Taking Stock 2005 - Chapter 3 (Releases and transfers in NA, 2005)
Key Findings
- In 2005, releases and transfers of more than 5.5 billion kilograms of pollutants (excluding criteria air
contaminants and greenhouse gases) were reported in the three North American countries by almost
35,000 industrial facilities. These facilities reported an additional 32 billion kilograms of criteria air
contaminants. US facilities accounted for more than 80 percent of all reporting facilities, Canadian facilities
12 percent and Mexican facilities 6 percent.
- About 30 substances from 15 industrial sectors accounted for at least 90 percent of all reported releases and transfers across North America in 2005. However, only nine of these top-reported pollutants were subject to
reporting in all three countries, resulting in gaps in the picture of industrial pollution in North America.
- A small number of industrial sectors accounted for very large releases and transfers in 2005. The top reporting sectors varied by country: oil and gas extraction activities, primary metals and wastewater treatment
in Canada; metal mines, electric utilities and electrical equipment manufacturing in Mexico; and chemicals
manufacturing, primary metals and mines in the United States.
- The substantial releases and transfers reported for some of these activities indicate that differences in
national reporting requirements, such as chemical and employee thresholds and mandatory reporting sectors,
can limit the amount of information available about common industrial activities in North America.
- Canadian facilities transferred almost 50 percent of total reported pollutants to recycling; Mexican facilities released about 70 percent off-site to disposal; and in the United States air releases, land releases, and transfers to recycling each accounted for almost one-third of the total.
- The majority of pollutants transferred by Canadian, Mexican and US facilities across borders in 2005 were metals to recycling. However, lack of details about the receiving facilities raises questions about the ultimate
fate of these pollutants. Among the other substances transferred between Canada and the United States for
recycling or other treatment were large amounts of sulfuric acid, phosphorus, toluene and xylenes.
- Of the pollutants reported by North American industrial facilities in 2005, some were known or suspected
carcinogens and developmental or reproductive toxicants, and several were among the top pollutants
reported that year. Some were also hazardous air pollutants or persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
(PBT) substances.
- Although comparing the releases and transfers reported in the three countries presents challenges, such
an exercise serves as a tool for examining the state of PRTR reporting. It also can provide insight into further
actions required to enhance comparability among the three PRTRs and improve understanding of industrial pollution in North America.