Application of copper(II)-based chemicals induces CH3Br and CH3Cl emissions from soil and seawater

Yi Jiao; Wanying Zhang; Jae Yun Robin Kim; Malte Julian Deventer; Julien Vollering; Robert C Rhew

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27779-3

Application of copper(II)-based chemicals induces CH₃Br and CH₃Cl emissions from soil and seawater

Nat Commun. 2022 Jan 10;13(1):47. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27779-3.

Authors

Yi Jiao^{1

2}, Wanying Zhang³, Jae Yun Robin Kim⁴, Malte Julian Deventer^{4

5}, Julien Vollering^{4

6}, Robert C Rhew^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geography, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. yi.jiao@bio.ku.dk.
² Terrestrial Ecology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, Copenhagen Ø, DK-2100, Denmark. yi.jiao@bio.ku.dk.
³ Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026, Hefei, China.
⁴ Department of Geography, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
⁵ ANECO Institut für Umweltschutz GmbH & Co., Hamburg, 21079, Germany.
⁶ Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
⁷ Department of Geography, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. rrhew@berkeley.edu.
⁸ Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. rrhew@berkeley.edu.

Abstract

Methyl bromide (CH₃Br) and methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) are major carriers of atmospheric bromine and chlorine, respectively, which can catalyze stratospheric ozone depletion. However, in our current understanding, there are missing sources associated with these two species. Here we investigate the effect of copper(II) on CH₃Br and CH₃Cl production from soil, seawater and model organic compounds: catechol (benzene-1,2-diol) and guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol). We show that copper sulfate (CuSO₄) enhances CH₃Br and CH₃Cl production from soil and seawater, and it may be further amplified in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or solar radiation. This represents an abiotic production pathway of CH₃Br and CH₃Cl perturbed by anthropogenic application of copper(II)-based chemicals. Hence, we suggest that the widespread application of copper(II) pesticides in agriculture and the discharge of anthropogenic copper(II) to the oceans may account for part of the missing sources of CH₃Br and CH₃Cl, and thereby contribute to stratospheric halogen load.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.