First atmospheric observations of three chlorofluorocarbons

  • We report the first atmospheric observations of the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) trifluorochloroethene, 3-chloropentafluoropropene and 4,4-dichlorohexafluoro-1-butene by means of Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture and Mass Spectrometric detection (GC-ECD-MS) in air samples taken at the Taunus Observatory operated by the University of Frankfurt (Main) and the Jungfraujoch High Altitude Research Station in Switzerland. These substances belong to a class of CFCs containing a double bond and are suspected to originate from the production and thermal degradation of widely used fluoropolymers like polychlorotrifluoroethene (PCTFE). Their atmospheric lifetimes are expected to be rather short. A quantitative calibration could only be derived for trifluorochloroethene but not for the other species by now. Thus, we use a relative sensitivity method to get a first indication of the observed atmospheric abundances. Identification was possible because of an air plume containing high concentrations of these substances. We suggest that the abundances found on this occasion originated from a local source. However, we have also observed the novel CFCs in air masses representative of background conditions, though with much lower concentrations. These species and some of their degradation products are toxic and could also be relevant for stratospheric and tropospheric ozone depletion.

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Metadaten
Author:Johannes Christian LaubeORCiDGND, Andreas EngelORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30-58001
Parent Title (German):Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2008/10/06
Year of first Publication:2008
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2008/10/06
Volume:8
First Page:5143
Last Page:5149
Note:
© Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Source:Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 8, 5143-5149, 2008 ; www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/5143/2008/
HeBIS-PPN:206045441
Institutes:Geowissenschaften / Geographie / Geowissenschaften
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 55 Geowissenschaften, Geologie / 550 Geowissenschaften
Licence (German):License LogoDeutsches Urheberrecht