Journal Article

CCl4 emissions in eastern China during 2021–2022 and exploration of potential new sources

Chen, Ao, Feng, Rui, Prinn, Ronald G., Li, Xinhe, Du, Qianna, Sun, Yahui, Cai, Zhouxiang, Ma, Mengyue, Li, Bowei, Huang, Jiahuan, Chen, Di, Zhang, Lulu, Hu, Xiaoyi, Hu, Liting, Fang, Xuekun

2024

Overview

According to the Montreal Protocol, the production and consumption of ozone-layer-depleting CCl 4 for dispersive applications was globally phased out by 2010, including China. However, continued CCl 4 emissions were disclosed, with the latest CCl 4 emissions unknown in eastern China. In the current study, based on the atmospheric measurements of ~12,000 air samples taken at two sites in eastern China, the 2021–2022 CCl 4 emissions are quantified as 7.6 ± 1.7 gigagrams per year. This finding indicates that CCl 4 emissions continued after being phased out for dispersive uses in 2010. Subsequently, our study identifies potential industrial sources (manufacture of general purpose machinery and manufacture of raw chemical materials, and chemical products) of CCl 4 emissions. The Montreal Protocol globally phased out ozone-layer depleting CCl 4 by 2010. However, atmospheric measurements show eastern China emitted ~7.6 gigagrams/year in 2021–2022. Further, industrial sources of ongoing CCL 4 emissions are identified.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 704/106/35 / 704/106/694 / 704/172/4081 / 704/844/2175 / Air sampling / Carbon tetrachloride / Depletion / Emissions / Estimates / Humanities and Social Sciences / Montreal Protocol / multidisciplinary / Ozone / Ozone depletion / Raw materials / Science / Science (multidisciplinary)