The coal fired boiler was found to contain chlorine in emission particles. The most important manmade emissions of chlorine are from processes involving the production, transportation, and use of chlorine. The stability of free chlorine in natural water is very low because it is a strong oxidizing agent and rapidly oxidizes inorganic compounds. It also oxidizes organic compounds, but more slowly than inorganic compounds. The presence of light, even in intensities of only a few percent of full mid-day sun, may effect significantly both the rate and mechanism of the dissipation of chlorine in seawater.
Light increases the rate of dissipation of hypobromite formed from the added bromine.
Bromate is also a product formed when chlorinated seawater is exposed to light, and its rate increases with increasing light intensities. The initial loss reaches a saturation level that varies widely between natural seawater samples and appears to be related to a true organic demand. Losses continue over 10 day periods and are pronounced in seawater containing bromine. Other studies have indicated that the loss of chlorine is associated with the bromide chemical system in seawater. The fate of the lost chlorine was not determined.