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State report tracks release of toxics

Amounts of toxic substances released by area industries, military bases, decreasing

Date published: 4/3/2007

By RUSTY DENNEN

Area industries and military bases together released tons of toxic substances into the air, water and land in 2005.

The annual Toxics Release Inventory, issued last week by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, includes information on 14 area industries, businesses and federal facilities.

Across the state, more than 400 entities are required to file the reports based on their size and amounts of toxic materials released. The 2005 figures are the latest data available.

The Dahlgren Navy base in King George County, Quantico Marine Base in Prince William and Stafford counties and Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County reported releasing thousands of pounds of lead and copper used at firing ranges.

In the civilian sector, those releasing toxic substances included automotive, wood-products, manufacturing, chemical and petroleum businesses.

In general terms, the toxic materials released are among 650 on a federal list of substances that can cause cancer or other adverse health effects at significant concentration levels beyond the facility boundaries, cause cancer in humans or harm the environment if found in large concentrations.

Some of the materials wind up in soil, air or water. Others are treated on-site or transferred elsewhere for treatment or disposal.

There is a silver lining. According to DEQ, toxic releases dropped about 10 percent from 2004 to 2005. "I am encouraged that the overall amount of chemicals entering Virginia's environment continues to decrease," DEQ Director David K. Paylor said in a press release. He said that's because companies are doing a better job of managing the substances.

"However, we cannot be content and we still have work to do."

Toxins in the air typically include hydrochloric acids, methanol, ammonia, toluene and sulfuric acids; in water, nitrate compounds, manganese, ammonia, barium and zinc; and on land, barium compounds, zinc, copper, lead and arsenic.

By volume, the area's largest industrial producer of toxic substances was Carlisle Motion Control, a brake-lining manufacturer in Spotsylvania County. According to the report, Carlisle on Shannon Drive released 276,755 pounds, including formaldehyde, phenol, ammonia and copper used in the manufacturing process.

About 7.2 million pounds of chemicals were transferred off-site for treatment, recycling or disposal, in 2005, up 13.3 percent over 2004. The amount of chemicals handled on site was 453 million pounds, up 73 percent. Total on-site releases--56 million pounds, were down 9.7 percent. But on-site releases to water increased to 9.7 million pounds due to more discharges of wastewater. On-site releases to land increased 5.7 percent to 5.9 million pounds. View the full report online at: deq.state.va.us/sara3/3132005.html

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Date published: 4/3/2007