According to the analysis, coal consumption was the highest contributor to sulphur emissions worldwide, followed by metal smelting and oil burning.
China is the world's leading emitter of sulfur, according to a recent study.
An analysis of global sulfur emissions estimates that span two centuries shows the United States, Europe and the former Soviet Union have stabilized their emissions over the past 20 years, while mainland China's sulfur emissions have soared. According to the analysis coal consumption was the highest contributor to sulfur emissions worldwide, followed by metal smelting and oil burning. Husar and his colleagues relied on a vast network to get their fuel and metal smelting data. Nineteenth century data were found in literature and in occasional obscure publications. The 20th century data were mostly based on United Nations publications, mineral yearbooks of the U.S. Bureau of Mines and Her Majesty's Stationary Office in London.