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About Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is produced as a result of the industrial processing and the burning of fossil fuels. The main creators of sulfur dioxide are ore smelting, coal power generators and the production of natural gas.
However, the emissions that cause acid rain here are not from Canada alone. Over half of the acid rain causing emissons are from the United States. Therefore, if we truly want to reduce the levels of acid rain in Canada, efforts must be made by both Canada and the United States. Below are two graphs that compare the sources of the sulfur dioxide emissons produced by both Canada and the United States.
Canada's main producer of sulfur dioxide is from industrial sources, producing 68% of emissions. This is mainly the emissions from smokestacks. The second largest source of sulfur dioxide is from electrical utilities, producing 27% of emission. Most electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. Transportation and fuel combustion produce a small percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions in Canada.
The United States' primary producer of sulfur dioxide is from electrical utilities, producing 67% of emissons. Most electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. The second largest source of sulfur dioxide is from fuel combustion, with 19%. This is primarily the combustion of fuel in vehicles. The third largest source of sulfur dioxide in the United States is industrial sources, producing 9% of the emissions. This is mainly the emissions from smokestacks. Transportation and other sources produce a small percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States.
The above graphs are from 2000 and 2002. The levels of sulfur dioxide emitted into our environment have decreased as we've made efforts to reduce them since then. However, they still exihibit the main sources of sulfur dioxide emissions, which have remained the same.
Graphs from Environment Canada <http://www.ec.gc.ca/acidrain/acidfact.html>