Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

14.32 Summary 1051
Table 14.32.6. Total releases and transfers from different industries in the USA in
1995. [Data from EPA Office of Compliance Sector Notebooks]
Industry
Total
ton/year
Percent
%
Total/employee
kg/year
Total/$1000
of shipment, g
Aerospace 4,563 0.8 5.7 63
Metal fabrication 37,474 6.7 341 3785
Inorganic chemicals 967 0.2 8.8 32
Iron and steel 6,762 1.2 16.9 68
Metal casting 7,229 1.3 28.9 243
Motor vehicle 54,355 9.8 136 271
Organic chemicals 88,358 15.8 707 1359
Petroleum 20,801 3.7 277 158
Polymer & fiber 116,230 20.9 1107 2527
Printing 18,801 3.4 12.5 139
Pulp & paper 93,558 16.8 467 1169
Rubber & plastics 72,334 13.0 90 803
Stone, clay, ... 6,366 1.1 12.7 -
Textile 8,474 1.5 14.1 121
Wood furniture 21,075 3.8 84 958
Total 557,347 100 Average = 230 Average = 835
It can be speculated from the release data per employee that workers in pulp & paper,
rubber & plastics, and polymer & fiber are the most exposed to solvents. Some technologies
cost taxpayers more than others. Metal fabrication is one example. In order to produce
goods valued at $1,000, the industry releases and transfers almost 3.8 kg of solvents. The
cost in health and cleanup may exceed the value of goods manufactured.
It is characteristic that traditional industries which maintain older plants (metal fabrications,
polymer & fiber, rubber & plastics, wood furniture, organic chemicals) contribute
more to releases and transfers of solvents (as measured by releases plus transfers per $1000
sales), than industries which invest capital in the improvement of equipment, safety, and research
and development (e.g., printing, motor vehicle assembly). This suggests that the
avoidance of cost of the required investment is one reason for pollution. This reason was
illustrated in the discussion of the petroleum industry where one manufacturer almost eliminated
pollution by fixing leaking valves.
Industries consisting of smaller individual companies have fewer resources to develop
new, non-polluting technologies (or even enforce safe practices). For example, the metal
fabrication industry is composed of smaller plants using older technology which do not
have the resources to make environmental improvements and remain competitive.