United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

EPA530-R-08-001
February 2008

National Priority Chemicals Trends Report (2001-2005)

Section 4

Chemical Specific Trends Analyses for Priority Chemicals (2001-2005):

Anthracene

Hazardous Waste Minimization and Management Division
Office of Solid Waste
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact Information:

Bill Kline, Senior Data Analyst
Analysis & Information Branch
(540) 341-3631
kline.bill@epa.gov

Tammie Owen, Data Analyst
Analysis & Information Branch
(703) 308-4044
owen.tammie@epa.gov

Ben Lesser, Chief
Analysis & Information Branch
(703) 308-0314
lesser.ben@epa.gov


-------
Anthracene

Chemical Information:

Alternate Names - paraNaphthalene, anthracin, anthraxcene

General Uses - Anthracene is used to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides. It has also been used to make
smoke screens and scintillation counter crystals.

How Much Anthracene Was Generated?

Exhibit 4.11. National Generation of Anthracene (2001-2005

TRI Reporting Year

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Total quantity of Anthracene (pounds)

360,837

345,499

419,243

520,669

601,914

Number of TRI Facilities Reporting Anthracene

35

35

39

39

43

For 2005, 43 facilities reported approximately 602,000 pounds of anthracene, representing an increase of
approximately 241,000 pounds, or 67 percent, compared to the total quantity of anthracene reported for 2001
(Exhibit 4.11). The closing of several facilities (within the same company) accounted for much of the increased
quantities since 2001, including virtually all the increase in 2005, compared to 2004. That is, these facilities
attributed the increased quantities of anthracene to activities related to shutdown of the facilities, including the
clean-up and cleanout of tanks and processing of residuals.

Exhibit 4.12. Distribution of Quantities for Facilities Reporting Anthracene (2005)

Anthracene (601,914 pounds)

Quantity Reported

Number of Facilities Reporting
This Quantity (2005)

Percent of Total Quantity of
Anthracene in 2005

up to 10 pounds

8

< 0.1%

between 11 -100 pounds

10

0.1%

between 101 -1,000 pounds

11

0.8%

between 1,001 - 10,000 pounds

9

5.7%

between 10,001 - 100,000 pounds

2

8.7%

between 100,001 - 1 million pounds

3

84.7%

> 1 million pounds

0

0.0%

Exhibit 4.12 shows the number of facilities that reported anthracene for 2005 within a range of reported
quantities. As noted, three of the facilities reported approximately 85 percent of the total quantity for 2005.

4-10


-------
Where Was Anthracene Generated?

Exhibit 4.13. Location of Facilities that Reported Anthracene (2005)





Facilities Reporting Anthracene (2005)

Office of Solid Waste - Fall 2007
Analysis and Information Branch









Tor 2005, 43 facilities in 21 states reported anthracene (Exhibit 4.13).

Exhibit 4.14, Quantity of Anthracene, by EPA Region and State, for Facilities Reporting
		99 Percent of the Total Quantity (2005)	

EPA
Region

State

Quantity (pounds) of Anthracene

Percent of
Total Quantity
of Anthracene
in 2005

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

4

KY

962

1,878

270,887

293,787

277,157

46.0%

4

AL

1,827

2,176

5,551

96,000

128,243

21.3%

5

Ml

0

888

57,719

23,466

106,245

17.7%

6

TX

275,398

144,427

26,466

71,061

56,080

9.3%

5

IL

2,560

9,372

33,573

17,770

13,679

2.3%

3

WV

6,029

4,300

10,190

8,297

8,430

1.4%

6

LA

13,638

9,959

5,281

3,740

7,821

1.3%

Total

300,414

173,000

409,667

514,121

597,655

99.3%

Facilities in Kentucky and Alabama (both in EPA Region 4) reported approximately 67 percent of the total
quantity (Exhibit 4.14). Since 2001, facilities in Kentucky, Alabama, and Michigan reported significant
increases. Other highlights concerning trends for the reported quantity of anthracene in EPA Regions and states
include:

4-11


-------
•	In Kentucky, a facility that only began reporting anthracene in 2003 has been the largest reporter of
anthracene and accounted for the large increase.

•	In Alabama and Michigan, two facilities (same company) have accounted for most of the reported
anthracene reported in these states. The anthracene reported by these two facilities resulted from the
shutdown of the facilities, including activities related to shutdown of the facilities, including the clean-
up and cleanout of tanks and processing of residuals. Another facility in Michigan undergoing
shutdown activities accounted for approximately 88 percent of the anthracene in EPA Region 5.

•	In Texas, a facility that accounted for approximately 61 percent of the anthracene reported by Texas
facilities for 2001 has reported gradually decreasing quantities since then and eliminated this PC in
2005.

Exhibit 4.15. Quantity of Anthracene, by State and County, for Facilities Reporting
	 85 Percent of the Total National Quantity (2005)	

State

County

Quantity (pounds) of Anthracene

Percent of
Total National
Quantity of
Anthracene
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

KY

Hancock

0

0

269,080

292,467

275,700

45.8%

AL

Jefferson

1,827

2,176

5,551

96,000

128,243

21.3%

Ml

Wayne

0

888

57,719

23,466

106,245

17.7%

In each of these three counties (Exhibit 4.15), one facility reported virtually 100 percent of the total quantity of
anthracene for 2005. All three facilities reported significant increases since 2001.

Which Industries Generated Anthracene?

Exhibit 4.16. Industry Sectors Quantities of Anthracene (2001-2005)

Primary
SIC
Code

SIC Description

Facilities
reporting
Anthracene
in This SIC
Code (2005)

Quantity (pounds) of Anthracene

Percent of

Total
Quantity of
Anthracene
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

3334

Primary aluminum

2

250

250

269,580

292,696

276,200

45.9%

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

6

69,965

186,745

83,230

144,893

255,356

42.4%

2869

Industrial orqanic chemicals, nec

7

96,761

79,703

32,096

73,299

59,861

9.9%

2911

Petroleum refininq

17

5,619

6,659

2,037

3,405

5,914

1.0%

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

4

117

354

7,866

5,128

2,902

0.5%

3272

Concrete products, nec

3

0

1,638

1,469

632

1,548

0.3%

2491

Wood preservinq

2

87

53

125

97

115

< 0.1%

2821

Plastics materials and resins

1

0

0

22,536

134

16

< 0.1%

4925

Gas production and/or distribution

1

5

1

136

136

2

< 0.1%

Total

43

360,837

345,499

419,243

520,669

601,914

100.0%

For 2005, 43 facilities in nine SIC codes reported anthracene. Facilities in SIC 3334 (Primary aluminum) and
SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes and intermediates) reported approximately 88 percent of the total quantity for 2005
(Exhibit 4.16):

• Facilities in SIC 3334 (Primary aluminum) reported the largest quantities of anthracene since 2003,
including approximately 46 percent of the total quantity in 2005; almost 100 percent was reported by a
facility that began reporting anthracene in 2003. This facility uses coal tar pitch and coke to produce carbon
rods (anodes) for aluminum smelting. Quantities of anthracene correlate with the production of carbon rods.

4-12


-------
• Facilities in SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes and intermediates) reported approximately 42 percent of the total
quantity reported for 2005. Ninety-two percent of the anthracene reported by SIC 2865 facilities resulted
from activities related to the shutdown of two of the facilities, including the clean-up and cleanout of tanks
and processing of residuals.

How Did Facilities Manage Anthracene?

Exhibit 4.17. Trends in Management

Methods for Anthracene (2001-2005)

Management Method for Anthracene

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Disposal Quantity (pounds)

57,334

26,515

82,670

65,396

162,293

Energy Recovery Quantity (pounds)

187,995

262,816

24,489

128,302

113,513

Treatment Quantity (pounds)

115,507

56,168

312,084

326,971

326,108

Recycled (pounds)11

378,568

377,582

134,490

178,851

308,162

Exhibit 4.17 shows the national trends for how facilities managed anthracene in 2001-2005.

Disposal: By 2005, the quantity of anthracene disposed of increased by approximately 105,000 pounds or 183
percent, compared to the quantity disposed of in 2001; most of this increase was reported for 2005 when there
was approximately a 148 percent increase compared to the 2004 quantity.

Energy Recovery: In 2005, the quantity decreased by approximately 75,000 pounds or 40 percent, compared to
the quantity sent to energy recovery in 2001.

Treatment: By 2005, the quantity of anthracene treated increased by approximately 211,000 pounds or 182
percent, compared to the quantity treated in 2001. However, since 2003 the quantity treated has remained
relatively constant.

Recycling: In 2005, the quantity decreased by approximately 70,000 pounds or 19 percent, compared to the
quantity recycled in 2001. However, in 2005, recycling increased significantly compared to the quantities
reported for 2003 and 2004.

11 For additional information on recycled quantities see footnote 8.

4-13


-------
Exhibit 4.18. Management Methods for Anthracene in Industry Sectors (2005)

Primary
SIC Code

SIC Code Description

Onsite
Disposal
(pounds)

Offsite
Disposal
(pounds)

Onsite
Energy
Recovery
(pounds)

Offsite
Energy
Recovery
(pounds)

Onsite
Treatment
(pounds)

Offsite
T reatment
(pounds)

Onsite
Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite
Recycling
(pounds)

3334

Primary aluminum

500

1,835

0

0

273,865

0

143

0

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

0

153,607

0

97,312

4,241

196

60,208

129,038

2869

Industrial organic chemicals, nec

0

2,482

15,312

519

2,820

38,728

61,000

23,364

2911

Petroleum refining

273

1,255

4

142

3,553

687

107

32

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

0

1,035

170

0

25

1,672

150

8,900

3272

Concrete products, nec

0

1,231

0

0

0

317

0

0

2491

Wood preserving

0

73

0

38

0

4

434

0

2821

Plastics materials and resins

0

0

0

16

0

0

0

0

4925

Gas production and/or distribution

0

2

0

0

0

0

24,786

0

Total

773

161,520

15,486

98,027

284,504

41,604

146,828

161,334

Exhibit 4.18 shows how facilities, by SIC code, managed anthracene in 2005. A facility in SIC 3334 (Primary aluminum) used onsite treatment for
approximately 84 percent of the total treatment quantity in 2005. Two facilities in SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes and intermediates) reported
approximately 88 percent of the amount disposed of by all facilities. Both these facilities are being shut down; the anthracene disposed of resulted
from activities related to shutdown, including the clean-up and cleanout of tanks and processing of residuals. One of these facilities also accounted
for approximately 80 percent of the energy recovery and 42 percent of the anthracene sent to offsite recycling. In 2005, two facilities in SIC 2869
(Industrial organic chemicals, nec) also recycled approximately 27 percent of the total amount of anthracene recycled by all facilities.

4-14


-------
Facilities Only Recycling Anthracene

Primary
SIC Code

SIC Code Description

State

County

Onsite
Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite
Recycling
(pounds)

Total
Recycling
(pounds)

2911

Petroleum refining

TX

Jefferson

63,553

0

63,553

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

PA

Allegheny

11,574

0

11,574

NY

Erie

2,822

0

2,822

AL

Jefferson

2,400

0

2,400

2851

Paints and allied products

OH

Erie

19

0

19

Total

80,368

0

80,368

For 2005, five facilities in three industry sectors reported using only recycling to manage approximately 80,000
pounds of anthracene (Exhibit 4.19). The facility in SIC 2911 (Petroleum refining) reported approximately 79
percent of the quantity recycled.

4-15


-------