Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from U.S. Pulp and Paper Mills, 1980-2005.

Comprehensive surveys conducted at 5-yr intervals were used to estimate sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from U.S. pulp and paper mills for 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005. Over the 25-yr period, paper production increased by 50%, whereas total SO2 emissions declined by 60% to 340,000 short tons (t) and total NOx emissions decreased approximately 15% to 230,000 t. The downward emission trends resulted from a combination of factors, including reductions in oil and coal use, steadily declining fuel sulfur content, lower pulp and paper production in recent years, increased use of flue gas desulfurization systems on boilers, growing use of combustion modifications and add-on control systems to reduce boiler and gas turbine NOx emissions, and improvements in kraft recovery furnace operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]