Measuring Progress 2001-2005: The National Priority Chemicals Trends Report
Tracking Progress Toward GPRA Goals | Trends in Priority Chemical Reductions | Trends in Management Methods | Report Highlights | Trends Report | Priority Chemical Query Tool
EPA's National Priority Chemicals Trends Report evaluates and analyzes the trends for quantities and management of 24 of the 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs) that industrial and federal government facilities reported to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for reporting years 2001 through 2005. TRI is a publicly available database with information on the use, release, and management of more than 650 toxic chemicals at industrial and federal facilities. PCs are chemicals that are persistent, highly toxic, and can accumulate in living organisms.
The Trends Report is used for:
- showing progress toward achieving EPA's Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) national goal to reduce PCs in waste, and
- identifying opportunities to reduce these PCs in concert with the objectives of the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), including assisting EPA in identifying potential partners for the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP).
Tracking Progress Toward the GPRA Goal to Reduce PCs
We use this Report to show progress made in achieving EPA’s Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) national goal to reduce PCs in wastes. Our current five year GPRA goal is to: By 2011, reduce 4 million pounds of priority chemicals from waste streams as measured by National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) contributions, Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), and other tools used by EPA to achieve priority chemical reductions. We measure this goal through the achievements of National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) partners. Visit our NPEP Partner Status Boards to view our progress in achieving this goal.
Priority Chemical | FY 2004 Reductions Achieved (pounds) | FY 2005 Reductions Achieved (pounds) | FY 2006 Reductions Achieved (pounds) | FY 2007 Reductions Achieved(pounds) | Total (pounds) FY2004- 2007 | Percent of Total FY2004- 2007 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lead and lead compounds | 37,527 | 822,564 | 1,245,209 | 21,038 | 2,126,338 | 69.7% |
Naphthalene | 0 | 103,746 | 0 | 519,632 | 623,378 | 20.4% |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds | 0 | 9,318 | 0 | 219,529 | 228,847 | 7.5% |
Mercury and mercury compounds | 0 | 4,346 | 26,750 | 7,239 | 38,335 | 1.3% |
Dibenzofuran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23,830 | 23,830 | 0.8% |
Polychlorinated biphenyls | 0 | 0 | 4,335 | 4,600 | 8,935 | 0.3% |
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds | 0 | 0 | 144 | 0 | 144 | 0.0% |
Total | 37,527 | 939,974 | 1,276,438 | 795,868 | 3,049,807 | 100.0% |
Trends in the Generation of Priority Chemicals
The Trends Report also provides information on and analyzes trends related to the quantities and management methods of PCs contained in RCRA Subtitle C hazardous wastes and non-hazardous RCRA Subtitle D industrial wastes for the nation, EPA Regions, states, counties, industry sectors, and federal facilities. We analyze PC trends based on the most recent five years of TRI data available: 2001-2005. This analysis assists EPA in assessing chemical reduction priorities and identifying opportunities for eliminating or reducing PCs.
For 2005, facilities reported approximately 92.4 million pounds of PCs, representing an increase of almost 12.5 million pounds, or 16 percent, compared to the total quantity of PCs reported for 2001. From 2001 to 2003 the quantity of PCs decreased, coinciding with a decrease in the number of reporting facilities. Except for a slight increase in reporting facilities in 2004, the 5-year trend shows an overall decrease in the number of facilities reporting a PC quantity. Nonetheless, the total quantities of PCs increased in 2004 and again in 2005 (see the table and graph below).
TRI Reporting Year | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Quantity of PCs (pounds) | 79,878,698 | 75,091,369 | 73,777,674 | 80,579,865 | 92,374,665 |
Number of TRI Facilities Reporting PCQuantity | 5,668 | 5,578 | 5,519 | 5,531 | 5,453 |
In 2005, four of the PCs (lead and lead compounds, naphthalene, hexachlor-1,3-butadiene, and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) accounted for approximately 79 percent of the total national quantity of PCs.
Priority Chemical | 2001(pounds) | 2002(pounds) | 2003(pounds) | 2004(pounds) | 2005(pounds) | Percent of Total PC Quantity 2005) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lead and lead compounds | 36,214,205 | 34,087,265 | 35,009,254 | 32,298,128 | 36,114,646 | 39.1% |
Naphthalene | 9,999,356 | 11,033,067 | 10,294,634 | 12,975,756 | 17,213,217 | 18.6% |
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene | 6,404,741 | 5,167,385 | 5,566,299 | 7,874,707 | 10,120,647 | 11.0% |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) | 11,388,419 | 9,597,096 | 9,299,558 | 9,238,514 | 9,593,150 | 10.4% |
Hexachlorobenzene | 5,765,382 | 4,208,705 | 4,270,659 | 6,485,490 | 6,685,485 | 7.2% |
Hexachloroethane | 4,145,249 | 4,056,497 | 2,694,131 | 3,772,853 | 6,149,898 | 6.7% |
Phenanthrene | 236,791 | 2,309,918 | 1,817,968 | 2,376,755 | 1,429,592 | 1.5% |
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene | 2,144,696 | 1,527,029 | 1,674,802 | 1,888,685 | 1,269,422 | 1.4% |
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene | 990,940 | 455,559 | 470,333 | 559,411 | 689,704 | 0.7% |
Cadmium and cadmium compounds | 932,493 | 743,457 | 824,337 | 863,883 | 611,331 | 0.7% |
Anthracene | 360,837 | 345,499 | 419,243 | 520,669 | 601,914 | 0.7% |
Pendimethalin | 169,180 | 421,827 | 429,551 | 475,695 | 558,622 | 0.6% |
Pentachlorobenzene | 487,719 | 311,145 | 484,733 | 608,691 | 545,884 | 0.6% |
Quintozene | 215,122 | 205,107 | 235,816 | 280,987 | 303,237 | 0.3% |
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) |
55,665 | 104,806 | 54,426 | 67,758 | 143,591 | 0.2% |
Dibenzofuran | 66,726 | 288,926 | 75,605 | 24,942 | 139,428 | 0.2% |
Pentachlorophenol | 54,339 | 36,856 | 28,295 | 117,264 | 77,281 | 0.1% |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
132,565 | 110,027 | 47,267 | 60,900 | 76,664 | 0.1% |
Trifluralin | 92,863 | 62,544 | 57,392 | 81,668 | 46,563 | 0.1% |
2,4,5-trichlorophenol | 20,657 | 17,913 | 22,857 | 5,083 | 3,800 | 0.0% |
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds | 706 | 543 | 390 | 485 | 478 | 0.0% |
Heptachlor | 0 | 14 | 54 | 775 | 109 | 0.0% |
Lindane | 46 | 183 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Methoxychlor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 766 | 0 | 0.0% |
Total | 79,878,698 | 75,091,369 | 73,777,674 | 80,579,865 | 92,374,665 | 100.0% |
Trends in Management Methods for Priority Chemicals
The Trends Report presents an analysis of the trends seen in the management of 24 PCs between 2001and 2005. EPA and states use this information to identify potential waste minimization opportunities. See the following table for more information on the trends in PCs management from 2001-2005.
Compared to the quantities for 2001, some highlights in management of the PCs include:
Disposal
Approximately 40 million pounds, or 43 percent, of PCs were disposed of in 2005, 80 percent offsite.
Disposal quantities, both onsite and offsite disposal, increased. Onsite disposal of PCs reached a peak in 2002 and had been decreasing until 2005 when it increased sharply by approximately 780,000 pounds. Lead and lead compounds reported by four facilities, including three federal facilities, accounted for most of this increase.
Energy Recovery
Approximately 12.2 million pounds, or 13 percent, of PCs were managed using energy recovery in 2005, 58 percent onsite.
Treatment
Approximately 40.5 million pounds, or 44 percent, of PCs were treated in 2005, 96 percent onsite.
Recycling
Approximately 531 million pounds of PCs were recycled in 2005. This quantity was approximately six times larger than the other methods combined used to manage PCs.
The total recycling quantity decreased significantly, by approximately 180 million pounds, in 2005; both onsite and offsite recycling were comparably used. Offsite recycling has remained relatively steady since 2001 with an average recycled quantity of 243 million pounds per year; onsite recycling likewise remained relatively steady until 2005 when the recycled quantity decreased by approximately 159 million pounds. Although numerous facilities reported increased onsite recycling in 2005, these increases were overshadowed by a decrease of approximately 194 million pounds of recycled lead and lead compounds by a facility in Minnesota. This facility now believes it may have over reported recycling in years previous to 2005 and is considering revising these recycling quantities.
For the purposes of this Report, we primarily focus on the quantities of PCs we believe they offer the greatest opportunities for waste minimization, i.e., those quantities of PCs that are managed via onsite/offsite disposal, treatment, or energy recovery. Recycled quantities of the PCs are presented for the purpose of providing some perspective regarding how much of the PCs are already recycled compared to the quantities (disposal, treatment, energy recovery) potentially still available for waste minimization. See PC-TRI Methodology (PDF File, pages, KB) for more information on the methodology we use to calculate quantities of PCs and measure trends).
Management Method | TRI Reporting Year | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 (pounds) | 2002 (pounds) | 2003 (pounds) | 2004 (pounds) | 2005 (pounds) | |
Onsite Disposal | 6,845,069 | 8,021,327 | 7,392,373 | 7,089,448 | 7,855,346 |
Offsite Disposal | 30,430,684 | 28,088,433 | 30,171,938 | 27,954,978 | 31,863,610 |
Total Disposal | 37,275,753 | 36,109,760 | 37,564,312 | 35,044,426 | 39,718,956 |
Onsite Energy Recovery | 11,256,530 | 7,671,893 | 6,870,360 | 8,593,225 | 7,017,009 |
Offsite Energy Recovery | 2,469,761 | 5,119,370 | 2,250,913 | 3,163,463 | 5,178,462 |
Total Energy Recovery | 13,726,291 | 12,791,263 | 9,121,273 | 11,756,689 | 12,195,471 |
Onsite Treatment | 26,659,293 | 24,867,552 | 25,974,021 | 32,336,064 | 38,873,399 |
Offsite Treatment | 2,217,361 | 1,322,795 | 1,118,067 | 1,442,686 | 1,586,839 |
Total Treatment | 28,876,654 | 26,190,347 | 27,092,089 | 33,778,751 | 40,460,238 |
Onsite Recycling | 424,358,279 | 426,039,880 | 427,348,099 | 447,671,147 | 289,151,630 |
Offsite Recycling | 232,329,894 | 263,448,551 | 214,234,323 | 264,003,053 | 242,188,307 |
Total Recycling | 656,688,173 | 689,488,431 | 641,582,422 | 711,674,200 | 531,339,937 |
Report Highlights: More Summary Information from the Trends Report
Use these links to view summary analyses without reading the entire Trends Report. Following these links, you will find links to the Trends Report itself.- Trends Report Frequent Questions
- Trends Report Highlights: Federal Facilities
- Trends Report Highlights: Industrial Sector Analysis
- Trends Report Highlights: Regional Analysis
- Trends Report Highlights: State and Territory Analysis
- Trends Report Highlights: County Analysis
National Priority Chemicals Trends Report
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (1pg, 67K)
- Front and Back Covers (PDF) (3 pp, 182K)
- Table of Contents (PDF) (3 pp, 67K)
- Executive Summary (PDF) (3 pp, 53K)
- Foreward (PDF) (2 pp, 144K)
- Acronyms (PDF) (2 pp, 24K)
- Customer Survey (PDF) (2 pp, 32K)
- Methodology (PDF) (43 pp, 228K) - Priority Chemicals Toxics Release Inventory Measurement Methodology
- Section 1 (PDF) (5 pp, 52K) - Overview of Updated Priority Chemical Trends Report (2000-2005)
- Section 2 (PDF) (7 pp, 75K) - Progress Made Towards OSWs GPRA Goals for the Priority Chemicals (2000-2005)
- Section 3 (PDF) (27 pp, 580K) - Overall Trends Analyses for the Priority Chemicals (2000-2005)
- Section 4 - Chemical Specific Trends Analyses for Priority Chemicals (2000 - 2005)
- Part 1 (PDF) (3 pp, 54K) - Introduction
- Part 2 (PDF) (7 pp, 301K) - 1,2,4 – Trichlorobenzene (1,2,4−TCB)
- Part 3 (PDF) (2 pp, 85K) - 2,4,5 – Trichlorophenol (2,4,5−TCP)
- Part 4 (PDF) (7 pp, 288K) - Anthracene
- Part 5 (PDF) (7 pp, 312K) - Benzo(g,h,i)perylene (B(g,h,i)P))
- Part 6 (PDF) (8 pp, 277K) - Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds (Cadmium)
- Part 7 (PDF) (6 pp, 287K) - Dibenzofuran
- Part 8 (PDF) (7 pp, 309K) - Dioxin and Dioxin−Like Compounds (Dioxin)
- Part 9 (PDF) (5 pp, 262K) - Heptachlor
- Part 10 (PDF) (7 pp, 290K) - Hexachloro−1,3−butadiene (HCBD)
- Part 11 (PDF) (7 pp., 278K) - Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
- Part 12 (PDF) (7 pp, 285K) - Hexachloroethane (HCE)
- Part 13 (PDF) (9 pp, 352K) - Lead and Lead Compounds (Lead)
- Part 14 (PDF) (3 pp, 77K) - Lindane
- Part 15 (PDF) (8 pp, 309K) - Mercury and Mercury Compounds (Mercury)
- Part 16 (PDF) (4 pp, 77K) - Methoxychlor
- Part 17 (PDF) (10 pp, 322K) - Naphthalene
- Part 18 (PDF) (5 pp, 271K) - Pendimethalin
- Part 19 (PDF) (6 pp, 273K) - Pentachlorobenzene
- Part 20 (PDF) (7 pp, 279K) - Pentachlorophenol
- Part 21 (PDF) (8 pp, 294K) - Phenanthrene
- Part 22 (PDF) (10 pp, 325K) - Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs)
- Part 23 (PDF) (8 pp, 257K) - Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
- Part 24 (PDF) (5 pp, 266K) - Quintozene
- Part 25 (PDF) (6 pp, 273K) - Trifluralin
- Part 26 (PDF) (4 pp, 76K) - Priority Chemicals (PCs) Not Reportable to TRI
- Section 5 (PDF) - Federal Facilities Trends for the Priority Chemicals (2000-2005) (15 pp, 316K)
- Section 6 (PDF) - Trends Analysis for Specific Industry Sectors (2000-2005) (13 pp, 307K)
- Appendices (PDF) - (66 pp, 2.3MB)
- Appendix A - List of States (including territories) within each EPA Region
- Appendix B - SIC Codes vs. NAICS Codes
- Appendix C - Methodologies for Calculating Quantities of Priority Chemicals and Measuring Trends
- Appendix D - List of Exhibits
- Appendix E - Customer Survey
- Appendix F - Contact Information