TOP POLLUTERS

The South Coast Air Quality Management District this week released its annual list of companies emitting the largest volume of two pollutants--reactive hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. This list covers emissions during 1988. REACTIVE HYDROCARBONS These are produced by incomplete combustion of gasoline, and from fumes from fuels, paints, and industrial and dry-cleaning solvents. They are a prime ingredient in formation of ozone, the invisible, lung-irritating gas that is smog’s main component. COMPANY EMISSIONS (TONS/YR.) 1. Chevron USA, El Segundo: 1,426 2. ARCO, Carson: 1,215 3. Shell Oil, Wilmington: 1,213 4. Avery Label Systems, Monrovia: 1,076 5. Texaco, Wilmington: 1,033 6. General Motors, Van Nuys: 763 7. UNOCAL, Wilmington: 686 8. Trendwest Furniture Mfg., Carson: 606 9. Mobil Oil, Torrance: 522 10. Reynolds Metal, Torrance: 451 11. B.P. John Furniture, Santa Ana: 449 12. Continental Can, Van Nuys: 412 13. Shell Western E & P, Huntington Beach: 336 14. Fasson, Div. Avery Int., Rancho Cucamonga: 325 15. Catalina Yachts, Woodland Hills: 316 16. Northrop Aircraft, Hawthorne: 289 17. Golden West Refinery, Santa Fe Springs: 280 18. Southern Cal. Edison, Long Beach: 279 19. TABC, Inc., Long Beach*: 279 20. Ultramar, Wilmington**: 276 * Formerly Toyota Auto Body Inc. of California ** Formerly Union Pacific Resources OXIDES OF NITROGEN These are toxic gases formed by fuel combustion in motor vehicles, power plants and industrial boilers. They combine with hydrocarbons to form ozone, the most intractable pollutant in the Los Angeles basin. COMPANY EMISSIONS (TONS/YR.) 1. Chevron USA, El Segundo: 3,753 2. Southern Cal. Edison, Long Beach: 2,598 3. ARCO, Carson: 2,563 4. Southern Cal. Gas Co., Blythe*: 2,412 5. L.A. City DWP--Haynes, Long Beach: 2,263 6. Cal. Portland Cement, Div. Calmat, Colton: 2,137 7. UNOCAL, Wilmington: 1,874 8. Texaco, Wilmington: 1,787 9. Shell Oil, Wilmington: 1,695 10. Mobil Oil, Torrance: 1,618 11. Southern Cal. Edison, Redondo Beach: 1,342 12. Shell Western E & P, Huntington Beach: 1,001 13. Southern Cal. Edison, El Segundo: 998 14. L.A. City DWP-Scattergood, Playa Del Rey: 882 15. Southern Cal. Edison, Huntington Beach: 836 16. Southern Cal. Edison, Etiwanda: 815 17. Owens-Illinois, Vernon: 752 18. Sun Exploration & Production, Newhall: 746 19. Simpson Paper Company, Pomona: 610 20. L.A. DWP Sun Valley: 580 * Located in the Southeast Desert Air Basin. Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District