Contaminant Concentrations in Traditional Fuels: 

Tables for Comparison 

November 29, 2011 

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In an effort to provide additional information and data to the regulated community concerning 

the concentrations of contaminants that may be found in traditional fuels, the following tables 

present summary statistics for contaminant concentrations in common traditional fuels. 

Members of the regulated community may find the data presented here useful when comparing 

contaminants in their non-hazardous secondary materials (NHSMs) to contaminants in the 

appropriate traditional fuels.1 

• Use of these tables is not required to demonstrate compliance with the contaminant 

legitimacy criterion, and the existence of these tables does not preclude the use of other 

data sources. EPA has organized and presented this data as a service to assist NHSM 

processors and combustors in making contaminant comparisons. The Agency will 

periodically update these tables as additional data become available. 

• The following three tables cite contaminant data from both the scientific literature and 

EPA databases for coal, wood/biomass, and fuel oil. NHSMs burned in combustion units 

are most often substituted for one of these three traditional fuels. 

• The two referenced EPA databases, both compiled by the Agency’s Office of Air Quality 

Planning and Standards (OAQPS), together contain approximately 32,000 records of 

contaminant analyses performed on coal (~17,000), wood/biomass (~12,000), or fuel oil 

(~3,000) samples prior to combustion. Summary statistics from this comprehensive 

dataset are displayed separately from other data sources, but persons using these tables to 

make contaminant comparisons are not constrained to one column or one data source for 

the appropriate traditional fuel. 

                                                           

1 All data presented in this document are for individual contaminants for which EPA has information. Please note 

that targeted revisions to the rule are under development, with the goals of both clarifying the 40 CFR Part 241 

requirements and facilitating implementation of the rule as EPA originally intended. EPA is considering including a 

discussion of contaminant groups (e.g., VOC), an alternate option for contaminant comparisons involving hazardous 

air pollutant compounds that NHSM processors and combustors may want to consider. 
2

Contaminant Units 

Literature 

Sources OAQPS Databases2 

Range Range Average3 Non-Detect 

Rate 

Metal elements – dry basis 

Antimony (Sb) ppm 0.5 – 104 ND – 6.9 1.7 25 % 

Arsenic (As) ppm 0.5 – 804 ND – 174 8.2 8 % 

Beryllium (Be) ppm 0.1 – 154 ND – 206 1.9 12 % 

Cadmium (Cd) ppm 0.1 – 34 ND – 19 0.6 38 % 

Chromium (Cr) ppm 0.5 – 604 ND – 168 13.4 1 % 

Cobalt (Co) ppm 0.5 – 304 ND – 25.2 6.9 8 % 

Lead (Pb) ppm 2 – 804 ND – 148 8.7 5 % 

Manganese (Mn) ppm 5 – 3004 ND – 512 26.2 <1 % 

Mercury (Hg) ppm 0.02 – 14 ND – 3.1 0.09 5 % 

Nickel (Ni) ppm 0.5 – 504 ND – 730 21.5 <1 % 

Selenium (Se) ppm 0.2 – 104 ND – 74.3 3.4 22 % 

Non-metal elements – dry basis 

Chlorine (Cl) ppm -- ND – 9,080 992 4 % 

Fluorine (F) ppm -- ND – 178 64.0 9 % 

Nitrogen (N) ppm -- 13600 – 54000 15090 0 % 

Sulfur (S) ppm -- 740 – 61300 13580 0 % 

Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) compounds5 

Benzene ppm ND – 386 -- -- -- 

Ethyl benzene ppm 0.7 – 5.46 -- -- -- 

16-PAH ppm 6 – 2537 -- -- -- 

PAH (52 extractable) ppm 14 – 20907 -- -- -- 

Styrene ppm 1.0 – 266 -- -- -- 

Toluene ppm 8.6 – 566 -- -- -- 

Xylenes ppm 4.0 – 286 -- -- -- 

Sources and Notes: 

1. This table includes data for anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite coal. 

2. USEPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (2011a & 2011b). 

3. Averages are weighted averages of individual facilities responding to the OAQPS survey. Averages only include 

samples above detection limits. 

4. Clarke and Sloss (1992). 

5. HAPs listed here include only those HAPs with available data. These are not the only HAP compounds 

considered contaminants. 

6. Fernandez-Martinez (2000). 

7. Laumann, et al. (2011). 

 Table 1: Contaminant Concentrations in Coal1
3

Contaminant Units 

Literature 

Sources OAQPS Databases2

Range Range Average3 Non-Detect 

Rate 

Metal elements — dry basis 

Antimony (Sb) ppm ND – 264 ND – 6.0 0.9 45 % 

Arsenic (As) ppm ND – 6.84 ND – 298 6.3 57 % 

Beryllium (Be) ppm -- ND – 10 0.3 69 % 

Cadmium (Cd) ppm ND – 34 ND – 17 0.6 32 % 

Chromium (Cr) ppm ND – 1304 ND – 340 5.9 14 % 

Cobalt (Co) ppm ND – 244 ND – 213 6.5 23 % 

Lead (Pb) ppm ND – 3404 ND – 229 4.5 28 % 

Manganese (Mn) ppm 7.9 – 8404 ND – 15800 302 <1 % 

Mercury (Hg) ppm ND – 0.24 ND – 1.1 0.03 22 % 

Nickel (Ni) ppm ND – 5404 ND – 175 2.8 17 % 

Selenium (Se) ppm ND – 24 ND – 9.0 1.1 69 % 

Non-metal elements — dry basis 

Chlorine (Cl) ppm ND – 26004 ND – 5400 259 5 % 

Fluorine (F) ppm ND – 3004 ND – 128 32.4 43 % 

Nitrogen (N) ppm 200 – 395004,5 2200 – 46005 3460 0 % 

Sulfur (S) ppm ND – 87004 ND – 6100 704 5 % 

Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) compounds6 

Formaldehyde ppm 1.6 – 277 -- -- -- 

Sources and Notes: 

1. This table includes data for untreated wood and biomass, including bark, bagasse, hog fuel, and agricultural 

plant residues. 

2. USEPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (2011a & 2011b). 

3. Averages are weighted averages of individual facilities responding to the OAQPS survey. Averages only include 

samples above detection limits. 

4. Energy Research Centre for the Netherlands, Phyllis Biomass database. http://www.ecn.nl/phyllis.

5. OAQPS nitrogen range based on 20 samples from two facilities, whereas Phyllis biomass database nitrogen range 

reflects the results of 394 studies. 

6. HAPs listed here include only those HAPs with available data. These are not the only HAP compounds considered 

contaminants. 

7. T. Hunt (2011). 

 Table 2: Contaminant Concentrations in Wood & Biomass Materials1
4

Contaminant Units 

Literature 

Sources OAQPS Databases2

Range Range Average3 Non-Detect 

Rate 

Metal elements - dry basis

Antimony (Sb) ppm ND – 15.74 ND – 3.8 3.5 97 % 

Arsenic (As) ppm -- ND – 13 1.3 72 % 

Beryllium (Be) ppm -- ND – 19 2.3 73 % 

Cadmium (Cd) ppm -- ND – 1.4 0.4 75 % 

Chromium (Cr) ppm -- ND – 37 3.7 65 % 

Cobalt (Co) ppm -- ND – 8.5 1.1 84 % 

Lead (Pb) ppm ND – 56.84 ND – 52 4.3 46 % 

Manganese (Mn) ppm -- ND – 3200 118 49 % 

Mercury (Hg) ppm -- ND – 0.2 0.02 74 % 

Nickel (Ni) ppm ND – 50.24 ND – 270 24.1 39 % 

Selenium (Se) ppm -- ND – 4 0.8 74 % 

Non-metal elements - dry basis 

Chlorine (Cl) ppm -- ND – 1260 133 35 % 

Fluorine (F) ppm -- ND – 145 8.5 80 % 

Nitrogen (N) ppm 42 – 89504 2000 – 30006 2250 0 % 

Sulfur (S) ppm -- ND – 57000 8280 9 % 

Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) compounds7 

Benzene ppm ND – 754 -- -- -- 

Biphenyl ppm 1000 – 12008 -- -- -- 

Cumene ppm 6000 – 86009 -- -- -- 

Ethyl benzene ppm 22 – 12708 -- -- -- 

Hexane ppm 50 – 100008 -- -- -- 

Naphthalene ppm ND – 73308 -- -- -- 

Total PAH ppm 3900 – 547004 -- -- -- 

Phenol ppm ND – 77008 -- -- -- 

Styrene ppm ND – 3208 -- -- -- 

Toluene ppm ND – 3804 -- -- -- 

Xylenes ppm ND – 31008 -- -- -- 

Sources and Notes: 

 

1. This table includes data for fuel oils 1-6, including distillate, residual, kerosene, diesel, and other petroleum 

based oils. It does not include data for gasoline or unrefined crude oil. 

2. USEPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (2011a & 2011b). 

3. Averages are weighted averages of individual facilities responding to the OAQPS survey. Averages only include 

samples above detection limits. 

4. U.S. EPA (1999), Appendix B. 

5. OAQPS fluorine range based on a limited dataset (59 samples from only five facilities). Detection limits for 

non-detect results ranged from 19 to 300 ppm, all higher than the maximum recorded value of 14 ppm. 

6. OAQPS nitrogen range based on a limited dataset (12 samples from only one facility). 

7. HAPs listed here include only those HAPs with available data. These are not the only HAP compounds 

considered contaminants. 

8. USEPA (2000). 

9. World Health Organization (1999). 

 Table 3: Contaminant Concentrations in Fuel Oils1
5

 References 

1. Clarke, L.B., Sloss, L.L. 1992. Trace elements - emissions from coal combustion and gasification. 

IEACR/49, London, UK, IEA Coal Research. July 1992. 

2. Davidson, R., “Trace Elements in Coal” 1996, Energeia, v.7, No.3, University of Kentucky, Center 

for Applied Research. 

3. Fernandez-Martinez , G., et al, 2000, Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Coal, Fly 

Ash, and Slag Samples by Direct Thermal Desorption/GC/MS, Analusis, v 28, pp 953-959. 

4. Hunt, Tim. Written communication from Tim Hunt of American Forest & Paper Association to Jim 

Berlow of EPA, July 14, 2011. 

5. Laumann, S., et al., 2011, Variations in concentrations and compositions of polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coals related to the coal rank and origin, Environmental Pollution 159 (10): 

2690-2697. 

6. Phyllis, database for biomass and waste, http://www.ecn.nl/phyllis, Energy research Centre of the 

Netherlands. 

7. USEPA, 1999. “Final Technical Support Document for Hazardous MACT Standards,” Vol. IV: 

Compliance with the HWC MACT Standards” Ch.17 and Appendix B. 

8. USEPA, 2000. EPCRA Section 313, Industry Guidance: Electricity Generating Facilities; February 

2000; EPA 745-B-00-004. 

9. USEPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) (2011a), CISWI 2011 Database for 

the Final Rule. February 21, 2011. EPA Docket/Document Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0119-2484. 

Accessed October 25, 2011 at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/129/ciwi/ciwipg.html#TECH

10. USEPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (2011b), Emissions Database for Boilers and 

Process Heaters Containing Stack Test, CEM & Fuel Analysis Data Reported Under ICR No. 

2286.01 and ICR No. 2286.03 (Version 6). EPA Docket/Document Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-

0058-3255. February 2011. Accessed October 25, 2011 at 

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/boiler/boilerpg.html#TECH

11. World Health Organization (WHO). 1999. “Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 

18.” Accessed July 2011 at 

http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad18.htm#PartNumber:6