Phosgene in the ambient air
Abstract
IN recent years the atmosphere has become contaminated with a large number of halogenated compounds. Whereas inert fluorocarbons are suspect as precursors of stratospheric ozone-destroying chlorine atoms, other halocarbons, such as vinyl chloride, chloroform and trichloroethylene, have been found to be carcinogens1,2. We present here the first measurements of ambient phosgene (COCl2), and demonstrate that chloroethylenes (primarily C2Cl4 and C2HCl3), which are emitted worldwide in extremely large quantities (1.5 × 106 t in 1975), photodecompose to form highly toxic species such as phosgene and chloroacetylchlorides. A consideration of the sources, the distribution, and the fate of these species suggests that a significant environmental impact is possible. The results presented here are based on laboratory and field studies conducted within California in 1976.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- December 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1038/264428a0
- Bibcode:
- 1976Natur.264..428S