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Chemical Council Carcinogen Releases  

The U.S. EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) tracks industry’s releases of more than 650 chemicals that are known or suspected of harming human health and the environment. But all toxins are not created equal. The TRI chemicals released in the greatest quantities may not necessarily pose the greatest risks to human and environmental health. Chemicals’ risks differ as a result of such variables as:

• Their potency as a known or suspected toxin or carcinogen;
• Their propensity to break down or bio-accumulate in the environment; and
• Where and how they are released into the air, land or water.

While scientists have not fully determined the consequences of long-term exposure to many individual TRI chemicals—much less how they interact in chemical cocktails—the EPA identifies “several groups of TRI chemicals of particular concern.”  Of “particular concern” to regulators and the public are the 178 TRI chemicals that the EPA lists as known or suspected carcinogens.⁹

Because of their risks, these known and suspected carcinogens trigger especially sensitive TRI reporting requirements.¹⁰ The accompanying table shows the 10 known and suspected TRI carcinogens that Chemical Council members released in Texas in the greatest volumes. A single Chemical Council member plant produced all of Texas’ releases of one possible carcinogen. BP Chemicals’ Port Lavaca plant accounts for 100 percent of Texas’ acetamide emissions.

A December 1998 Sierra Club study, “Cancer, Chemicals and You,” analyzed 175 million pounds of 1996 TRI carcinogen emissions into the air and water. It found that Texas led the nation in the emissions of these carcinogens, with 15.6 million pounds. The report found that Texas has three of the nation’s top 10 counties for carcinogen emissions. Harris County ranked No. 1, with 5.1 million pounds of TRI carcinogen emissions, led by Simpson Pasadena Co.’s emissions.¹¹ Jefferson County ranked No. 8 nationally (1.9 million pounds), led by Huntsman Corp. Finally Brazoria County was ninth (1.7 million pounds), led by Dow Chemical.¹²
 

 

Leading Carcinogens that Chemical Council Members Release in Texas 

Carcinogen	TCC Total (Lbs.)	TCC Share of TX Total	Leading TCC Dumper	Leader's Release (Lbs.)	Leader's Top  Release Route
Benzene	2,709,808	88%	Huntsman Corp., Port Arthur	453,000	Air
Acrylamide	2,448,333	100%	BP Chemicals, Port Lavaca	1.7 million	Underground
1,3-Butadiene	1,724,344	94%	Lyondell, Channelview	400,000	Air
Acrylonitrile	1,261,715	51%	BP Chemicals, Port Lavaca	992,075	Underground
Vinyl Acetate	1,758,302	91%	Millennium Chemical, La Porte	525,390	Air
Formaldehyde	1,018,030	57%	Celanese Eng. Resins, Bishop	809,750	Underground
Dichloromethane	672,807	49%	Eastman Chemical, Alvin	428,000	Air
Styrene	915,252	30%	ARCO, Channelview	305,037	Underground
Acetamide	559,014	100%	BP Chemicals, Port Lavaca	559,014	Underground
Acetaldehyde	475,547	57%	Sterling Chemicals, Texas City	91,431	Underground
Total	13,543,152			6,263,697

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1996 Toxics Release Inventory.
 
 
 
 

Top 10 Carcinogens

1. Benzene  Benzene is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia (cancer of the tissues that form white blood cells). Long-term exposure has been associated with anemia, reduced red blood cell counts, immune system damage and genetic mutations. Some studies link benzene exposure to shrinking ovaries and impaired fertility in women and to fetal defects in animals.  Huntsman’s Port Arthur plant led the nation in benzene releases in 1996, releasing 453,000 pounds into the air (Amoco Petroleum’s Texas City plant ranked No. 2). Of the 26,179 people living within three miles of this Huntsman plant, 76 percent are minorities and 66 percent are African Americans.   In late 1998, the TNRCC referred this plant to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for alleged air pollution violations, including excessive emissions of benzene and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which help form the ozone in urban smog. The case is still pending at the Office of the Attorney General.   2. Acrylamide  Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen linked to animal tumors in the reproductive and central nervous systems, as well as the thyroids and mammary glands. Even at low exposure levels, it is regarded as a powerful neurotoxin. BP Chemicals’ Port Lavaca plant was the nation’s No. 2 emitter of acrylamide (Sterling Chemicals’ Texas City plant ranked No. 4), releasing more than 1.7 million pounds of it, mostly into underground wells.   3. 1,3-Butadiene  1,3-butadiene is a probable human carcinogen associated with leukemia and lymph cancers. It is a suspected toxicant of the human cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory systems. Animal studies link this chemical to skeletal defects, as well as to shrinkage of the ovaries and testicles. It is one of the few chemicals that are known to induce heart cancer in lab animals. Eight of the nation’s 10 worst 1,3-butadiene polluters are in Texas. The worst U.S. plant is Lyondell Petrochemical’s Channelview plant, which released 400,000 pounds of this chemical into the air. The nation’s next-worst plants were the Bayer plant in Orange (320,250 pounds) and Huntsman’s Port Neches plant (189,029 pounds).  4. Acrylonitrile  Acrylonitrile is a probable human carcinogen that also is a suspected toxicant of the human cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive and respiratory systems. Research links the chemical to fetal and testicular defects in animals, as well as decreases in animal sperm counts. Nationally, BP Chemicals’ Port Lavaca plant ranks No. 3 in acrylonitrile pollution, emitting 992,075 pounds of it. The plant injected 945,000 pounds into underground wells and released another 47,070 pounds into the air.    5. Vinyl Acetate  Vinyl acetate is a possible human carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.  It irritates the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system. Nationally, the Millennium Petrochemical plant in La Porte ranks No. 1 in vinyl acetate pollution (DuPont’s Orange plant ranks No.3). Millennium’s La Porte plant emits 525,390 pounds of vinyl acetate, most of which it released into the air.     6. Formaldehyde  Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen linked to nose, mouth, throat and lung cancer. Formaldehyde is a suspected toxicant of the human immune, neurological and gastrointestinal systems. It can cause or exacerbate asthma. Some studies link formaldehyde to menstrual and pregnancy problems.   The Celanese Resins plant in Bishop ranks No. 1 in Texas and No. 3 in the nation in formaldehyde releases, with 809,750 pounds. The plant pumped 500,000 pounds of this chemical into underground wells, 301,000 pounds into the air and 8,500 pounds into the water. Of the 4,190 people who live within three miles of the plant, 57 percent are minorities, including 55 percent who are Hispanic.    7. Dichloromethane*  Dichloromethane is a probable human carcinogen linked to liver and lung cancer. This chemical is a suspected toxicant of the human neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory and reproductive systems. Animal studies indicate that this chemical crosses the placental barrier and can reduce birth weights and cause skeletal defects. The Eastman Chocolate Bayou plant in Alvin is Texas’ leading dichloromethane polluter, releasing 428,000 pounds of the chemical, including 392,000 pounds into the air and 36,000 pounds into underground wells.  *(AKA: methylene chloride or dichloride)    8. Styrene   Styrene is a possible human carcinogen that may cause leukemia or lymphoma. It is also a suspected developmental toxicant that can damage the cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, neurological and respiratory systems. ARCO’s Channelview plant led Chemical Council members in Texas styrene emissions, releasing 305,037 pounds, injecting most of it underground.        9. Acetamide  Acetamide is a possible human carcinogen; animal studies link it to liver cancer. Acetamide is a suspected toxicant of the skin and sensory organs. The BP Chemicals plant in Port Lavaca is the No. 2 acetamide polluter in the nation. Its 559,014 pounds of acetamide releases account for 100 percent of the acetamide releases reported on Texas’ 1996 Toxics Release Inventory. BP injected most of this chemical into underground wells.     10. Acetaldehyde  Acetaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen linked to nose and throat cancer. It is a suspected toxicant of the neurological and respiratory systems. Animal research shows that this chemical crosses the placental barrier and can cause skeletal deformities, reduced birth weights and increased infant deaths. Sterling Chemicals’ Texas City plant is Texas’ leading acetaldehyde polluter, releasing 91,431 pounds of it. Sterling injected 87,290 pounds into underground wells and released 4,141 pounds into the air (See also “A Sterling Reputation in Texas City”).

 
 

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