Sulfur is an essential element for life that cycles through the environment. It exists in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide gas emitted by volcanoes and factories. Microorganisms in soil and sediments convert atmospheric sulfur dioxide into sulfates and sulfides that plants take up through their roots. Animals then obtain sulfur by eating plants or other animals. When organisms die and decompose, sulfur is released back into the environment as sulfates and sulfides through decay, completing the cycle.