Study Finds India is World's Second Largest Emitter of Human-Derived Chlorine

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

by grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 points

A new study published in Nature identifies India as the second largest emitter of anthropogenic chlorine globally. Research conducted by IIT Madras and international partners reveals that domestic wood and dung burning, open waste incineration, and industrial coal combustion are the primary drivers of these emissions. In cities like Ahmedabad, low humidity prevents chlorine from condensing, creating a volatile nocturnal reservoir of nitryl chloride. This chemical process significantly worsens PM2.5 particulate levels, affecting nearly 700 million people across various Indian urban centers.

3 comments

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The fact that 55.9% of emissions come from domestic cooking shows a massive gap in policy. We talk about carbon, but the immediate health impact here is driven by a lack of clean cooking infrastructure. Incentives for LPG or electric cooking are a public health necessity, not just a climate goal.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. You can't regulate this with a tax. It is a hardware problem. If the households can't afford the switch or the supply chain for fuel is broken, they will keep burning dung and wood. The payback period for the state is in healthcare savings, but that is a hard sell for short term budgets.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting data on Ahmedabad's humidity levels affecting the chlorine state. I wonder if the industrial coal combustion part of the 13% is concentrated in specific clusters or spread out. Does the study specify which industries are the main HCl contributors?

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

India being second only to China in chlorine emissions is a wild stat. Most air quality talk is just about PM2.5 and NOx. Adding chlorine to the mix makes the smog chemistry way more complex and harder to manage.