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Appendix B: Priority and Toxic Chemicals Reduction

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RCC 2005 Action Plan

Introduction

Achieving the National 35 Percent

Recycling Rate for Municipal Solid

Waste;

Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials;

Priority and Toxic Chemical

Reductions;

Green Initiatives—Electronics

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix B: Priority and Toxic Chemicals

Reduction

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be

useful as a reference or resource.

Part I—Snapshots of the 2001 Baseline

Part II—List of Priority Chemicals

Part III—Chemical-Specific Actions

Part I—Snapshots of the 2001 Baseline

Part I provides a breakdown of priority chemicals

reported in 2001 by region, by top seven (high-quantity)

priority chemicals, and by the top industrial sectors

behind lead and naphthalene reporting.

Regional: In 2001, 77 million pounds of priority

chemicals were reported. Regions 4, 5, and 6 accounted for 73 percent of the total priority

chemicals while Regions 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 accounted for 27 percent of the total. See Figure 1

for a breakdown by region.

Figure 1

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Top Chemical Quantities: Figure 2 shows that seven high-quantity priority chemicals accounted

for 95 percent of 77 million pounds of all priority chemicals reported in 2001. The top seven highquantity priority chemicals are:

1. Lead and lead compounds (41 percent);

2. Naphthalene (15 percent);

3. Polycyclic aromatic compounds (14 percent);

4. Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (7 percent);

5. Hexachlorobenzene (6 percent);

6. Hexachloroethane (6 percent); and

7. 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (3 percent).

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As in the 1991 baseline, lead and naphthalene are shown as the two top reduction priority

chemicals throughout 2008.

Figure 2

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Top Industrial Sectors Behind Lead: Figure 3 shows that 10 high-quantity industrial sectors are

behind the total pounds reported for lead and lead compounds. In 2001, the total quantity of all

the reported lead and lead compounds was 28.8 million pounds—41 percent of all priority

chemicals reported. The total quantity of lead and lead compounds being reported by these 10 top

industrial sectors accounted for up to 37 percent of the total of 77 million pounds from all the

reported priority chemicals and for up to 95 percent of the total lead and lead compounds.

Figure 3
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Top Industrial Sectors Behind Naphthalene: Figure 4 shows the top 10 high-quantity industrial

sectors behind the total pounds reported for naphthalene. In 2001, the total quantity of all the

reported naphthalene was 10.2 million pounds—15 percent of all priority chemicals reported. The

top 10 industrial sectors accounted for 79 percent of the 10.2 million pounds of naphthalene

reported in 2001.

Figure 4

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Part II—List of Priority Chemicals

You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See

EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Priority Chemicals

Chemical Name and Summary Fact Sheet CASRN

Organic Chemicals and Chemical Compounds

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (PDF) (2pp, 10K) 120-82-1

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 95-94-3

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol (PDF) (1 pg, 9K) 95-95-4

4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether (PDF) (1 pg, 7K) 101-55-3

Acenaphthene (PDF) (2 pp, 12K) 83-32-9

Acenaphthylene (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 208-96-8

Anthracene (PDF) (2 pp, 12K) 120-12-7

Benzo(g,h,i)perylene (PDF) (2 pp, 12K) 191-24-2

Dibenzofuran (PDF) (1 pg, 9K) 132-64-9
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Dioxins/Furans (PDF) (2 pp, 13K) (considered one chemical on this list) 1746-01-6

Endosulfan, alpha (PDF) (2 pp, 16K) and Endosulfan, beta (PDF) (2 pp, 12K)

(considered one chemical on this list)

959-98-8

33213-65-9

Fluorene (PDF) (2 pp, 13K) 86-73-7

Heptachlor (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) and Heptachlor epoxide (PDF) (2 pp, 11K)

(considered one chemical on this list)

76-44-8

1024-57-3

Hexachlorobenzene (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 118-74-1

Hexachlorobutadiene (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 87-68-3

Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma- (PDF) (2 pp, 12K) 58-89-9

Hexachloroethane (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 67-72-1

Methoxychlor (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 72-43-5

Naphthalene (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 91-20-3

PAH Group (PDF) (2 pp, 13K) (as defined in TRI)

Pendimethalin (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 40487-42-1

Pentachlorobenzene (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 608-93-5

Pentachloronitrobenzene (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 82-68-8

Pentachlorophenol (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 87-86-5

Phenanthrene (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 85-01-8

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) (PDF) (4 pp, 104K) 1336-36-3

Pyrene (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 129-00-0

Trifluralin (PDF) (2 pp, 10K) 1582-09-8

Metals and Metal Compounds

Cadmium (PDF) (2 pp, 12K) 7440-43-9

Lead (PDF) (2 pp, 11K) 7439-92-1

Mercury 7439-97-6

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Part III—Chemical-Specific Actions

EPA will add other toxics reduction actions throughout the implementation of this Priority and Toxic

Chemicals Reduction Action Plan.

First Chemical Action: "Issue and Implement EPA's Roadmap for Mercury" (Coordinated

by OPPT)

EPA's Roadmap for Mercury describes the Agency's current and future actions to address mercury

and provides the public with information about the wide range of actions taking place to reduce

mercury exposure. EPA's Roadmap for Mercury identifies six focus areas for future action to ensure

a holistic approach for addressing mercury:

1. Further reducing mercury releases to air, water, and land;

2. Further reducing mercury uses, which later result in releases to the environment;

3. Enhancing risk communication;

4. Safely managing commodity-grade mercury supplies;

5. Conducting research and monitoring; and

6. Engaging in multilateral and bilateral agreements to facilitate global mercury reductions.
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Following are some of the chemical use reduction activities described in EPA's Roadmap for

Mercury.

Specific elements (emphasis will vary by region and program):

Establish Mercury-Free Product Labeling Program (Office of Resource

Conservation and Recovery, ORCR)

EPA/ORCR is evaluating the potential for establishing a "Mercury-Free" product label

for products with no intentionally added mercury. EPA will establish partnerships with

manufacturers of mercury-containing and mercury-free products to enhance the

market for mercury-free products and reduce the use of mercury in products.

Promote Mercury Product Use Reduction Partnerships (OPPT and ORCR).

Many current mercury uses in products have cost-effective, mercury-free

alternatives. Through the Green Suppliers Network, the Partnership for Environmental

Priorities (NPEP) Program, and other voluntary initiatives, ORCR and OPPT are

collaborating with manufacturers of mercury-containing and mercury-free products to

establish voluntary reduction partnership programs partnerships with commitments to

mercury product use reduction and phase-out goals. As a component of these

partnerships, ORCR promotes mercury-containing product take-back/recycling

programs.

Explore Using TSCA Authorities to Promote Further Mercury Use Reductions

in Appropriate Manufacturing Sectors (OPPT).

EPA will conduct a preliminary market analysis of mercury switches, relays, and

measurement devices to identify candidate product manufacturers to partner with the

Agency to reduce risks, as indicated above. Building upon successful state regulatory

programs, EPA will consider further risk reduction mechanisms under TSCA (for

example, TSCA section 5 significant new use rules and/or TSCA section 6 control

regulations) and other authorities, as appropriate.

Outreach Activities to Consumers on Mercury Products and Mercury-Free

Substitutes for Use in the Home (OPPT and ORCR).

Building upon the information already available from states and other groups about

consumer products that contain mercury, ORCR will develop outreach materials (such

as brochures) and make information available on its Web site. Additionally, ORCR will

investigate the potential for developing public service announcements to make

consumers aware of the hazards of mercury and availability of mercury-free product

substitutes.

Promote the Proper Collection and Recycling of Dental Office Amalgam Waste

(ORCR).

ORCR is currently developing a dental office amalgam recycling program called its

"gray bag" program. This program will assist dentists to properly collect and manage

dental amalgam wastes generated in their offices in an effort to minimize mercury

releases to air, land, and water resulting from current amalgam land disposal,

incineration, and pretreatment practices at POTWs.

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Mercury Automobile Switches (OPPT and ORCR).

Building on successful state auto switch removal efforts, OPPT and OPEI are

developing a partnership with the steel industry, auto scrap suppliers, the automotive

industry, and mercury recyclers to remove mercury switches from scrapped autos in

the U.S. prior to melting in scrap furnaces. Concurrently, OPPT is considering using a

TSCA Section 5 Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) for auto switches to complement

voluntary actions already taken by American automobile manufacturers. The SNUR

could require notification to EPA prior to any renewal. Manufacture, import, or

processing of mercury for use in auto switches. The notice to EPA would allow the

Agency to control the uses before they start, if appropriate.

Characterize Mining Releases (ORCR).

EPA is initiating a program to examine releases to land from active gold mines. This

effort will attempt to characterize these mercury releases and assess their potential
RCC Action Plan: Appendix B - Priority and Toxic Chemicals Reduction | Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) | US EPA

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impact to determine if further action is warranted.

Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) (ORCR) and Other Efforts.

The RCC has initiated the Schools Cleanout Campaign (SC3), which promotes removal

of existing stocks of hazardous chemicals from secondary schools, safe chemical

management, and national awareness. The ultimate goal of the SC3 is to create a

chemically safer school environment in which chemicals are purchased wisely, stored

safely, handled by trained personnel, used responsibly, and disposed of properly.

Recover Mercury from Fluorescent Bulbs (ORCR).

In FY 2002 and 2003, ORCR awarded ten cooperative agreements to state agencies

and nonprofit organizations to conduct outreach promoting the recycling of fluorescent

bulbs and other mercury containing lamps. ORCR currently provides coordination and

technical expertise to support these outreach programs. ORCR is also determining

which programs should be expanded nationally and where to place future resources in

order to increase the recycling rate.

Reduce Mercury in Healthcare Facilities (OPPT).

EPA will continue to partner with the healthcare industry to eliminate the purchase of

mercury-containing products such as measurement and control devices. EPA plans to

expand its current efforts and build on past successes by doubling recruitment of

facilities by 2007.

Develop Database to Track Reductions in Mercury in Key Sectors (OPPT).

EPA will compile and assess the quality of mercury use and substitutes data from

current sources. This information will allow the Agency to evaluate the long-term

effectiveness of its mercury reduction programs.

Promote the Procurement of Non-Mercury Products by Federal Agencies

(OPPT).

Using EPA's Environmentally Preferable Products Database, EPA is compiling a list of

alternative non-mercury products with special emphasis on those that contain nonmercury switches, relays, and measuring devices. EPA will make this information

available to other interested buyers including state, tribal, and local governments;

large industrial purchasers; hospitals; schools; and individuals.

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Second Chemical Action: "Increase Early Retirement of PCBs" (Within OPPT and the

Regions)

Encourage early retirement of transformers and capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyls

(PCBs) through a national voluntary phaseout program in accordance with the goals of the Priority

Organic Pollutants (POPs) treaty.

Conduct outreach to owners of PCB equipment.

Emphasize the benefits of early retirement:

Cost savings with newer, energy-efficient equipment.

Reduced liability from owning PCB equipment that can leak and spill.

Possible reduced disposal.

Reward participants who phase out equipment with public recognition, removal from the

PCB transformer registration database, and possibly discounts for purchasing and disposal.

Track progress of phaseout on the PCB transformer registration database.

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Third Chemical Action: "Get the Lead Out"

This will be managed by OPPT. The electronics industry approached DfE, based on a relationship

built through other collaborations, to work together to understand alternatives to lead solder. DfE

and the industry have worked together to examine the toxicological and performance

characteristics of lead-free solder and alternatives for circuit board applications. The transition to

lead-free solders presents a significant opportunity for the reduced use of lead because the

electronics industry is facing legislative and market pressure to phase out the use of tin-lead

solders (e.g., by the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive). Worldwide

estimates of tin-lead solder use in 2002 are over 176 million pounds. Workable lead-free
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alternatives have emerged and are likely to be implemented to replace a significant portion of the

tin-lead solder that is used annually by the industry.

ORCR may profile efforts of NPEP/non-NPEP entities that are eliminating and/or reformulating leadsoldering practices and want to showcase lead-free solder alternatives as part of an RCC LeadSoldering Challenge.

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