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):

Dibenzofuran

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


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Dibenzofuran

Chemical Information:

Alternate Names - diphenylene oxide

General Uses - Dibenzofuran is used as an insecticide and to make other chemicals. It is made from
coal tar and has been found in coke dust, grate ash, fly ash, and flame soot.

How Much Dibenzofuran Was Generated?

Exhibit 4.38. National Generation of Dibenzofuran (2001-2005)

TRI Reporting Year

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Total Quantity of Dibenzofuran (pounds)

66,726

288,926

75,605

24,942

139,428

Number of TRI Facilities Reporting Dibenzofuran

11

11

12

11

13

For 2005, 13 facilities reported approximately 139,000 pounds of dibenzofuran, representing an increase of
approximately 73,000 pounds, or 109 percent, compared to the total quantity of dibenzofuran reported for 2001
(Exhibit 4.38). Since 2001, the number of reporting facilities remained relatively constant.

Exhibit 4.39. Distribution of Quantities for Facilities Reporting Dibenzofuran (2005)

Dibenzofuran (139,428 pounds)

Quantity Reported

Number of Facilities Reporting
This Quantity (2005)

Percent of Total Quantity of
Dibenzofuran (2005)

up to 10 pounds

1

<0.1%

between 11 -100 pounds

2

< 0.1%

between 101 -1,000 pounds

5

0.8%

between 1,001 - 10,000 pounds

3

9.7%

between 10,001 - 100,000 pounds

2

89.5%

between 100,001 - 1 million pounds

0

0.0%

> 1 million pounds

0

0.0%

Two of the 13 facilities reported approximately 90 percent of the total national quantity of dibenzofuran
(Exhibit 4.39).

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Where Was Dibenzofuran Generated?

Exhibit 4.40. Location of Facilities that Reported Dibenzofuran (2005)

13 Facilities Reporting Dibenzofuran

~ 4 largest facilities reporting dibenzofuran





Facilities Reporting Dibenzofuran (2005)

Office of Solid Waste - Fall 2007
Analysis and Information Branch

"or 2005, 13 facilities in 10 states reported dibenzofuran (Exhibit 4.40).

Exhibit 4.41. Quantity of Dibenzofuran, by EPA Region and State

EPA
Region

State

2001
(pounds)

2002
(pounds)

2003
(pounds)

2004
(pounds)

2005
(pounds)

Percent of Total
National
Quantity of
Dibenzofuran
(2005)

6

TX

0

0

0

0

87,651

62.9%

5

Ml

0

1,248

52,202

8,115

37,222

26.7%

5

IL

392

6,429

6,113

8,000

6,217

4.5%

3

WV

2,000

3,400

12,022

5,819

5,710

4.1%

3

PA

1,600

2,170

2,706

2,395

2,071

1.5%

Facilities in EPA Region 5 consistently reported most of the dibenzofuran from 2001-2004; for 2005, a facility
in EPA Region 6 reported dibenzofuran for the first time and accounted for approximately 63 percent of the
total quantity (Exhibit 4.41). Two facilities, one each located in Texas and Michigan, reported approximately
90 percent of the total national quantity of dibenzofuran for 2005. The facility in Texas reported dibenzofuran
for the first time for 2005. The facility in Michigan is being shutdown; its dibenzofuran was generated
primarily from residual processing, tank cleanouts, etc. A facility in Ohio primarily accounted for the large
quantities reported for 2001 and 2002; it likewise generated these wastes as a result of shutdown activities.

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Exhibit 4.42. Quantity of Dibenzofuran, by State and County, for Facilities Reporting
		99.5 Percent of the Total Quantity (2005)	^	

State

County

Quantity (pounds) of Dibenzofuran

Percent of Total
National Quantity
of Dibenzofuran
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

TX

Harris

0

0

0

0

87,651

62.9%

Ml

Wayne

0

1,248

52,202

8,115

37,222

26.7%

IL

Cook

392

6,429

6,113

8,000

6,217

4.5%

WV

Brooke

2,000

3,400

12,022

5,819

5,710

4.1%

PA

Allegheny

1,600

2,170

2,706

2,395

2,071

1.5%

One facility, located in Harris County, Texas, reported dibenzofuran for the first time for 2005 and accounted
for approximately 63 percent of the total national quantity (Exhibit 4.42). A facility located in Wayne County,
Michigan is being shutdown and reported approximately 27 percent of the total quantity.

Which Industries Generated Dibenzofuran?

Exhibit 4.43. Industry Sectors Quantities of Dibenzofuran (2001-2005)

Primary
SIC
Code

SIC Description

Facilities
Reporting
Dibenzofuran
in This SIC
Code (2005)

Quantity (pounds) of Dibenzofuran

Percent of
Total National
Quantity of
Dibenzofuran
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

4

65,082

286,288

70,243

21,715

136,175

97.7%

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

2

32

212

2,834

2,624

2,323

1.7%

3272

Concrete products, nec

3

0

2,348

2,101

222

786

0.6%

2491

Wood preservinq

2

117

64

165

116

122

0.1%

4925

Gas production and/or distribution

1

1,245

14

260

261

15

<0.1%

2911

Petroleum refining

1

0

0

2

5

8

<0.1%

Total

13

66,726

288,926

75,605

24,942

139,428

100.0%

For 2005, facilities in six SIC codes reported dibenzofuran (Exhibit 4.43). Facilities in SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes
and intermediates) reported the largest quantities of dibenzofuran from 2001 to 2005; in 2005, the quantity of
dibenzofuran increased sharply when a facility in this industry sector reported this PC for the first time. In 2002,
shutdown activities at a facility in Ohio accounted for approximately 96 percent of the total reported quantity of
dibenzofuran.

How Did Facilities Manage Dibenzofuran?

Exhibit 4.44. Trends in Management IV

ethods for Dibenzofuran (2001-2005)

Management Method for Dibenzofuran

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Disposal Quantity (pounds)

39,885

17,464

66,104

13,827

43,787

Energy Recovery Quantity (pounds)

22,580

266,235

1,340

6,277

91,466

Treatment Quantity (pounds)

4,261

5,228

8,161

4,839

4,175

Recycled (pounds)14

148,638

136,494

24,754

29,816

77,974

Exhibit 4.44 shows the national trends for how facilities managed dibenzofuran in 2001-2005.

14 For additional information on recycled quantities see footnote 8.

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Disposal: Since 2001, disposal quantities of dibenzofuran fluctuated year to year. The shutdown of two
facilities, one each in Ohio and Michigan, contributed to most of these fluctuations. These facilities had year-
to-year variations in the quantity of wastes generated from residual processing, tank cleanouts, etc. The facility
in Ohio has not reported dibenzofuran since 2002.

Energy Recovery

•	Since 2001, quantities of dibenzofuran that have used for energy recovery have likewise significantly
fluctuated from year to year. The shutdown of a facility in Ohio primarily contributed to these
fluctuations; year-to-year variations in the quantity of wastes generated from residual processing, tank
cleanouts, etc. This facility used energy recovery for approximately 264,000 pounds of dibenzofuran in
2002, but has not reported dibenzofuran since 2002.

•	For 2005, a facility in Texas reporting dibenzofuran for the first time, used energy recovery for
approximately 88,000 pounds.

Treatment: Since 2001, only relatively small quantities of dibenzofuran were treated.

Recycling

•	In 2001 and 2002, facilities recycled relatively large quantities of dibenzofuran. A facility being
shutdown in Ohio reported a significant portion of these quantities; approximately 91,000 pounds for
2001 and 64,000 pounds for 2002. This facility has not reported dibenzofuran since 2002.

•	A facility in Illinois reported a large increase (approximately 32,000 pounds) in recycling for 2005.

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Exhibit 4.45. Management Methods for Dibenzofuran 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
T reatment
(pounds)

Offsite
Treatment
(pounds)

Onsite
Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite
Recycling
(pounds)

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

0

42,751

0

91,447

1,664

313

39,766

0

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

0

303

0

0

120

1,900

100

0

3272

Concrete products, nec

0

625

0

0

0

161

0

0

2491

Wood preserving

0

101

0

19

0

2

217

0

4925

Gas production and/or distribution

0

0

0

0

3

12

37,891

0

2911

Petroleum refining

0

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

0

43,787

0

91,466

1,787

2,388

77,974

0

Exhibit 4.45 shows how facilities, by SIC code, managed dibenzofuran in 2005. Facilities in 5 of the 6 industry sectors used offsite disposal. A
facility in SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes and intermediates) that is being shutdown reported approximately 85 percent of the total disposal quantity.
Another facility in this same industry sector reported dibenzofuran for the first time for 2005 and accounted for 96 percent of the total quantity used
for energy recovery. Two facilities, one each in SIC 2865 and in SIC 4925 (Gas production and/or distribution) reported approximately 90 percent of
the quantity that is recycled.

Facilities Only Recycling Dibenzofuran

Primary
SIC Code

SIC Code Description

State

County

Onsite Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite Recycling
(pounds)

Total Recycling
(pounds)

3312

Blast furnaces and steel mills

PA

Allegheny

10,648

0

10,648

Total

10,648

0

10,648

For 2005, one facility reported it only used recycling to manage approximately 10,600 pounds of dibenzofuran (Exhibit 4.46).

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