Toxic Chemical Report

Thirteenth Annual Toxic Chemical Report

A summary of information contained in the Toxic Chemical Report Forms for calendar year 1999

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Preface

For calendar year 1999, toxic chemical release reports showed 197.9 million pounds of releases and transfers. This reported total amount is 4.6 million pounds or about two percent less than was reported for 1998. Once again, fugitive and stack air emissions of 84.8 millions pounds exceeded all other types of releases and transfers. However, this amount was down by 6.2 million pounds (14.7 percent) compared to 1998.

The long-term downward trend of environmental releases in Illinois continues. Facility reports indicate a 48 percent decrease in normalized toxic chemical releases from 1988 to 1999, and a decrease of 5 percent from 1998 to 1999. The toxic chemical with the greatest quantity reduction in that period was toluene (17.6 million pounds or 81 percent).

All toxic release information will be continually examined and analyzed by the Illinois EPA to identify industrial categories, facilities, chemicals and geographic areas which should receive focused attention with the objective of release reduction, especially through pollution prevention efforts.

Thomas V. Skinner, Director

Executive Summary

Nearly 2,300 unique facilities have reported toxic chemical release information to the Illinois EPA since the reporting program mandated by federal law began in 1987. Not including 1987, an average of around 1,300 facilities have reported each year, with the actual number ranging between 1,258 and 1,477.

For calendar year 1999, 1,318 facilities submitted 4,820 individual toxic chemical release reports showing a total of 197.9 million pounds of releases and transfers. Zinc compounds had the highest reported releases and transfers, at 43.6 million pounds. The combined total of fugitive and stack air emissions topped all other environmental areas at 84.8 million pounds. Facilities in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 4911 (Electric Services - coal and/or oil fired power plants) exceeded all other industrial categories with reported releases and transfers of 41.7 million pounds.

In order to perform meaningful trend analyses of total toxic chemical releases, including offsite transfers, the Illinois EPA utilizes information reported by facilities for toxic chemicals which have been reportable in the same form for each of the years 1988-1999. This approach is called “normalizing”. Offsite transfers for recycle or energy recovery, reportable for 1991 and later years, are not considered.

Total “normalized” releases and transfers have decreased 48 percent from 1988 to 1999. The toxic chemical with the greatest quantity reduction in that period was toluene (17.6 million pounds or 81 percent), which is a teratogen, reproductive toxin and fetal toxin. Facilities in the SIC category 2821 (Plastic Materials, Synthetic Resins and Nonvulcanizable Elastomers) as a group had the greatest quantity reduction (10.3 million pounds, or 71 percent).

The toxic chemical with the greatest amount of releases from 1994 through 1999 was zinc compounds, totaling 138.3 million pounds. Considering only those toxic chemicals with significant human health effects, i.e. which are known or probable human carcinogens, teratogens, fetal toxicants and/or reproductive toxicants, manganese compounds had the highest total of 39.6 million pounds.

The group of facilities in SIC Code 3312 reported 166.6 million pounds of releases from 1995 through 1999, the greatest for any industrial category, and also had the highest total of 47.1 million pounds in the period for those toxic chemicals with significant human health effects.

Facilities located in ZIP Code 61832 in Danville (Vermilion County) reported the highest total of air emissions from 1995 through 1999, totaling 19.4 million pounds. Considering only those toxic chemicals with significant human health effects, facilities located in ZIP Code 61832 also reported the highest total of 19.2 million pounds.

Current and Past Year Highlights