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):

1,2,4 - Trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB)

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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1,2,4 - Trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB)

Chemical Information:

Alternate Names - 1,2,4-trichlorobenzol

General Uses - 1,2,4-TCB is used as an intermediate or building block to make herbicides. It is also
used as a solvent and dielectric fluid, degreaser, and lubricant.

How Much 1,2,4-TCB Was Generated?

Exhibit 4.1. National Generation of 1,2,4 - Trichlorobenzene (2001-2005)

TRI Reporting Year

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Total Quantity of 1,2,4-TCB (pounds)

2,144,696

1,527,029

1,674,802

1,888,685

1,269,422

Number of TRI Facilities Reporting
1,2,4-TCB

18

17

18

17

11

For 2005, 11 facilities reported approximately 1.3 million pounds of 1,2,4-TCB, representing a decrease of
approximately 875,000 pounds, or 41 percent, compared to the total quantity of 1,2,4-TCB reported for 2001.
Although the number of reporting facilities reporting to TRI remained relatively constant from 2001-2004, the
number of facilities reporting 1,2,4-TCB in 2005 also dropped by approximately 40 percent (Exhibit 4.1)

Exhibit 4.2. Distribution of Quantities for Facilities Reporting 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2005)

1,2,4 -TCB (1,269,422 pounds)

Quantity Reported

Number of Facilities Reporting
This Quantity (2005)

Percent of Total Quantity of 1,2,4-
TCB in 2005

up to 10 pounds

2

< 0.1%

between 11 -100 pounds

0

0.0%

between 101 -1,000 pounds

6

0.2%

between 1,001 - 10,000 pounds

1

0.3%

between 10,001 - 100,000 pounds

1

5.0%

between 100,001 - 1 million pounds

1

94.5%

> 1 million pounds

0

0.0%

Exhibit 4.2 shows the number of facilities that reported 1,2,4-TCB for 2005 within a range of reported
quantities. As noted, one facility reported approximately 95 percent of the total national quantity of 1,2,4-TCB.

4-3


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Where Was 1,2,4-TCB Generated?

Exhibit 4.3. Location of Facilities that Reported 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (2005)

11 Facilities Reporting 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

A 3 largest facilities reporting 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene
• Other facilities reporting 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene

Pacific
Ocean

Atlantic
Ocean

f Guam H

Facilities Reporting 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2005)

Office of Solid Waste - Fall 2007
Analysis and Information Branch

For 2005, 11 facilities in seven states reported 1,2,4-TCB (Exhibit 4.3).

Exhibit 4.4. Quantity of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, by EPA Region and State, for Facilities Reporting

99.9 Percent of the Total Quantity (2005)

EPA
Region

State

2001
(pounds)

2002
(pounds)

2003
(pounds)

2004
(pounds)

2005
(pounds)

6

LA

1,501,961

994,066

1,300,394

1,546,407

1,199,457

4

KY

37,746

8,494

62,989

60,139

63,260

5

OH

0

3,177

12,046

4,905

4,504

6

TX

221,394

31,704

34,031

90,624

1,315

Since 2001, facilities in EPA Region 6 consistently reported most of the 1,2,4 -TCB, including approximately
95 percent of the total quantity reported for 2005 (Exhibit 4.4). Over the last two reporting years, facilities in
most EPA regions have significantly reduced this PC. One facility, located in Louisiana, reported
approximately 95 percent of the total national quantity of 1,2,4-TCB for 2005. This same facility has
accounted for the majority of the total national quantity of 1,2,4-TCB reported since 2001. The nearly 200,000
pound increase reported by this facility for 2004, as well as the approximately 300,000 pound decrease reported
for 2005, likely resulted from a combination of fluctuations in facility production and the quantity of wastes
from offsite sources (containing 1,2,4-TCB) incinerated at this facility.

4-4


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Compared to the quantities of 1,2,4-TCB reported for 2001, facilities in 10 of 12 states significantly decreased
or even eliminated this PC by 2005. Since 2001, facilities in four states reported approximately 94 percent of
the decrease:

•	Louisiana (303,000 pounds)

•	West Virginia (231,000 pounds)

•	Texas (221,000 pounds)

•	Illinois (100,000 pounds)

Other highlights concerning trends for the reported quantity of 1,2,4-TCB in states include:

•	In Oregon, a federal facility accounted for the total quantity of 1,2,4-TCB reported since 2002. This
facility burned 1,2,4-TCB as a surrogate in trial burns to ensure its incinerators were properly operating.
In 2005, this facility did not use 1,2,4-TCB.

•	In Texas, facilities reported an overall decrease of approximately 400,000 pounds since 2001.
Fluctuations in quantity reported, including a significant increase in 2004 followed by a significant
decrease in 2005, were likely due to year to year variations in the quantity of offsite wastes incinerated
in one facility's industrial furnace.

•	In California, the facility that reported most of the 1,2,4-TCB from both 2002 and 2003 did not report a
quantity in 2004 or 2005.

•	The Illinois facility that accounted for the total quantity of 1,2,4-TCB in Illinois since 2001 was shut
down in July 2004.

Exhibit 4.5. Quantity of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, by State and County, for Facilities Reporting
			99.5 Percent of the Total Quantity (2005)		

State

County

Quantity (pounds) of 1,2,4-TCB

Percent of Total
Quantity of 1,2,4-
TCB (2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

LA

Calcasieu

1,501,961

993,819

1,300,394

1,500,850

1,199,452

94.5%

KY

Greenup

37,730

8,474

62,982

60,138

63,259

5.0%

One facility, located in Calcasieu County, Louisiana, reported approximately 95 percent of the total national
quantity of 1,2,4-TCB in 2005 (Exhibit 4.5). A facility located in Greenup County, Kentucky reported a
significant increase of 1,2,4-TCB for 2003 and has continued to report a relatively constant quantity since then.

4-5


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Which Industries Generated 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene?

Exhibit 4.6. Industry Sectors Quantities of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2001-2005)

Primary
SIC Code

SIC Description

Facilities Reporting
1,2,4-TCB in This
SIC Code (2005)

Quantity (pounds) of 1,2,4-TCB

Percent of Total
Quantity of 1,2,4-
TCB (2005)

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2812

Alkalies and chlorine

2

1,733,669

993,819

1,304,170

1,500,850

1,199,791

94.5%

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

2

137,730

123,848

162,751

119,924

67,363

5.3%

2891

Adhesives and sealants

1

0

0

0

0

900

0.1%

2879

Pesticides and agricultural chemicals, nec

1

3,100

5,300

5,400

3,744

415

< 0.1%

2869

Industrial organic chemicals, nec

3

21

272

13

3,494

406

< 0.1%

3711

Motor vehicles and car bodies

1

0

2,357

9,855

0

400

< 0.1%

3731

Ship building and repairing

1

0

0

205

163

147

< 0.1%

Total

11

2,144,696

1,527,029

1,674,802

1,888,685

1,269,422

100.00%

For 2005, facilities in seven SIC codes reported 1,2,4-TCB (Exhibit 4.6). A facility in SIC 2812 (Alkalies and chlorine) reported the largest
quantities of 1,2,4-TCB from 2001 to 2005.

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How Did Facilities Manage 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene?

Exhibit 4.7. Trends in Management Methods for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2001-2005)

Management Method for 1,2,4-TCB

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Disposal Quantity (pounds)

5,299

7,216

17,138

6,573

4,490

Energy Recovery Quantity (pounds)

448,305

118,074

136,029

131,669

2,171

Treatment Quantity (pounds)

1,691,092

1,401,739

1,521,634

1,750,443

1,262,761

Recycled (pounds)9

78,099

46,190

40,478

38,311

549,254

Compared to the quantities in 2001, the disposal, treatment, and energy recovery of 1,2,4-TCB decreased in
2005 (Exhibit 4.7). Some highlights concerning the management of 1,2,4-TCB include:

Disposal: Since 2001, only relatively small quantities of 1,2,4-TCB were disposed of; the approximately 4,500
pounds disposed in 2005 were the fewest from 2001-2005.

Energy Recovery: Compared to the quantity sent to energy recovery in 2001, there was a dramatic decrease
such that energy recovery was the least used method to manage 1,2,4-TCB in 2005.

Treatment

•	Since 2001, facilities have primarily treated 1,2,4-TCB.

•	In 2005, the quantity of 1,2,4-TCB treated decreased significantly, compared to quantities treated in
2001, as well as in 2004.

Recycling: In 2005, recycling of 1,2,4-TCB increased significantly. This increase, most of which was reported
by a facility in Louisiana, more than offset the corresponding decrease in treatment reported by this same
facility.

9 For additional information on recycled quantities see footnote 8.

4-7


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Exhibit 4.8. Management Methods for 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene in Inc

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
T reatment
(pounds)

Onsite
Recycling
(pounds)

Offsite
Recycling
(pounds)

2812

Alkalies and chlorine

0

14

0

1

1,199,380

396

542,550

6,578

2865

Cyclic crudes and intermediates

0

3,656

1,803

0

0

61,904

0

0

2869

Industrial organic chemicals, nec

5

0

0

0

1

400

7

0

2879

Pesticides and agricultural chemicals, nec

415

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2891

Adhesives and sealants

0

0

220

0

680

0

110

9

3711

Motor vehicles and car bodies

0

400

0

0

0

0

0

0

3731

Ship building and repairing

0

0

0

147

0

0

0

0

Total

420

4,070

2,023

148

1,200,061

62,700

542,667

6,587

ustry Sectors (2005)

A facility in SIC 2812 (Alkalies and chlorine) used onsite treatment for most of the 1,2,4-TCB reported for 2005 (Exhibit 4.8). This same facility
reported most of the recycling of this PC. Two facilities in SIC 2865 (Cyclic crudes and intermediates) primarily used offsite treatment. Only
relatively smaller quantities of 1,2,4-TCB were managed by either land disposal or energy recovery.

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