Analyzing Generation and Management of Priority Chemicals 2004-2006: The National Priority Chemicals Trends Report
Tracking Progress Toward GPRA Goals | Trends in Priority Chemical Reductions | Trends in Management Methods | Report Highlights | Trends Report | PC-BR/PC-TRI Methodology | Priority Chemical Query Tool
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% |
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 |
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.
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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
The following table shows how each of the PCs was managed in 2006.
Priority Chemical | Total PC Quantity
|
Disposal
|
Energy Recovery
|
Treatment
|
Recycling |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Total PC Quantity |
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.- Trends Report Frequent Questions
- Trends Report Highlights: Federal Facilities
- Trends Report Highlights: Industrial Sector Analysis
- Trends Report Highlights: Regional, 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.
- 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)