The TRI report lists data on chemical releases to the air, water and soil by manufacturers throughout the state. In this case, the data show a direct correlation between the decrease of chemical releases and Ecology's requirement that businesses develop pollution-prevention plans beginning in 1990. Methanol was the most-released chemical, at seven million pounds.
Methanol is released into the air primarily from the pulping process at paper mills.
Ammonia, carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen fluoride were the next-highest chemical releases reported. Paper and allied products companies reported 12.5 million pounds, or 51 percent, of all chemical releases in Washington. Twenty manufacturing facilities with the largest quantities of TRI releases accounted for 74 percent of all chemical releases in Washington. In 1997, the largest amount of toxic chemicals released in the state was reported in Cowlitz County, with 5.6 million pounds. Other counties reporting more than two million pounds of releases were Clark, Pierce, King and Whatcom.