... asthma and chronic bronchitis. The principal source of this gas is power stations burning fossil fuels which contain sulphur. Major SO2 problems now only tend to occur in cities in which coal is still widely used for domestic heating, in industry and in power stations. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, practically odorless and tasteless toxic gas which is emitted into the atmosphere as a result of combustion processes, and is also formed by the oxidation of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. CO at levels found in ambient air may reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It survives in the atmosphere for a period of approximately 1 month but is eventually oxidised to carbon dioxide (CO2). Nitrogen oxides are formed during high temperature combustion processes from the oxidation of nitrogen in the air or fuel. The principal source of nitrogen oxides - nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), collectively ...

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