Sulfur Dioxide and its Health Effects

Running Head: HEALTH EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE 1
Sulfur Dioxide and its Health Effects
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HEALTH EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE 2
Sulfur Dioxide and its Health Effects
In this research, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health categorized the health
effects of sulfur dioxide into four depending on the body part affected. The four categories were:
respiratory system, skin, eyes and other long term effects which were also referred to as chronic
exposure. According to the paper, when inhaled, sulfur dioxide was very toxic and could easily
lead to death. The gas caused severe irritation of the throat and the nose. When under high
concentrations, it led to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, a condition is known as
pulmonary edema which was life-threatening. Pulmonary edema had symptoms like shortness of
breath, persistent coughing, difficulties when breathing and tightness in the chest. A single
exposure to high concentrations of sulfur dioxide could also lead to long-lasting complications
like asthma.
When directed on the skin, the gas was highly corrosive and could easily irritate or burn
the skin which resulted in permanent scaring appearances. When liquefied, its direct contact with
the skin chilled and frozen the skin. This condition was known as mild frostbite. It was
characterized by symptoms like itching, prickling, and numbness. Eye contact, on the other hand,
caused irritation and eye burns. Under extreme conditions, the gas could lead to blindness.
Lastly, the long term or chronic exposure was associated with respiratory system complications
which were characterized by irritation and inflamed on the airways.
This research associated sulfur dioxide with a number of health problems. First, it
revealed that sulfur dioxide irritated the skin and the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes,
throat, and lungs. According to the research, the impacts of sulfur dioxide intensified with the
concentration of the gas. When inhaled at high concentrations, it led to inflammation and