Potential environmental impact of the chlorine-containing disinfectants usage during the COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: Chlorine radicals (Cl) play a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic significantly increased the use of chlorine-containing disinfectants in China, leading to enhanced emissions of chlorine gas (Cl₂) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl). In this study, we use the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model with updated chlorine chemistry to evaluate the potential air quality impact of chlorine emissions from disinfectant usage during February 2020, a month with a large outbreak of COVID-19 in mainland China. Results indicate that during the pandemic, there was a sharp increase of reactive chlorine emissions, with Cl₂ and HOCl emissions reaching 773.9 t and 5,913.1 t, making 3 times increase. The emissions of chlorine enhanced

SUBMITTER: Yi X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12180931 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature