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And although landfill operators routinely monitor for potentially dangerous gases, such as methane or sulfur dioxide, they typically don’t have instruments that would detect toxic contaminants in wildfire ash, like lead or asbestos.

After the balloon popped in the stratosphere, it released 811 grams of sulfur dioxide, an aerosol which reflects sunlight, resulting in a cooling effect on the planet.

It can result, above all, from the reaction of sulfur dioxide with hydroxyl radicals.

Their flare systems alone are permitted to torch flammable gases and emit tens of thousands of pounds of noxious sulfur dioxide emissions to avoid pent-up pressure during oil refining.

Because aerosol particles like sulfate and their precursors like sulfur dioxide reflect sunlight and help make clouds brighter, removing them means more of the sun's heat hits the ground.