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):

Pentachlorobenzene

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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Pentachlorobenzene

Chemical Information:

Alternate Names - 1,2,3,4,5-Pentachlorobenzene

General Uses - Pentachlorobenzene is used to make pentachloronitrobenzene, a fungicide. In addition,
it has been and is currently used as a fire retardant.

How Much Pentachlorobenzene Was Generated?

Exhibit 4.131. National Generation of Pentachlorobenzene (2001-2005)

TRI Reporting Year

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Total Quantity of Pentachlorobenzene (pounds)

487,719

311,145

484,733

608,691

545,884

Number of TRI Facilities Reporting
Pentachlorobenzene

4

5

5

7

4

For 2005, four facilities reported approximately 546,000 pounds of pentachlorobenzene, an increase of
approximately 58,000 pounds, or 12 percent, compared to the total quantity reported for 2001 (Exhibit 4.131).
For 2004, seven facilities reported approximately 609,000 pounds - the largest quantity of pentachlorobenzene
reported in 2001- 2005.

Exhibit 4.132. Distribution of Quantities for Facilities Reporting Pentachlorobenzene (2005)

Pentachlorobenzene (545,884 pounds)

Quantity Reported

Number of Facilities Reporting
This Quantity (2005)

Percent of Total Quantity of
Pentachlorobenzene (2005)

up to 10 pounds

0

0.0%

between 11 -100 pounds

0

0.0%

between 101 -1,000 pounds

0

0.0%

between 1,001 - 10,000 pounds

1

0.5%

between 10,001 - 100,000 pounds

1

6.7%

between 100,001 - 1 million pounds

2

92.8%

> 1 million pounds

0

0.0%

Two facilities reported approximately 93 percent of the total quantity of pentachlorobenzene in 2005 (Exhibit
4.132).

4-95


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~ Largest facility reporting pentachlorobenzene
• Other facilities reporting pentachlorobenzene

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Where Was Pentachlorobenzene Generated?

	Exhibit 4.133. Location of Facilities that Reported Pentachlorobenzene (2005)

f Guam V

4 Facilities Reporting Pentachlorobenzene

Facilities Reporting Pentachlorobenzene (2005)

Office of Solid Waste - Fall 2007
Analysis and Information Branch

Pacific
Ocean

Atlantic
Ocean

For 2005, four facilities in two states reported pentachlorobenzene (Exhibit 4.133).

Exhibit 4.134. Quantity of Pentachlorobenzene, by EPA Region and State (2001-2005)

EPA
Region

State

2001
(pounds)

2002
(pounds)

2003
(pounds)

2004
(pounds)

2005
(pounds)

Percent of Total
National Quantity of
Pentachlorobenzene
(2005)

6

LA

407,918

233,271

451,249

606,963

509,279

93.3%

6

TX

79,565

77,701

33,391

1,639

36,606

6.7%

Total

487,483

310,972

484,640

608,602

545,884

100.0%

Since 2001, facilities in EPA Region 6 reported most of the pentachlorobenzene, including 100 percent of the
total quantity for 2005 (Exhibit 4.134). Two facilities in Louisiana reported approximately 94 percent of the
total quantity. For 2001-2004, a facility in Texas reported steadily decreasing quantities until it reported an
increase of approximately 35,000 pounds for 2005.

4-96


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Exhibit 4.135. Quantity of Pentachlorobenzene, by State and County (2005)

State

County

Quantity (pounds) of Pentachlorobenzene

Percent of Total
National Quantity of
Pentachlorobenzene
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

LA

Calcasieu

407,918

230,071

329,626

380,240

305,962

56.0%

LA

Iberville

0

3,200

121,623

226,723

203,316

37.2%

TX

Brazoria

79,565

77,701

33,391

873

36,606

6.7%

Total

487,719

311,145

484,733

608,691

545,884

100.0%

Two facilities in Louisiana, one each located in Calcasieu County and Iberville County reported approximately
93 percent of the pentachlorobenzene for 2005 (Exhibit 4.135). A facility in Brazoria County, Texas reported a
large increase of approximately 36,000 pounds for 2005.

4-97


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Which Industries Generated Pentachlorobenzene?

Exhibit 4.136 Industry Sectors Quantities of Pentachlorobenzene (2001-2005)

Primary
SIC
Code

SIC Description

Number of
Facilities Reporting
Pentachlorobenzene in
This SIC Code (2005)

Quantity (pounds) of Pentachlorobenzene

Percent of Total
National Quantity of
Pentachlorobenzene
(2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2812

Alkalies and chlorine

2

487,483

307,772

329,626

380,240

342,568

62.8%

2869

Industrial orqanic chemicals, nec

1

0

3,200

155,014

224,023

200,687

36.8%

2821

Plastics materials and resins

1

0

0

0

3,573

2,629

0.5%

Total

4

487,483

310,972

484,640

607,836

545,884

100.0%

For 2005, facilities in three industry sectors (SIC codes) reported pentachlorobenzene (Exhibit 4.136). Two facilities, one each in SIC 2812 (Alkalies
and chlorine) and SIC 2869 (Industrial organic chemicals, nec) reported most of the pentachlorobenzene for 2001 to 2005, including approximately
93 percent of the total quantity for 2005. A facility in Louisiana that reported the majority of pentachlorobenzene by SIC 2812 facilities burns wastes
from offsite sources. Fluctuations in the quantities of pentachlorobenzene reported by this facility are due to variabilities in the quantity and
composition of wastes from offsite sources and to fluctuations in production. This facility also noted hurricane-related operational problems in 2005.
A facility in SIC 2869 started reporting pentachlorobenzene for 2003 and since then has reported most of this PC within this industry sector. For
2004, this facility attributed increased production and improved flow measurement equipment which resulted in the facility using larger volume flow
streams in calculating quantities of pentachlorobenzene. This facility likewise noted hurricane-related operational problems in 2005.

How Did Facilities Manage Pentachlorobenzene?

Exhibit 4.137. Trends in Management Methods for Pentachlorobenzene (2001-2005)

Management Method for Pentachlorobenzene

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Disposal Quantity (pounds)

1

3

26

30

44

Energy Recovery Quantity (pounds)

0

0

0

1,335

0

Treatment Quantity (pounds)

487,718

311,142

484,707

607,325

545,840

Recycled (pounds)2b

770

210

18,111

399

1

Exhibit 4.137 shows the national trends for how facilities managed pentachlorobenzene in 2001-2005. Nearly 100 percent of the pentachlorobenzene
was treated, primarily onsite. Since 2003, a facility in Texas reported 100 percent of the quantity recycled.

25 For additional information on recycled quantities see footnote 8.

4-98


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Exhibit 4.138. Management Methods for Pentachlorobenzene 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)

2812

Alkalies and chlorine

44

0

0

0

342,386

138

1

0

2821

Plastics materials and resins

0

0

0

0

2,600

29

0

0

2869

Industrial organic chemicals, nec

0

0

0

0

200,687

0

0

0

Total

44

0

0

0

545,673

167

1

0

Facilities in all three industry sectors overwhelmingly treated (incinerated) pentachlorobenzene, mostly onsite (Exhibit 4.138).
Facilities Only Recycling Pentachlorobenzene

Exhibit 4.139. Facilities That Only Recycled Pentachlorobenzene in 2005

Primary
SIC
Code

SIC Code Description

State

County

Onsite Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite Recycling
(pounds)

Total Recycling
(pounds)

2819

Industrial inorganic chemicals, nec

CO

Weld

0

980

980

2869

Industrial organic chemicals, nec

KY

Marshall

12

0

12

Total

12

980

992

For 2005, two facilities, one each in SIC 2819 (Industrial inorganic chemicals, nec) and SIC 2869 (Industrial organic chemicals, nec), reported using
recycling to manage approximately 1,000 pounds of pentachlorobenzene (Exhibit 4.139).

4-99


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