Trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride and its relationship to sulfur hexafluoride and chlorofluorocarbon-12 in the atmosphere near the New York City metropolitan area

Abstract

Trifluoromethyl sulfur pentafluoride (SF5CF3), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2) (also referred to as CFC-12) were measured simultaneously in the atmosphere at a site 25 km north of New York City over a period of 6 months with continuous measurements every 25 min for 4 months. The SF5CF3 record showed little variability and its concentration appeared close to the remote atmospheric concentration. The concentrations of SF6 and CFC-12 had numerous spikes well in excess of their remote atmospheric concentrations indicating the presence of local sources. The lack of SF5CF3 spikes reveals that the usage of SF6 in the New York metropolitan area does not result in significant production of SF5CF3, and also that there is no significant production by industrial and manufacturing processes in the region.