According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of sulphur dioxide emissions?

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points 

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the largest source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions is from Power plants using fossil fuels
• Power plants are the primary sources of sulfur dioxide emissions.
• When fossil fuels such as coal and oil are burned at power plants, they release large amounts of SO2 into the atmosphere.
• This is because these fuels contain sulfur compounds that become sulfur dioxide when burned.
• Power plants, particularly those that burn coal, are responsible for the majority of sulfur dioxide emissions in many countries, contributing significantly to air pollution and acid rain problems.
• The other options, while they also contribute to SO2 emissions, are not the primary sources when compared to fossil fuel-burning power plants:
• Locomotives using fossil fuels and ships using fossil fuels do emit sulfur dioxide, but their total contributions are smaller compared to stationary sources like power plants.
• Extraction of metals from ores can indeed release sulfur dioxide (especially processes like smelting), but this source is also not as significant as emissions from power plants.
• Therefore, power plants that use fossil fuels are recognized as the largest single source of sulfur dioxide emissions.