California Leads by Far in Emissions of This Greenhouse Gas

Despite California’s efforts in greenhouse gas reduction, the state is the leading emitter in the country of a less-familiar greenhouse gas, sulfuryl fluoride, according to a recent study out of Johns Hopkins University. The study, published last week, revealed California emits 60 percent to 85 percent of the gas, which is found in pesticide used to kill termites and other wood-infesting insects. The majority of such emissions stem from Southern California, specifically Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. “When we finally mapped it out, the results were puzzling because the emissions were all coming from one place,” said co-author Scot Miller, an assistant professor of environmental health and engineering at the university....