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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-607
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-607
28 Feb 2025
 | 28 Feb 2025

Formation of Chlorinated Organic Compounds from Cl Atom-Initiated Reactions of Aromatics and Their Detection in Suburban Shanghai

Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang

Abstract. Chlorine (Cl) atoms generated from the photolysis of atmospheric reactive chlorine species can rapidly react with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), forming chlorine- and non-chlorine-containing low-volatile oxygenated organic molecules. Yet, the formation mechanisms of chlorine-containing oxygenated organic molecules (Cl-OOMs) from reactions of Cl atoms with aromatics in the presence and absence of NOx are not fully understood. Here, we investigated Cl-OOMs formation from Cl-initiated reactions of three typical aromatics (i.e., toluene, m-xylene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (1,2,4-TMB)) in the laboratory and searched for ambient gaseous Cl-OOMs in suburban Shanghai. From our laboratory experiments, 19 Cl-containing peroxyl radicals and a series of Cl-OOMs originating from the Cl-addition-initiated reaction were detected, which provides direct evidence that the Cl-addition-initiated reaction is a non-negligible pathway. In addition, a total of 51 gaseous Cl-OOMs were identified during the winter in suburban Shanghai, 38 of which were also observed in laboratory experiments, hinting that Cl-initiated oxidation of aromatics could serve as a source of Cl-OOMs in an anthropogenically influenced atmosphere. Toxicity evaluation of these Cl-OOMs shows potential adverse health effects. These findings demonstrate that Cl-OOMs can be efficiently formed via the Cl-addition pathway in the reactions between aromatics and Cl atoms and some of these Cl-OOMs could be toxic.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 Sep 2025
Formation of chlorinated organic compounds from Cl atom-initiated reactions of aromatics and their detection in suburban Shanghai
Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11247–11260, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11247-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11247-2025, 2025
Short summary
Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-607', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-607', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Apr 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-607', Anonymous Referee #1, 31 Mar 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-607', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Apr 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Lei Yao on behalf of the Authors (21 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (27 Jun 2025) by Tao Wang
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (12 Jul 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (13 Jul 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (22 Jul 2025) by Tao Wang
AR by Lei Yao on behalf of the Authors (31 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (09 Aug 2025) by Tao Wang
AR by Lei Yao on behalf of the Authors (11 Aug 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

25 Sep 2025
Formation of chlorinated organic compounds from Cl atom-initiated reactions of aromatics and their detection in suburban Shanghai
Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11247–11260, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11247-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11247-2025, 2025
Short summary
Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang
Chuang Li, Lei Yao, Yuwei Wang, Mingliang Fang, Xiaojia Chen, Lihong Wang, Yueyang Li, Gan Yang, and Lin Wang

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Short summary
Our laboratory experiments revealed that abundant Cl-OOMs were formed from the reactions between Cl atoms and aromatics, and Cl-addition was identified as a non-negligible pathway for the formation of Cl-OOMs. Furthermore, many ambient Cl-OOMs potentially derived from Cl atoms and aromatics were measured in suburban Shanghai and most of them have adverse health effects. These findings provide critical insights into the formation mechanisms of Cl-OOMs in polluted settings.
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