TOP POLLUTERS

The South Coast Air Quality Management District compiles an annual list of companies emitting the largest volume of two pollutants--reactive hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. This list covers emissions during 1989.

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 the formation of ozone, the invisible, lung-irritating gas that is smog’s main component.

COMPANY: EMISSIONS (TONS/YR.)

1. Texaco Oil, Wilmington: 2,203

2. Chevron USA, El Segundo: 2,089

3. ARCO Refinery, Carson: 1,989

4. Shell Oil, Wilmington: 1,739

5. UNOCAL Refinery, Wilmington: 1,049

6. Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach: 743

7. Avery Label Systems, Monrovia: 637

8. Mobil Oil, Torrance: 626

9. Shell Western E & P, Huntington Beach: 626

10. Catalina Yachts, Woodland Hills: 485

11. Golden West Refinery, Santa Fe Springs: 481

12. U.S. Govt.-Dept. Air Force, March AFB: 461

13. Ultramar Refinery, Wilmington: 457

14. General Motors, Van Nuys: 443

15. Northorp Aircraft, Hawthorne: 395

16. Chase Bag Co., Los Angeles: 389

17. Rohr Industries, Riverside: 381

18. Reynold’s Metal, Torrance: 363

19. Trendwest Furniture Manufacturing, Carson: 351

20. Christian Heywood Inc.*, Santa Ana: 349

* Formerly B.P. John Furniture.

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: 3,251

2. L.A. City DWP--Haynes, Long Beach: 3,032

3. Southern Cal. Gas Co., Blythe*: 2,672

4. ARCO Refinery, Carson: 2,574

5. Southern Cal. Edison--Alamitos, Long Beach: 2,391

6. Cal Portland Cement, Colton: 2,372

7. Mobil Oil, Torrance: 1,969

8. Texaco Oil, Wilmington: 1,862

9. Shell Oil, Wilmington: 1,765

10. UNOCAL Refinery, Wilmington: 1,445

11. Southern Cal. Edison--Redondo Beach: 1,325

12. Southern Cal. Edison--El Segundo: 1,092

13. L.A. City DWP--Scattergood, Playa del Rey: 993

14. Southern Calif. Edison--Huntington Beach: 888

15. Southern Calif. Edison--Etiwanda: 855

16. Owens-Illinois, Vernon: 726

17. L.A. DWP, Sun Valley: 718

18. Golden West Refinery, Santa Fe Springs: 694

19. Shell Western E & P, Huntington Beach: 646

20. Glendale City, Dept. of Public Services: 534

* Located in the Southeast Desert Air Basin.

Source: South Coast Air Quality Management District.