure to moderate concentrations may cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, wheezing and lung damage. It has also proved to be harmful to the reproductive systems of experimental animals and caused developmental changes in their newborn.
Entering the body
Sulfur dioxide will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air. Upon entry, nose, throat and lungs may be affected. Sulfur dioxide can also enter our bodies when we eat or drink food or beverages (wine) which contain sulfur dioxide as a preservative. Sulfur dioxide can enter the body through skin contact.
Exposure
Sulfur dioxide is a common pollutant to which we are exposed at very low levels every day by breathing air in cities and some industrial environments. Higher exposure levels are more likely to be found in the workplace where it is produced as a by-product, such as in smelting and the combustion of coal or oil. Exposure can also happen from the manufacture of fumigants, food preservatives, bleaches and wine making. It can be ingested by eating preserved foods and breathed in causing a risk to asthmatics and other individuals sensitive to its effects.
Health guidelines
National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Goals:
Averaging period 1 hour: Maximum 0.2 parts per million, maximum allowable exceedences: 1 day a year.
Averaging period 1 day: Maximum 0.08 parts per million, maximum allowable exceedences: 1 day a year.
Averaging period 1 year: Maximum 0.02 parts per million, maximum allowable exceedences: none.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window
