Analyzing Generation and Management of Priority Chemicals 2004-2006: The National Priority Chemicals Trends Report

EPA's National Priority Chemicals Trends Report evaluates and analyzes the trends for quantities and management of the 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs) that industrial and federal government facilities reported to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for reporting years 2004 through 2006 and are contained in hazardous waste streams reported for the Hazardous Waste Biennial Report (BR) for 2005.

TRI is a publicly available database with information on the use, release, and management of 581 individually listed chemicals and 30 chemical categories reported by industrial and federal facilities whose primary business activity is on the list of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes subject to TRI reporting. PCs are chemicals that are persistent, highly toxic, and can accumulate in living organisms.

Data on hazardous waste generation and management activities are obtained from the Hazardous Waste Report (also called the Biennial Report). A BR must be submitted by large quantity generators (LQGs) and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) every two years. In this Report, BR data (2005) for the seven PCs that are not reported to TRI are included.

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.

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	49,527	822,564	1,249,699	546,766	2,668,566	74.1%
Naphthalene	0	103,746	0	528,607	632,353	17.5%
Polycyclic aromatic compounds	0	9,318	0	219,529	228,847	6.4%
Mercury and mercury compounds	0	4,346	26,750	9,603	40,699	1.1%
Dibenzofuran	0	0	0	23,830	23,830	0.7%
Polychlorinated biphenyls	0	0	4,335	4,600	8,935	0.2%
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds	0	0	144	0	144	0.0%
Total	49,527	939,974	1,280,928	1,332,935	3,603,364	100.0%

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Trends (based on TRI data) 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 three years of TRI data available: 2004-2006. This analysis assists EPA in assessing chemical reduction priorities and identifying opportunities for eliminating or reducing PCs.

For 2006, facilities reported approximately 76 million pounds of PCs. Compared to the quantities reported in 2004 and 2005, this represents an increase of almost 6.0 million pounds (+ 8.5 %) and a decrease of 6.6 million pounds (- 8.0 %), respectively (see the table and graph below). The quantities of PCs generated each year are influenced by numerous factors, including:

pollution prevention (e.g., waste minimization) measures
changes in production levels
process changes
closure of facilities
clean-up of spills/releases
maintenance activities, e.g., clean-out of tanks and piping

TRI Reporting Year	2004	2005	2006
Total Quantity of PCs (pounds)	69,964,280	82,591,864	75,957,896
Number of TRI Facilities Reporting PCQuantity	5,524	5,458	5,283

Click the picture for a larger image.

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In 2006, four of the PCs (lead and lead compounds, naphthalene, and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), and hexachlor-1,3-butadiene accounted for approximately 86 percent of the total national quantity of PCs.

Priority Chemical	Number of Facilities that Reported this PC in 2006*	2004 (pounds)	2005 (pounds)	2006 (pounds)	Percent of Total PC Quantity (2006)	Change in Quantity (2005-2006)
Lead and lead compounds	4,488	32,879,547	36,293,990	36,270,099	47.8%	-23,891
Naphthalene	632	12,926,922	17,217,979	13,755,764	18.1%	-3,462,215
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs)	693	8,613,992	9,072,983	7,968,088	10.5%	-1,104,895
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene	5	4,965,737	7,514,661	7,081,116	9.3%	-433,545
Anthracene	42	520,978	601,973	2,374,123	3.1%	1,772,150
Hexachloroethane	7	775,987	3,413,266	2,139,851	2.8%	-1,273,415
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene	10	1,888,685	1,269,417	1,370,487	1.8%	101,070
Hexachlorobenzene	32	1,615,404	2,322,712	1,219,738	1.6%	-1,102,974
Cadmium and cadmium compounds	63	865,619	611,375	953,335	1.3%	341,960
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene	418	553,833	688,220	784,130	1.0%	95,910
Phenanthrene	62	2,378,127	1,429,732	776,219	1.0%	-653,513
Pentachlorobenzene	4	384,668	345,197	397,529	0.5%	52,331
Pendimethalin	7	475,698	558,624	291,521	0.4%	-267,103
Quintozene	3	281,001	303,237	248,538	0.3%	-54,699
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	39	67,756	143,479	108,558	0.1%	-34,921
Dibenzofuran	13	25,012	139,463	89,871	0.1%	-49,593
Mercury and mercury compounds	604	62,293	78,614	74,043	0.1%	-4,572
Trifluralin	13	81,787	46,600	37,200	<0.1%	-9,399
Pentachlorophenol	13	117,264	77,281	14,814	<0.1%	-62,467
2,4,5-trichlorophenol	1	5,083	3,800	2,255	<0.1%	-1,545
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds	362	489	482	504	<0.1%	22
Heptachlor	2	775	109	69	<0.1%	-40
Methoxychlor	1	766	0	45	<0.1%	45
Lindane	0	0	0	0	<0.1%	0
Total		69,487,324	82,133,195	80,579,865	100.0%	-6,175,299

* Please note that the total number of facilities shown may differ from the total number of facilities shown in Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 because numerous facilities reported more than one PC.

** Facilities report dioxin and dioxin-like compounds to TRI in grams, with a reporting threshold of 0.1 grams. For the purposes of this table, we converted the quantity reported as grams to pounds.

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Trends in Management Methods for Priority Chemicals

The Trends Report presents an analysis of the trends seen in the management of PCs between 2004 and 2006. 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 2004-2006.

Some highlights concerning the overall methods that facilities used for the management of PCs:

Disposal

In 2006, facilities used disposal for approximately 39 million pounds, or 51 percent, of non-recycled PCs; offsite disposal accounted for 75 percent of this quantity.
Compared to the quantity of PCs disposed of in 2004, the quantity disposed of decreased by approximately 1.2 million pounds in 2006; offsite disposal decreased by 2.9 million pounds—offsetting an increase of approximately 1.7 million pounds of onsite disposal.
For the three metal PCs: cadmium, lead, and mercury (and their compounds) accounted for approximately 93 percent of the quantity disposed of.
For non-metals, approximately 500,000 pounds of both naphthalene and PACs were land disposed in 2006, accounting for approximately 70 percent of the non-metal PC quantity disposed of.

Energy Recovery

In 2006, facilities used energy recovery for approximately 11.7 million pounds, or 15 percent, of the quantity of non-recycled PCs generated; onsite energy recovery accounted for approximately 69 percent of the total energy recovery.
From 2004 to 2006, energy recovery represented a steady 15 percent of the non-recycled PC quantity generated.
Three PCs: naphthalene (50.6%), PACs (20.5%), and anthracene (17.6%) accounted for approximately 89 percent of the total quantity of PCs burned for energy recovery in 2006.

Treatment·

In 2006, facilities treated approximately 25.5 million pounds, or 34 percent, of the quantity of non-recycled PCs generated; onsite treatment accounted for approximately 93 percent of the total quantity treated.
Since 2004, facilities used offsite treatment to manage an average of 1.6 million pounds of PCs each year. Onsite treatment increased by 7.8 million pounds in 2005 followed by a decrease of 5.1 million pounds in 2006.
Three PCs: naphthalene (28.8%), hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (27.8%), and PACs (19.8%), accounted for approximately 76 percent of the total quantity treated in 2006.

Recycling

Approximately 532 million pounds of PCs were recycled in both 2005 and in 2006; onsite recycling accounted for an average of 57 percent of the total quantity recycled.
Lead and lead compounds accounted for approximately 95 percent of the total quantity of PCs recycled in 2006. Facilities also recycled significant quantities of naphthalene, hexachloroethane, PACs, phenanthrene, cadmium, and mercury.

Management Method	TRI Reporting Year
Management Method	2004 (pounds)	2005 (pounds)	2006 (pounds)
Onsite Disposal	7,430,831	8,011,793	9,745,172
Offsite Disposal	28,202,259	31,916,602	28,988,756
Total Disposal	35,633,090	39,928,395	38,733,929
Onsite Energy Recovery	7,883,131	6,424,461	8,043,973
Offsite Energy Recovery	3,163,177	5,195,350	3,666,947
Total Energy Recovery	11,046,308	11,619,811	11,710,920
Onsite Treatment	21,370,607	28,998,582	23,735,990
Offsite Treatment	1,437,319	1,586,408	1,777,057
Total Treatment	22,807,926	30,584,990	25,513,047
Onsite Recycling	448,166,426	288,037,168	293,746,763
Offsite Recycling	266,153,272	243,694,083	238,560,214
Total Recycling	714,319,698	531,731,251	532,306,977

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The following table shows how each of the PCs was managed in 2006.

Priority Chemical	Total PC Quantity (does not include recycling)	Disposal (pounds)	Energy Recovery (pounds)	Treatment (pounds)	Recycling (pounds)
Lead and lead compounds	36,270,099	36,268,943	0	1,156	506,960,827
Naphthalene	13,755,764	483,933	5,927,888	7,343,944	16,950,878
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs)	7,968,088	515,848	2,397,725	5,054,514	1,611,417
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene	7,081,116	21	14	7,081,081	300,775
Anthracene	2,374,123	81,566	2,065,045	227,512	387,887
Hexachloroethane	2,139,851	55	196,714	1,943,081	3,365,588
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene	1,370,487	3,561	46,620	1,320,306	8,141
Hexachlorobenzene	1,219,738	5,063	318,468	896,207	8,907
Cadmium and cadmium compounds	953,335	953,335	0	0	375,961
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene	784,130	47,973	363,373	372,784	74,651
Phenanthrene	776,219	119,443	76,361	580,415	1,165,879
Pentachlorobenzene	397,529	38	45	397,445	35
Pendimethalin	291,521	147,778	0	143,743	3,117
Quintozene	248,538	0	244,406	4,132	102
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)	108,558	14,624	119	93,815	990
Dibenzofuran	89,871	13,342	73,223	3,306	100,407
Mercury and mercury compounds	74,043	74,043	0	0	990,392
Trifluralin	37,200	3,230	0	33,970	1,006
Pentachlorophenol	14,814	1,025	918	12,871	16
2,4,5-trichlorophenol	2,255	11	0	2,244	0
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds*	504	96	1	407	0
Heptachlor	69	0	0	69	0
Methoxychlor	45	0	0	45	0
Total	75,957,896	38,733,929	11,710,920	25,513,047	532,306,977

* Facilities report dioxin and dioxin-like compounds to TRI in grams, with a reporting threshold of 0.1 grams. For the purposes of this table, we converted the quantity reported as grams to pounds.

Estimated Quantity of Priority Chemicals Contained in Hazardous Waste Streams (based on 2005 BR data)

We developed a methodology that estimates the quantity of PCs contained in BR waste streams that are reported under RCRA. The data derived from applying this methodology to the BR data supplements the data for the 24 PCs reported to TRI and, for the first time, provides data for six of the seven PCs that are not reported to TRI. The focus of this methodology is primary generation activities because the waste streams associated with primary generation represent an opportunity to reduce PCs in hazardous waste streams. It only includes waste streams generated from a production process, service activity, or routine/periodic cleanup, where potential opportunities for direct waste minimization (e.g., source reduction, recycling) are the greatest. Based on applying this methodology to the 2005 BR data, we estimate that facilities reported hazardous wastes containing approximately 488 million pounds of PCs.

Priority Chemical	Non-wastewaters (pounds)	Wastewaters (pounds)	Total PC Quantity (pounds)	Percent of Total Quantity
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene	180,957	6,008,142	6,188,199	1.3%
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	412,098	1,341	413,439	0.1%
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol	130	14	144	<0.1%
4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Acenaphthene	495,812	4,247,758	4,743,571	1.0%
Acenaphthylene	24,024	0	24,024	<0.1%
Anthracene	126,008	31,996	158,004	<0.1%
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene	10,110	14	10,124	<0.1%
Cadmium	13,485,998	677,332	14,163,330	2.9%
Dibenzofuran	2	21	23	<0.1%
Dioxin/Furans	188	4	192	<0.1%
Endosulfan, alpha- and beta-	<1	<1	<1	<0.1%
Fluorene	80,040	17,238	97,278	<0.1%
Heptachlor	<1	<1	<1	<0.1%
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene	1,594,738	2,475	1,597,213	0.3%
Lead	283,972,156	168,119,991	452,092,147	92.6%
Lindane	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mercury	2,221,379	1,181,147	3,402,525	0.7%
Methoxychlor	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Naphthalene	586,939	94,653	681,592	0.1%
Pendimethalin	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Pentachlorobenzene	468,303	722	469,025	0.1%
Pentachlorophenol	220,376	66,153	286,530	0.1%
Phenanthrene	522,815	45,605	568,421	0.1%
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	<1	<1	<1	<0.1%
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs)	695,247	16,657	711,903	0.1%
Pyrene	179,826	323,011	502,837	0.1%
Quintozene	<1	0	<1	<0.1%
Trifluralin	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total	307,360,765	180,835,385	488,196,150	100.0%

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.

Waste Minimization Trends Report and Query Tool Survey (PDF) (2 pp, 32K) Please take this brief survey to let us know how well we are meeting your needs and expectations for the Trends Report and Query Tool.

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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.

Front Cover (PDF) (2 pp, 280K)
Foreward (PDF) (2 pp, 25K)
Customer Survey (PDF) (2 pp, 34K)
Acronyms (PDF) (2 pp, 22K)
Executive Summary (PDF) (3 pp, 41K)
Table of Contents (PDF) (3 pp, 42K)
Table of Exhibits (PDF) (5 pp, 56K)
Section 1 (PDF) (7 pp, 66K) - Overview of the National PC Trends Report (2004-2006)
Section 2 (PDF) (7 pp, 68K) - Progress Toward EPA’s Reduction Goal for Priority Chemicals (2004-2006)
Section 3 (PDF) (25 pp, 537K) - Summary Trends Analyses for Priority Chemicals (2004-2006)
Section 4 - Trends Analyses for Specific Priority Chemicals (2004 - 2006)
- Part 1 (PDF) (2 pp, 51K) - Introduction
- Part 2 (PDF) (5 pp, 83K) - 1,2,4 – Trichlorobenzene (1,2,4−TCB)
- Part 3 (PDF) (5 pp, 76K) - Anthracene
- Part 4 (PDF) (6 pp, 74K) - Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds (Cadmium)
- Part 5 (PDF) (6 pp, 224K) - Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds (Dioxin)
- Part 6 (PDF) (4 pp, 56K) - Hexachloro−1,3−butadiene (HCBD)
- Part 7 (PDF) (4 pp, 66K) - Hexachloroethane (HCE)
- Part 8 (PDF) (12 pp, 326K) - Lead and Lead Compounds (Lead)
- Part 9 (PDF) (7 pp, 253K) - Mercury and Mercury Compounds (Mercury)
- Part 10 (PDF) (7 pp, 89K) - Naphthalene
- Part 11 (PDF) (6 pp, 81K) - Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs)
- Part 12 (PDF) (11 pp, 110K) - Priority Chemicals (PCs) Not Reportable to TRI
Section 5 (PDF) (13 pp, 292K) - Federal Facility Trends for the Priority Chemicals (2004-2006)
Section 6 (PDF) (21 pp, 193K) - Priority Chemical Analyses for Specific Industry Sectors
Appendices (PDF) - (6 pp, 52K)
- Appendix A - List of States (including territories) within each EPA Region
- Appendix B - Index
- Appendix C - Contact Information
Back Cover (PDF) - (2 pp, 296K)

PC-BR and PC-TRI Methodologies

Use these links to view the methodology used to extract priority chemical data from the Biennial Hazardous Waste Report and the Toxics Release Inventory measurement methodology.

PC-BR Methodology: Volume I (PDF) (181 pp, 741K)
PC-BR Methodology: Volume II (PDF) (151 pp, 1.0MB)
PC-TRI Methodology (PDF) (47 pp, 240K)

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Analyzing Generation and Management of Priority Chemicals 2004-2006: The National Priority Chemicals Trends Report

Tracking Progress Toward the GPRA Goal to Reduce PCs

Trends (based on TRI data) in the Generation of Priority Chemicals

Trends in Management Methods for Priority Chemicals

Estimated Quantity of Priority Chemicals Contained in Hazardous Waste Streams (based on 2005 BR data)

Report Highlights: More Summary Information from the Trends Report

National Priority Chemicals Trends Report

PC-BR and PC-TRI Methodologies

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