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Influence of Chlorine Emissions on Ozone Levels in the Troposphere
Citation:
SARWAR, G., R. Joseph, AND R. MATHUR. Influence of Chlorine Emissions on Ozone Levels in the Troposphere. Chapter 2, Douw G. Steyn and S.T. Rao (ed.), Air Pollution Modeling and its Applications XX. Springer Netherlands, , Netherlands, 2.23(C):237-240, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory′s (NERL′s) Atmospheric Modeling and Analysis Division (AMAD) conducts research in support of EPA′s mission to protect human health and the environment. AMAD′s research program is engaged in developing and evaluating predictive atmospheric models on all spatial and temporal scales for forecasting the Nation′s air quality and for assessing changes in air quality and air pollutant exposures, as affected by changes in ecosystem management and regulatory decisions. AMAD is responsible for providing a sound scientific and technical basis for regulatory policies based on air quality models to improve ambient air quality. The models developed by AMAD are being used by EPA, NOAA, and the air pollution community in understanding and forecasting not only the magnitude of the air pollution problem, but also in developing emission control policies and regulations for air quality improvements.
Description:
Chlorine emissions from cooling towers are emitted mainly as hypochlous acid, not as molecular chlorine. Chlorine emissions from cooling towers in electric utilities in the U.S. are estimated to be 4,400 tons per year. Molecular chlorine increases more tropospheric ozone than hypochlorus acid when an equal amount is present on a mole basis. Hypochlorus acid produces more ozone than molecular chlorine when a equal amount of chlorine is present on a mass basis.