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LEADING CHEMICALS LINKED TO BIRTH DEFECTS RELEASED IN AIR BY
INDUSTRIES IN TEXAS, 2001
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CHEMICAL
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RANKING IN STATE
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TOTAL AIR RELEASES (lbs)
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TOTAL ON-SITE RELEASES (lbs)
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Toluene
|
8
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3,965,061
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4,202,695
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Hydrogen Flouride
|
9
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3,828,730
|
3,828,761
|
|
Styrene
|
10
|
3,652,204
|
4,048,071
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|
Xylenes
|
11
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3,579,893
|
3,686,114
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|
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
|
12
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3,341,643
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3,509,700
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|
Benzene
|
13
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1,951,265
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2,074,941
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1,3-Butadiene
|
14
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1,485,450
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1,534,946
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Ethylbenzene
|
23
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686,600
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1,341,359
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Source: Pounds and rankings from Environmental Protection Agency,
2001 Toxics Release Inventory Database, 2003 List of toxics found to be "developmental toxics" found in Clement Associates, Inc., Support Documentation for the
SARA TITLE III, Sections 313/322 Toxicity Matrix (Fairfax, Virginia: Clement Associates Inc., August 1988, prepared for Environmental Protection Agency).
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Texas' manufacturing plants release more toxics into the atmosphere than any other
state in the U.S.* Federal law requires manufacturing industries with more than nine employees to submit data on releases
of more than 650 chemicals and chemical compounds. In 2001, Harris (2nd), Jefferson (24th), Grimes (30th), and Brazoria (34th) counties were among the
top 35 counties in the country in terms of air toxic emissions from all industries.*
Many of these toxics have been linked to both cancer and birth defects. In 2001, Texas followed only North Carolina in the release of dioxin and dioxin-related
chemicals, chemicals associated both with cancer and endocrine disruption. Most toxics released in Texas came from two types of industry: chemical plants and the petroleum refining industry.
Unlike the situation for criteria pollutants,
there are few state and federal regulations specifying acceptable ambient concentrations for air toxics. For example, of
the top 15 toxic chemicals released in Texas, only benzene has been the subject of a national air quality standard. By
comparison, maximum contaminant level standards have been established under the Safe Drinking Water Act for 5 of these 15 chemicals.*
However, requirements that new permitted facilities in Texas use the best available control technology limits toxic
emissions considerably. Also, under the 1990 federal Clean Air Act, the EPA has developed or is developing new
standards for industries identified as sources of 188 major toxic compounds. In addition, the TCEQ has developed a
system to evaluate air concentrations of over 1,500 chemicals, including the top 15 toxic chemicals, emitted by
permitted facilities. Guideline concentrations called effects screening levels (ESLs, previously described) are used to
evaluate not only proposed emissions but also ambient air monitoring data.
"Upset" emissions, defined as accidental, unplanned air pollution releases, are not included in the emission data
reported to the state's Emissions Inventory nor in that reported under the Toxics Release Inventory Program. However,
thousands of upsets a year contribute pollutants to the state's atmosphere. Previously, companies were required to
report their upsets to the state, but the information in these reports was sketchy and there was little enforcement of
these provisions. According to a 1992 study of 8,857 upset reports in 1991, 80 percent did not list the quantity of
compound released, and 38 percent did not report the type of chemical released.* Such accidents and the failure or
inability to report accurate upset emissions make it extremely difficult to assess the full impact of industrial toxic
emissions on public health. In addition, because the state does not set levels or limits on upset emissions -- by
definition they are unplanned events -- the data these reports do contain are not used to help set emission limits.
Because of changes enacted by the Legislature in 2001, upset and other types of unplanned emissions are reported on the internet and are more closely tracked.
Under a section of the federal Clean Air Act, some 66,000 facilities in the United States were required to provide the
public with a summary of the consequences of major chemical accidents. Facilities had until June 21, 1999, to prepare the worst-case accident report.* While this information was intended to be publicly accessible via the internet,
following the September 11th terrorist attacks, the EPA decided to take the information off the website, for fear that the
chemical information could be used to plan a terrorist attack at a major refinery or chemical plant. Several lawsuits are
challenging this EPA decision, and regulators are trying to work out the public's right-to-know and security.
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TOXIC AIR RELEASES BY TYPE OF INDUSTRY IN TEXAS, 2001
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INDUSTRY
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RELEASES
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Chemicals & Allied Products
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45,557,130
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Electric Utilities
|
14,885,329
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Petroleum Refining & Related Industry
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13,908,366
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Stone, Clay, Glass & Concrete Products
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4,567,255
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Plastics and Rubber Products
|
4,421,044
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Paper and Publishing
|
4,152,233
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Primary Metals
|
2,288,470
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Lumber & Wood, Except Furniture
|
2,232,995
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Fabricated Metals
|
2,232,098
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Food & Kindred Products
|
2,008,976
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Transportation Equipment
|
1,498,981
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Machinery
|
680,851
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Petroleum Bulk Terminals
|
417,869
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Totals
|
102,748,862
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Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2001 Toxics Release
Inventory Database, Query run on TRIEXPLORER, October 2003.
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