sulfur dioxide levels

St. Bernard Parish Louisiana experienced 22 days in  May 2012  with sulfur dioxide levels above 12 parts per billion SO2.  At 12 ppb SO2, sulfur dioxide is said to cause headaches and other adverse quality of life. 

The EPA one-hour health standard is 75 ppb SO2.  St Bernard Parish experienced three days in May 2012 with sulfur dioxide levels above that health standard.  Those SO2 levels were 120 ppb, 121.3 ppb and 77.5 ppb SO2.



Louisiana DEQ has designated St Bernard Parish non-attainment for sulfur dioxide levels and EPA is expected to make a formal announcement this summer 2012.


 On June 2, 2010, the U.S. EPA established a new 1-hour Sulfur Dioxide standard, effective August 23, 2010, which is based on the 3-year average of the annual 99th percentile of 1-hour daily maximum concentrations.  EPA expects to designate areas of non-attainment for the new health sulfur standard by June 2012.