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): Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds (Dioxin) 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 ------- Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds (Dioxin) Chemical Information: Dioxin refers to a group of chemical compounds that share similar chemical and biological properties. Several hundred of these compounds exist and are members of two closely related families: chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs) and chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs). General Uses - CDDs and CDFs are not commercially produced, except in small quantities for chemical analyses and toxicological research. CDDs and CDFs are formed as unwanted byproducts when chlorinated materials are involved in combustion or other high-temperature processes, such as waste incineration, energy generation, metallurgical processes, chemical manufacturing and other industrial processes. Energy generation sources of CDD/CDF releases include the combustion of coal, oil, and wood. Other high-temperature sources include Portland cement production, pulp mills using the kraft process, asphalt mixing plants, catalyst regeneration at petroleum refineries, and carbon reactivation furnaces. Metallurgical processes that may release CDD/CDFs include ferrous sources such as iron ore sintering, coke production, and the production of steel in electric arc furnaces from scrap feed. Secondary aluminum, copper, and lead smelters can also be sources of CDD/CDFs. CDDs and CDFs can also be formed as unintended byproducts of manufacturing processes. For example, they are generated in pulp and paper mills during chlorine bleaching. NOTE: Dioxins are generally produced and released by industrial processes in relatively small quantities compared with the quantities of other TRJ-listed chemicals produced and released. Because of this, and the fact that certain dioxins are toxic at very low levels of exposure, a much lower TRI reporting threshold was established for dioxins (0.1 gram per year). As such, facilities report dioxins to TRI in grams. For the purposes of this section, we present our trends analyses using grams, rounded to the nearest whole gram. Please note that most of the dioxin quantities in the database are expressed in terms of very small quantities - even up to seven decimal places. In rounding the quantities to the nearest whole gram, certain quantities will appear to be zero. We made this conversion to facilitate our trends analyses. In no way should this conversion be interpreted as minimizing the importance of smaller quantities of dioxin - which are of considerable concern. Elsewhere in this document, where analyses of trends for aggregated quantities of PCs are presented, we converted the quantities (grams) of dioxin to pounds (using 454.5 grams/pound) and rounded these quantities to the nearest whole pound. We made this conversion to provide uniformity and consistency in the quantities used to perform analyses of trends at the more aggregated levels. Again, in no way should this conversion and rounding be interpreted as minimizing the potential health affects associated with smaller quantities of dioxin. How Much Dioxins Were Generated? Exhibit 4.47. National Generation of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds (2001-2005) TRI Reporting Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total Quantity of Dioxins (grams) 320,204 246,325 176,766 219,926 216,840 Number of TRI Facilities Reporting Dioxins 366 360 377 378 376 For 2005, 376 facilities reported approximately 217,000 grams of dioxins, representing a decrease of approximately 103,000 grams, or 32 percent, compared to the total quantity of dioxins reported for 2001. Since 2001, the number of reporting facilities remained relatively constant (Exhibit 4.47). 4-34 ------- Exhibit 4.48. Distribution of Quantities for Facilities Reporting Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds (2005) Dioxins (216,840 grams) Quantity (grams) Reported* Number of Facilities Reporting This Quantity (2005) Percent of Total Quantity of Dioxins (2005) up to 0.1 gram 144 < 0.1% 0.2 - 1.0 gram 83 <0.1% 1.1 - 10.0 grams 61 0.1% 10,1 - 100 grams 47 0.8% 100.1 - 1,000 grams 25 3.8% 1,000.1 - 10,000 grams 11 17.6% >10,000.1 grams 5 77.7% * rounded to 1 decimal place WASHINGTON NORTH DAKOTA Region 1 • EPA Region 8 INNESOT/ /new # I \t 4 YORK X \NEw/lAMPSHII EPA •umas^xkuset Region 2r*r^fl&BE|S —V. CONNECTICUT EPA IDAHO Region 10 [ Huron SOUTH DAKOTA WYOMING JwseoNs&r I epa\ iowa ^ Region 5 NEVADA PENNSYLVANI :w JERSEY NEBRASKA Region 7 • EPA \ Region 9 Region^ WEST / VIRGINIA^ IRGINI/#a #3 ILLINOIS ¦LA WARE kRYLAND COLORADO MISSOURI KANSAS m • • #KENTUCKY> CAROLI£ll ARIZONA ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA I EPA ; Region 6 NEW MEXICO ISOUTH iROLINA THE UNITED STATES ~ EPA • [Re^jion-4 LOUISIANA Gulf of Mexico TEXAS .OR ID/ Puerto Ricq, Five of the 376 facilities reported approximately 78 percent of the total national quantity of dioxins for 2005 (Exhibit 4.48). Where Were Dioxins Generated? Exhibit 4.49. Location of Facilities that Reported Dioxins (2005) Facilities Reporting Dioxin (2005) Office of Solid Waste - Fall 2007 Analysis and Information Branch 376 Facilities Reporting Dioxin ~ 10 largest facilities reporting dioxin • Other facilities reporting dioxin Pacific Ocean r^\ [ Guam Atlantic Ocean For 2005, 376 facilities in 45 states reported dioxins (Exhibit 4.49). 4-35 ------- Exhibit 4.50. Quantity of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds, by EPA Region and State, for Facilities Reporting EPA Region State 2001 (grams) 2002 (grams) 2003 (grams) 2004 (grams) 2005 (grams) Percent of Total National Quantity of Dioxins (2005) 6 LA 58,352 59,556 63,254 89,823 128,308 59.2% 6 TX 156,401 119,716 61,035 43,686 40,954 18.9% 4 MS 2,273 5,017 3,068 28,545 18,973 8.7% 5 Ml 61,741 16,149 27,387 26,627 14,811 6.8% 4 TN 2,626 2,753 2,957 2,655 2,587 1.2% 4 KY 482 1,822 2,589 2,481 2,287 1.1% 4 NC 1,033 458 521 284 1,266 0.6% 4 SC 5,670 2,464 2,775 15,041 1,112 0.5% 10 WA 765 506 522 806 969 0.4% 5 IN 1,398 1,202 1,134 1,221 951 0.4% 4 AL 1,579 1,441 705 516 791 0.4% 10 OR 1,609 905 892 753 551 0.3% 7 MO 285 323 651 3,117 484 0.2% 3 WV 3 3 4,662 439 460 0.2% 7 KS 114 474 454 456 451 0.2% In seven of the 10 EPA regions, the quantities of dioxins decreased compared to quantities reported for 2001 (Exhibit 4.50). Since 2001, facilities in EPA Region 6 consistently reported most of the dioxins, including approximately 169,000 grams or 78 percent of the total national quantity for 2005. Some highlights concerning trends are: • Facilities in Louisiana reported approximately 59 percent of the total quantity of dioxins for 2005. This quantity is an increase of approximately 120 percent compared to the quantity for 2001, including an increase of approximately 38,500 grams or 43 percent compared to the quantity reported for 2004. One facility reported an increase of approximately 42,400 grams for 2005, accounting for most of the total increase. • Facilities in Texas reported approximately 19 percent of the total quantity of dioxins; since 2001, the quantity has steadily decreased each year. • For 2004, facilities in Mississippi reported a large increase in dioxins, compared to quantities reported each year since 2000. A wood preserving facility in Mississippi revised how it estimates the concentration of dioxins in its wastes. For 2005, this facility reported a decrease of approximately 10,000 grams. • Since 2001, a facility in Michigan reported most of the dioxins quantity in this state. This facility reported a decrease of approximately 47,100 grams or 76 percent, compared to the quantity reported for 2001. The facility attributed the significant reduction in 2005 to a reduced dioxin content indicated by analysis of landfilled material. 4-36 ------- Exhibit 4.51. Quantity of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds, by State and County, for Facilities Reporting 96 Percent of the Total Quantity (2005) State County Quantity (grams) of Dioxins Percent of Total National Quantity of Dioxins (2005) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 LA Iberville 36,874 39,701 38,658 60,224 102,656 47.3% LA Calcasieu 16,701 18,273 22,647 25,634 21,030 9.7% MS Grenada 1,704 4,038 2,126 28,036 18,157 8.4% TX Brazoria 109,622 93,699 29,405 13,020 17,357 8.0% TX Harris 38,867 17,904 24,475 23,403 16,852 7.8% Ml Midland 61,739 16,148 27,225 26,455 14,658 6.8% TX San Patricio 7,660 7,905 6,930 7,072 6,532 3.0% LA Ascension 4,077 750 606 3,073 3,422 1.6% TN Blount 2,500 2,609 2,709 2,309 2,210 1.0% KY Marshall 186 1,529 2,327 2,262 2,068 1.0% NC Brunswick 626 440 512 281 1,262 0.6% SC Florence 5,630 2,444 2,758 15,028 1,092 0.5% LA Rapides 20 32 600 664 941 0.4% Of the two facilities in Iberville County, Louisiana, one facility reported approximately 98 percent of the county total of dioxins and 46 percent of the total national quantity (Exhibit 4.51). Since 2001, the facility in Brazoria County, Texas had been reporting steadily decreasing quantities of dioxins until 2005. In 2005, a facility located in Midland County, Michigan reported its lowest quantity of dioxins from 2001-2005. 4-37 ------- Which Industries Generated Dioxins? Exhibit 4.52. Industry Sectors Quantities of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds (2001-2005) Primary SIC Code SIC Description Facilities Reporting Dioxins in This SIC Code (2005) Quantity (grams) of Dioxins Percent of Total Quantity of Dioxins (2005) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2869 Industrial organic chemicals, nec 17 94,745 83,475 95,647 120,049 139,474 64.3% 2812 Alkalies and chlorine 11 159,241 16,454 20,478 35,492 36,642 16.9% 2491 Wood preserving 21 15,005 13,467 11,130 50,249 24,512 11.3% 2879 Pesticides and agricultural chemicals, nec 3 18,677 4 12,156 4,398 7,213 3.3% 2821 Plastics materials and resins 14 4,182 872 738 2,585 2,636 1.2% 3341 Secondary nonferrous metals 40 3,980 2,410 2,591 2,743 2,357 1.1% 3334 Primary aluminum 2 2,544 2,609 2,709 2,309 2,210 1.0% Total 108 298,374 119,290 145,449 217,825 215,042 99.2% For 2005, facilities in 40 SIC codes reported dioxins (Exhibit 4.52). Except for 2001, facilities in SIC 2869 (Industrial organic chemicals, nec) reported the largest quantities of dioxins, including approximately 64 percent of the total quantity for 2005. The large decrease for SIC 2812 (Alkalies and chlorine) was due to a facility in Texas that had reported its primary SIC code as SIC 2812 for 2001, but reported under SIC 2813 (Industrial gases) for 2002-2003, and then back to SIC 2812 since 2004. This facility reported steadily decreasing quantities of dioxins until 2005. 4-38 ------- How Did Facilities Manage Dioxins? Exhibit 4.53. Management Methods for Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds (2001-2005) Management Method for Dioxins 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Disposal Quantity (qrams) 32,914 26,523 55,749 36,696 31,758 Enerqy Recovery Quantity (qrams) 2,348 2,010 1,129 14,092 4,325 Treatment Quantity (qrams) 284,942 217,792 119,887 169,138 180,757 Recycled * NA NA NA NA NA *Note: Althouqh some facilities reported they recycled dioxins, EPA does not reqard recyclinq as a viable manaqement method for dioxins. Exhibit 4.53 shows the national trends for how facilities managed dioxins in 2001-2005. Disposal: The quantity of dioxins disposed of in 2005 was comparable to the quantity disposed of in 2001. In 2003, there was a significant increase in disposal. Energy Recovery: Although there was a significant increase in 2004, facilities used energy recovery for only a relatively small portion of dioxins in other years. Treatment: Since 2001, facilities primarily treated dioxins. The decrease of approximately 104,000 grams or 37 percent in 2005, compared to 2001, closely tracks the comparable overall decrease in dioxin quantity generated. Exhibit 4.54. Management Methods for Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds in Industry Sectors (2005) Primary SIC Code SIC Code Description Onsite Disposal (grams) Offsite Disposal (grams) Onsite Energy Recovery (grams) Offsite Energy Recovery (grams) Onsite Treatment (grams) Offsite Treatment (grams) 2869 Industrial orqanic chemicals, nec 5,945 4,579 0 0 120,660 8,290 2812 Alkalies and chlorine 10,160 477 0 0 21,947 4,057 2491 Wood preservinq 0 591 0 4,309 1,227 18,384 2879 Pesticides and aqricultural chemicals, nec 0 7,211 0 2 0 0 2821 Plastics materials and resins 0 444 0 3 1,963 226 3341 Secondary nonferrous metals 206 1,235 0 0 874 41 3334 Primary aluminum 0 10 0 0 2,200 0 Facilities in five of the seven industry sectors primarily treated dioxins (Exhibit 4.54). Facilities in SIC 2491 (Wood preserving) primarily accounted for the quantities of dioxins sent to energy recovery. Facilities in all seven industry sectors disposed of dioxins to some degree; facilities in two industries: SIC 2879 (Pesticides and agricultural chemicals, nec) and SIC 3341 (Secondary nonferrous metals) primarily used land disposal. 4-39 ------- |