Economic Benefits of Chlorine Chemistry
 |
Chlorine chemistry is critical to North American manufacturing, and consumers benefit from chlorine chemistry every day. While probably best known for its role in drinking water and pool water disinfection, chlorine and chlorine-based compounds and processes are also used to help produce over 93 percent of most prescribed pharmaceuticals and 86 percent of crop protection compounds. Chlorine chemistry is essential to the manufacture of such diverse products as intravenous blood bags, bullet-resistant gear and solar energy cells. Consumers derive economic benefits from the involvement of chlorine chemistry in critical aspects of healthcare, the nation’s drinking water supply, agriculture, construction, renewable energy and energy efficiency, communications and technological innovation.
The American Chemistry Council’s Chlorine Chemistry Division has analyzed and quantified the value of chlorine chemistry to the North American consumer in nine essential end use applications: Pharmaceuticals, Water Treatment, Polyvinyl Chloride, Silicon-based Products, Crop Protection Compounds, Polyurethane, Fluorocarbon-based Products, Titanium and Titanium Dioxide, and Bleaches and Disinfectants. All told, the use of chlorine chemistry in these applications represents an annual benefit to consumers of over $634 billion. Compromising the chlorine supply chain puts more than one-half trillion dollars of economic benefits at risk. (It is also important to note that chlorine is used in hundreds of other applications that were not considered in this analysis.)
The chart above demonstrates the value of chlorine chemistry in each of the nine applications studied. Interestingly, the economic value of chlorine chemistry in a particular application bears little relation to the volume of chlorine used in that application. For example, at $450 billion per year, the economic value of chlorine chemistry to the pharmaceutical sector is very high. Yet, only about one and one-half percent of the chlorine consumed in North America is used to help produce pharmaceuticals. The greatest single use of chlorine in North America is for the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride, a durable, versatile plastic used for everything from long-lasting, corrosion-resistant pipes for drinking water distribution to energy-efficient windows and medical equipment.
Chlorine chemistry is…
- Essential to more than 93 percent of pharmaceuticals sold in the U.S. Pharmaceuticals are a critical component of the healthcare system, saving lives and improving care. For U.S. and Canadian consumers, the total benefit of chlorine chemistry in pharmaceuticals is estimated to be $450 billion per year.
Chlorine Chemistry: Providing pharmaceuticals that are essential2health - Essential to the production of high-purity silicon needed for semiconductors, solar panels, silicone-based products and glass optical fibers. For U.S. and Canadian consumers, the total benefit of chlorine chemistry in purifying silicon is about $19 billion per year.
Chlorine Chemistry: essential2fiber optics - Essential to 86 percent of crop protection chemicals sold in the U.S. For U.S. and Canadian consumers, the net economic benefit of using chlorine chemistry to produce chemicals that protect the harvest is estimated to be about $15 billion per year.
Chlorine Chemistry: essential2crop protection - Essential to producing most polyurethane-based products such as furniture cushions, mattresses, spandex fiber, automotive trim, foam insulation and oriented strand board (OSB) wood products. The net economic benefit to consumers is about $5 billion per year.
Chlorine Chemistry: essential2toasty warm - Essential to titanium dioxide, the most common white pigment used in paints, coatings, plastics, paper, inks, fibers, foods and cosmetics. Titanium dioxide is also used to provide UV protection in sunscreens and cosmetics. Chlorine chemistry is used to transform and purify processed titanium ore into titanium dioxide. A recent economic analysis determined that using chlorine chemistry to produce titanium dioxide saves U.S. and Canadian consumers at least $1.4 billion per year compared to alternate technologies.
Titanium Dioxide: essential2everyday - Essential to producing silicone, a substance that makes “breathable” contact lenses possible. A 2006 analysis estimated that the annual economic benefit of silicone products, including contact lenses, to U.S. and Canadian consumers is approximately $1 billion.
Chlorine Chemistry: essential2vision
