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EPA Reports On Toxic Releases To Air, Water and Land in Puerto Rico

Release Date: 06/18/1998
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(#98066) SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported today in its annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) that the 12.8 million pounds of toxic chemicals listed as released into Puerto Rico's environment in 1988 had dropped to 7.4 million pounds in 1996, a decrease over the eight-year period of 41.8%.

EPA recently analyzed releases from five major industrial sectors and found a national decline in toxic releases, led by chemical manufacturing, followed by primary metals, electrical equipment, pulp and paper, and petroleum refining.

EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox said, "While we are encouraged by the downward trend in the release of chemicals on the original list, we must continue our efforts to maintain it. This data demonstrates that it is possible to decrease pollution and maintain a strong economy."

The annual Toxic Release Inventory is a compilation of the latest data on toxic releases in a yearly report that provides a state-by-state and national listing of pollution trends. This year's report covers toxic releases into the air, water and land in 1996.

The report shows that releases of toxic chemicals into the air of Puerto Rico's communities continue to decline, from 8.8 million pounds in 1995 to 7.4 million pounds in 1996. However, discharges of toxic releases releases into Puerto Rico waters increased from 22,262 pounds in 1995 to 220,557 pounds in 1996. The increase is due to the chemicals newly reported to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), in particular n-hexane, a solvent widely used by industry. During 1996, releases of 151,133 pounds of n-hexane were reported in Puerto Rico.

Ms. Fox added that, "In a continuing effort to make toxic release information more accessible and relevant to the interested public, EPA recently announced a chemical right-to-know initiative that will provide information on the health effects of the high volume chemicals on the list." Out of the 158 facilities reporting 1996 data, the facilities in Puerto Rico with the top total of toxic releases into air, water and land, and off-site disposal of waste are: Upjohn Mfg. Co. in Arecibo (1.5 million pounds); Abbott Chemicals Inc. in Barceloneta (1.3 million pounds); Phillips Puerto Rico Core Inc., in Guayama (652,625 pounds); Schering-Plough Prods, Inc. in Las Piedras (630,294 pounds); Coatings Inc. & Co. in Bayamon (544,780 pounds); Caribbean Petroleum Corp. in Bayamon (439,989 pounds); Cyanamid Agricultural in Manati (381,200 pounds); General Electric Company in Bayamon (240,266 pounds); Merck Sharp & Dohme Quimica in Barceloneta (214,157 pounds); and, Schering Plough Products Inc. in Manati (208,690 pounds).

Information on TRI is available in public libraries or online at https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri or by calling the Hotline number at 1-800-424-9346.

For more information contact:
Carl Soderberg
EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division
1492 Ponce De Leon Avenue
Santurce, PR 00909
Voice: 787-729-6951 FAX: 787-729-7747 E-Mail: soderberg.carl@epamail.epa.gov