SO2 Average Values for 2012-2014 in NC Counties

In 2010, EPA revised the sulfur dioxide (SO2) standard to a 1-hour standard at a level of 75 parts per billion (ppb). To determine if the standard is met, a continuous 3-year average concentration is calculated from daily measurements and compared to the requirements of the standard.

The table below shows the 3-year average SO2 concentrations for the 5 highest reported values by county for 2012-2014.

SO2 levels in North Carolina are low, ranging from 1.3 percent to 28 percent of the standard. These values are lower than the previous 3-year period.

Additionally, for many years, SO2 has been measured at several sites across the state on a rotating basis.  This monitoring is conducted at five sites operated for 12 months every 3 years.   For these sites we do not have continuous 3-year averages.  The overall monitoring conducted at those sites show no exceedances of the standard.

A map of North Carolina design values in counties with sulfur dioxide monitors from 2012 to 2014. These are 99th percentile averages.

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County3-Year Average (99th Percentile) 
Beaufort21 ppb
Caldwell9 ppb
Forsyth9 ppb
New Hanover17 ppb
Rockingham9 ppb