New Paradigm: Coal Fly Ash as the Main Cause of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/aivp.105.13208Abstract
We provide further compelling evidence that aerosolized coal fly ash and its various components, especially iron, is the primary cause of stratospheric ozone depletion, not chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases, as “decreed” by the Montreal Protocol of 1989. Aerosolized coal fly ash is a toxic “witches’ brew” of numerous elements and substances that destroy ozone directly and indirectly by numerous chemical reactions, the full extent of which is not yet known. The prevailing CFC-ozone depletion theory is simply wrong, and does not account for multiple chemical and photochemical reactions that kill stratospheric ozone. We discuss the primary role of coal fly ash particles in ice nucleation and cloud formation in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, and dispel the notion that meteoric or extra-terrestrial material is responsible for polar stratospheric clouds. We provide extensive documentation that iron and several other elements found in coal fly ash are trapped in polar stratospheric clouds and destroy ozone by various means, especially when they are released in the spring. Recent scientific discoveries “fit together” to strongly support the New Paradigm of stratospheric ozone depletion by coal fly ash. The “World Not Avoided” by the Montreal Protocol is already here: The biosphere is in collapse with runaway global warming, and lethal ultraviolet radiation penetrating to Earth’s surface. This new paradigm shift must be operationalized. Time is critically short to salvage what we can of Earth’s vital life support systems, including the stratospheric ozone layer. We reiterate that all sources of aerosolized coal fly ash must be reduced and/or eliminated. All forms of geoengineering must stop immediately if we are to survive as a species. The deliberate assault on Earth’s natural processes, we allege, constitutes no less than acts of planetary treason.
References
Herndon, J.M. and M. Whiteside, Aerosolized coal fly ash particles, the main cause of stratospheric ozone depletion, not chlorofluorocarbon gases. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022. 10(3): p. 586-603.
Whiteside, M. and J.M. Herndon, Destruction of stratospheric ozone: Role of aerosolized coal fly ash iron. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022. 10(4): p. 143-153.
Chen, X., et al. Fly ash beneficiation with ozone: Mechanism of absorption suppression. in Abstracts of papers of the American Chemical Society. 2002. Amer Chemical Soc 1155 16TH ST, NW, Washington, DC 20036 USA.
Alebic-Juretic, A., T. Cvitas, and L. Klasinc, Ozone destruction on solid particles. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 1997. 44(1): p. 241-247.
Pedersen, K.H., et al., Post-treatment of fly ash by ozone in a fixed bed reactor. Energy & fuels, 2009. 23(1): p. 280-285.
Cataldo, F., Ozone reaction with carbon nanostructures 1: reaction between solid C60 and C70 fullerenes and ozone. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2007. 7(4-5): p. 1439-1445.
Cataldo, F., Ozone reaction with carbon nanostructures 2: The reaction of ozone with milled graphite and different carbon black grades. Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2007. 7(4-5): p. 1446-1454.
Razumovskii, S., et al., Carbon nanostructure reactivity: reactions of graphite powders with ozone. Fullerenes, Nanotubes, and Carbon Nonstructures, 2007. 15(1): p. 53-63.
NRC, Trace-element Geochemistry of Coal Resource Development Related to Environmental Quality and Health1980: National Academy Press.
Jiaxi, L., et al., The production and release of CFCs from coal combustion. Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition, 2003. 77(1): p. 81-85.
Michel, A., C. Usher, and V. Grassian, Heterogeneous and catalytic uptake of ozone on mineral oxides and dusts: A Knudsen cell investigation. Geophysical research letters, 2002. 29(14): p. 10-1-10-4.
Fenidel, W., et al., Interaction between carbon or iron aerosol particles and ozone. Atmospheric Environment, 1995. 29(9): p. 967-973.
Kopcewicz, B. and M. Kopcewicz, Iron-containing atmospheric aerosols. Hyperfine interactions, 1998. 111(1):
Chen, H., et al., Coal fly ash as a source of iron in atmospheric dust. Environmental Science & Technology, 2012. 46(4): p. 2112-2120.
Zhu, Y., et al., Iron solubility in fine particles associated with secondary acidic aerosols in east China. Environmental Pollution, 2020. 264: p. 114769.
Matsui, H., et al., Anthropogenic combustion iron as a complex climate forcer. Nature communications, 2018.
Liu, L., et al., Cloud scavenging of anthropogenic refractory particles at a mountain site in North China.
Herndon, J.M., Air pollution, not greenhouse gases: The principal cause of global warming. J. Geog. Environ. Earth Sci. Intn., 2018. 17(2): p. 1-8.
Herndon, J.M., Role of atmospheric convection in global warming. J. Geog. Environ. Earth Sci. Intn., 2019.
Herndon, J.M., True science for government leaders and educators: The main cause of global warming. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2020. 7(7): p. 106-114.
Ziemann, P.J. and R. Atkinson, Kinetics, products, and mechanisms of secondary organic aerosol formation. Chemical Society Reviews, 2012. 41(19): p. 6582-6605.
Wang, J., et al., Aqueous production of secondary organic aerosol from fossil-fuel emissions in winter Beijing haze. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021. 118(8): p. e2022179118.
Yu, J.Z., et al., When aerosol sulfate goes up, so does oxalate: Implication for the formation mechanisms of oxalate. Environmental science & technology, 2005. 39(1): p. 128-133.
Lin, Q., et al., In-cloud formation of secondary species in iron-containing particles. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2019. 19(2): p. 1195-1206.
Simpson, W.R., et al., Halogens and their role in polar boundary-layer ozone depletion. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2007. 7(16): p. 4375-4418.
Read, K.A., et al., Extensive halogen-mediated ozone destruction over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Nature, 2008. 453(7199): p. 1232-1235.
Peng, X., et al., An unexpected large continental source of reactive bromine and chlorine with significant impact on wintertime air quality. National science review, 2021. 8(7): p. nwaa304.
Keppler, F., et al., Halocarbons produced by natural oxidation processes during degradation of organic matter. Nature, 2000. 403(6767): p. 298-301.
Keppler, F., et al., Correction: Halocarbons produced by natural oxidation processes during degradation of organic matter. Nature, 2001. 409(6818): p. 382-382.
Tubbesing, C., et al. Iron Mineral Catalyzed CH Activation As a Potential Pathway for Halogenation Processes. in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. 2014.
Comba, P., et al., Iron-catalysed oxidation and halogenation of organic matter in nature. Environmental Chemistry, 2015. 12(4): p. 381-395.
Colombo, A., et al., Degradation of toxic halogenated organic compounds by iron-containing mono-, bi-and trimetallic particles in water. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2015. 431: p. 48-60.
Jeen, S.-W., et al., Degradation of chlorofluorocarbons using granular iron and bimetallic irons. Journal of contaminant hydrology, 2014. 158: p. 55-64.
Hobbs, P.V., J.L. Stith, and L.F. Radke, Cloud-active nuclei from coal-fired electric power plants and their interactions with clouds. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 1980. 19(4): p. 439-451.
Parungo, F.P., P.A. Allee, and H.K. Weickmann, Snowfall induced by a power plant plume. Geophysical research letters, 1978. 5(6): p. 515-517.
Parungo, F., et al., Nucleation properties of fly ash in a coal-fired power-plant plume. Atmospheric Environment (1967), 1978. 12(4): p. 929-935.
Umo, N., et al., Ice nucleation by combustion ash particles at conditions relevant to mixed-phase clouds. 2014.
Umo, N.S., et al., Enhanced ice nucleation activity of coal fly ash aerosol particles initiated by ice-filled pores.
Kilchhofer, K., F. Mahrt, and Z.A. Kanji, The role of cloud processing for the ice nucleating ability of organic aerosol and coal fly ash particles. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 2021. 126(10): p. e2020JD033338.
Hoffmann, P., et al., Speciation of iron in atmospheric aerosol samples. Journal of Aerosol Science, 1996.
Chong, E., et al., Ice nucleation activity of iron oxides via immersion freezing and an examination of the high ice nucleation activity of FeO. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2021. 23(5): p. 3565-3573.
Siefert, R.L., et al., Iron photochemistry of aqueous suspensions of ambient aerosol with added organic acids. Geochimica et cosmochimica acta, 1994. 58(15): p. 3271-3279.
Alaghmand, M. and N.V. Blough, Source-dependent variation in hydroxyl radical production by airborne particulate matter. Environmental science & technology, 2007. 41(7): p. 2364-2370.
Loegager, T., et al., Oxidation of ferrous ions by ozone in acidic solutions. Inorganic Chemistry, 1992. 31(17):
Yan, L., J. Bing, and H. Wu, The behavior of ozone on different iron oxides surface sites in water. Scientific reports, 2019. 9(1): p. 1-10.
Cziczo, D.J., et al., Clarifying the dominant sources and mechanisms of cirrus cloud formation. Science, 2013.
Bernhard, G.H., et al., Updated analysis of data from Palmer Station, Antarctica (64° S), and San Diego, California (32° N), confirms large effect of the Antarctic ozone hole on UV radiation. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2022. 21(3): p. 373-384.
Witze, A., Rare ozone hole opens over Arctic--and it's big. Nature, 2020. 580(7801): p. 18-20.
Lu, Q.-B., Observation of large and all-season ozone losses over the tropics. AIP Advances, 2022. 12(7): p.
Braham Jr, R.R. and P. Spyers-Duran, Survival of cirrus crystals in clear air. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 1967. 6(6): p. 1053-1061.
Bogdan, A., Ice clouds: Atmospheric ice nucleation concept versus the physical chemistry of freezing atmospheric drops, 2018, ACS Publications. p. 7777-7781.
David, R.O., et al., Pore condensation and freezing is responsible for ice formation below water saturation for porous particles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019. 116(17): p. 8184-8189.
Crutzen, P.J. and F. Arnold, Nitric acid cloud formation in the cold Antarctic stratosphere: A major cause for the springtime ‘ozone hole’. Nature, 1986. 324(6098): p. 651-655.
Tritscher, I., et al., Polar stratospheric clouds: Satellite observations, processes, and role in ozone depletion. Reviews of geophysics, 2021. 59(2): p. e2020RG000702.
Plane, J.M., et al., Removal of meteoric iron on polar mesospheric clouds. Science, 2004. 304(5669): p. 426-
James, A.D., et al., Nucleation of nitric acid hydrates in polar stratospheric clouds by meteoric material.
Saunders, R., et al., Interactions of meteoric smoke particles with sulphuric acid in the Earth's stratosphere.
Handy, R. and D. Davidson. On the curious resemblance between fly ash and meteoritic dust. in Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science. 1953.
Rosen, J.M., Stratospheric dust and its relationship to the meteoric influx. Space Science Reviews, 1969. 9(1):
Pierce, J.R., et al., Efficient formation of stratospheric aerosol for climate engineering by emission of condensible vapor from aircraft. Geophysical Research Letters, 2010. 37: p. L18805.
Ross, M. and J.A. VeddA, The policy and science of rocket emissions. Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation, 2018: p. 2-10.
Murphy, D.M., et al., Radiative and chemical implications of the size and composition of aerosol particles in the existing or modified global stratosphere. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2021. 21(11): p. 8915-8932.
Peterson, D.A., et al., Wildfire-driven thunderstorms cause a volcano-like stratospheric injection of smoke. NPJ climate and atmospheric science, 2018. 1(1): p. 1-8.
Bian, J., et al., Transport of Asian surface pollutants to the global stratosphere from the Tibetan Plateau region during the Asian summer monsoon. National Science Review, 2020. 7(3): p. 516-533.
Yu, P., et al., Efficient transport of tropospheric aerosol into the stratosphere via the Asian summer monsoon anticyclone. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2017. 114(27): p. 6972-6977.
Besedina, Y.N. and S. Popel. Synoptic-scale cyclonic vortices and possible transport of fine particles from the troposphere into the stratosphere. in Doklady Earth Sciences. 2008.
Johnston, H.S., Pollution of the stratosphere. Environmental conservation, 1974. 1(3): p. 163-176.
Weimer, M., et al., Mountain-wave-induced polar stratospheric clouds and their representation in the global chemistry model ICON-ART. Atmospheric chemistry and physics, 2021. 21(12): p. 9515-9543.
Adachi, K., et al., Meteoritic materials within sulfate aerosol particles in the troposphere are detected with transmission electron microscopy. Communications Earth & Environment, 2022. 3(1): p. 1-9.
Nielsen, J.K., et al., Solid particles in the tropical lowest stratosphere. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 2007. 7(3): p. 685-695.
Spackman, J., et al., Aircraft observations of rapid meridional transport from the tropical tropopause layer into the lowermost stratosphere: Implications for midlatitude ozone. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 2007. 112(D12).
Testa Jr, J.P., et al., Collection of microparticles at high balloon altitudes in the stratosphere. Earth and planetary science letters, 1990. 98(3-4): p. 287-302.
Gerding, M., et al. Observation of an unusual mid-stratospheric aerosol layer in the Arctic: possible sources and implications for polar vortex dynamics. in Annales Geophysicae. 2003. Copernicus GmbH.
Rosinski, J., et al., Cirrus clouds as collectors of aerosol particles. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1970.
Doyle, L.J., T.L. Hopkins, and P.R. Betzer, Black magnetic spherule fallout in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Science, 1976. 194(4270): p. 1157-1159.
Blaha, U., et al., Micro-scale grain-size analysis and magnetic properties of coal-fired power plant fly ash and its relevance for environmental magnetic pollution studies. Atmospheric Environment, 2008. 42(36): p. 8359-
Horng, C.-S., et al., Air pollution history elucidated from anthropogenic spherules and their magnetic signatures in marine sediments offshore of Southwestern Taiwan. Journal of Marine Systems, 2009. 76(4): p. 468-478.
Oldfield, F., K. Tolonen, and R. Thompson, History of particulate atmospheric pollution from magnetic measurements in dated Finnish peat profiles. Ambio, 1981: p. 185-188.
Herndon, J.M., M. Whiteside, and I. Baldwin, Fifty Years after “How to Wreck the Environment”: Anthropogenic Extinction of Life on Earth. J. Geog. Environ. Earth Sci. Intn., 2018. 16(3): p. 1-15.
Cisowski, S.M., Magnetic properties of K/T and E/O microspherules: origin by combustion? Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1988. 88(1-2): p. 193-208.
Chagnon, C.W. and C.E. Junge, The vertical distribution of sub-micron particles in the stratosphere. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 1961. 18(6): p. 746-752.
Murphy, D., et al., Observations of the chemical composition of stratospheric aerosol particles. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 2014. 140(681): p. 1269-1278.
Xu, L., et al., The composition of individual aerosol particle in the troposphere and stratosphere over Xianghe (39.45 N, 117.0 E), China. Atmospheric Environment, 2001. 35(18): p. 3145-3153.
Hofmann, D., et al., Increase in background stratospheric aerosol observed with lidar at Mauna Loa Observatory and Boulder, Colorado. Geophysical Research Letters, 2009. 36(15).
Herndon, J.M. and M. Whiteside, Contamination of the biosphere with mercury: Another potential consequence of on-going climate manipulation using aerosolized coal fly ash J. Geog. Environ. Earth Sci. Intn., 2017. 13(1): p. 1-11.
Hall, B., The gas phase oxidation of elemental mercury by ozone, in Mercury as a Global Pollutant1995, Springer. p. 301-315.
Wen, Z., et al., Mechanism and kinetic study on elemental mercury oxidation in flue gas by ozone injection. Ozone: Science & Engineering, 2018. 40(1): p. 29-36
Saiz-Lopez, A., et al., Boundary layer halogens in coastal Antarctica. Science, 2007. 317(5836): p. 348-351.
Atale, S., et al., Ozone reactions with various carbon materials. Jap Pat CA, 1995. 123: p. 121871.
Zhang, H., J.Y. Lee, and H. Liu, Ozone Decomposition on Defective Graphene: Insights from Modeling. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2021. 125(20): p. 10948-10954.
Michel, A., C. Usher, and V. Grassian, Reactive uptake of ozone on mineral oxides and mineral dusts. Atmospheric Environment, 2003. 37(23): p. 3201-3211.
Coates Fuentes, Z.L., T.M. Kucinski, and R.Z. Hinrichs, Ozone decomposition on kaolinite as a function of monoterpene exposure and relative humidity. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2018. 2(1): p. 21-30.
Lasne, J., M.N. Romanias, and F. Thevenet, Ozone uptake by clay dusts under environmental conditions. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2018. 2(9): p. 904-914.
Hanisch, F. and J. Crowley, Ozone decomposition on Saharan dust: an experimental investigation. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2002. 2(6): p. 1809-1845.
Xu, Z., et al., A novel γ-like MnO2 catalyst for ozone decomposition in high humidity conditions. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021. 420: p. 126641.
Heisig, C., W. Zhang, and S.T. Oyama, Decomposition of ozone using carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts. Applied catalysis B: environmental, 1997. 14(1-2): p. 117-129.
Kashtanov, L., N. Ivanova, and B. Rizhov, Catalytic activity of metals in ozone decomposition. J. Applied Chemistry, 1936. 9: p. 2176-2182.
Reckhow, D.A., et al., Oxidation Of Iron And Manganese By Ozone. Ozone: Science & Engineering, 1991. 13(6):
Emelyanova, G., V. Lebedev, and N. Kobozev, Catalytic activity of noble metals in ozone destruction. J Phys Chem, 1964. 38: p. 170-180.
Herndon, J.M. and M. Whiteside, Collapse of Earth's biosphere: A case of planetary treason. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2022. 9(8): p. 259-281.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Mark Whiteside, J. Marvin Herndon
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
