5.3.
Regional environmental pollution effects
5.3.1. Sulphur compounds
Today the main source of sulphur compounds in the atmo sphere
is human economic activity. In 2006, it created approximately 65%
of the total amount of sulphur compounds in the atmo sphere, and
sulphur dioxide (SO
2
) made up 90% of this amount.
Sulphur is quite a widespread element on the Earth, and
most of the sulphur compounds are found in the litho sphere and
hydrosphere. The emission of sulphur compounds into the environ-
ment has considerably increased since the beginning of intensive
human economic activity associated with the industrial revolution.
The main processes in which sulphur compounds are released from
the litho sphere are ore extraction (several metals are found in the
form of sulphide and sulphate ores), fuel (coal, oil, peat) combustion
and fertiliser production. The main source of sulphur dioxide
emission is energy production, i.e. energy production by combusting
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