Anthropogenic organosulphur compounds

The main channels of organic sulphur pollution into the marine environment are aerosol transport of land-derived materials and precipitation, as well as terrestrial run-off. 

Paper mills using Kraft s process, in which certain types of wood are pulped in digesters with a strong solution of sodium hydroxide, sodium sulphate and sodium sulphide, contribute MeSH, DMS, and DMDS (Sivela and Sundman, 1975) to environmental pollution. 

Annual global organic sulphur emissions (after Hitchcock, 1976) 

Material Average standing crop (g) Reported DMS-S emissions (10 g gm h ) Assumed mean S emissions (10 g gm h ) Calculated global S emissions (10 g S yr ) 

Contamination of coastal waters results from the discharge of anionic surfactants used in detergents such as alkyl-arylsulphonates and some alkyl sulphates. Of more localized significance, too, is terrestrial run-off of organo-sulphur containing fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides (see Meyer, 1977 Nyborg, 1978). 

---