Toxic Factory Emissions Top 5 Million Pounds : Environment: The 1990 totals reported by Valley-area businesses are 46% below ’88 levels. But they show major pollution continues despite the war on smog.

Manufacturers in the San Fernando Valley and adjacent areas last year emitted more than 5 million pounds of toxic contaminants, but this was considerably less than in prior years, according to estimates prepared by the companies.

The emissions included chemicals that form smog, are suspected of causing cancer and reproductive harm, and deplete the ozone layer that protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.

The 1990 total of 5,006,452 pounds was 26% less than in 1989 and 46% below 1988, when emissions in the area topped 9 million pounds, company reports show.

Authorities attributed the improvement to a variety of factors, including the effects of air quality regulations, the economic slump, the shutdown of a top emitter and efforts by some firms to cut emissions to avoid unfavorable publicity.

The Valley reductions were more profound than for Southern California as a whole, where toxic emissions dipped about 10% last year and 18% over two years.

The figures were compiled by The Times from estimates filed by more than 100 companies in the Valley, upwind in eastern Ventura County and in the Glendale area.

Last year’s leading emitters were General Motors’ Van Nuys auto assembly plant and the Rocketdyne division of Rockwell International on Canoga Avenue in Canoga Park. They were among 15 firms that vented at least 100,000 pounds, or 50 tons, of toxic compounds apiece.

In a separate tabulation, nine manufacturing firms in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys reported 432,833 pounds of toxic air emissions--39% less than in 1989.

The figures were totaled from reports by the firms under the federal “community right-to-know” law inspired by the deadly chemical disaster at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India.

The 1986 law requires manufacturers to file annual reports with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency covering about 340 toxic compounds--including transfers to waste sites and releases to air, land and water.

The reports, compiled in a national toxic-release inventory and available to the public, have put pressure on companies to show environmental progress.

But the figures also show that large toxic emissions continue despite a well-publicized war on smog.

“With a lot of toxic chemicals, if you were to pour them on the ground in a pit in your back yard or dump them down the sewer, you’d be breaking innumerable laws,” said Jim Jenal, director of the clean-air program for Citizens for a Better Environment, a statewide advocacy group.

“But if you take that same chemical and let it evaporate into the air, chances are you haven’t violated any law,” Jenal said. “But it doesn’t go away. We breathe it.”

A few of the more commonly emitted chemicals, such as acetone and xylene, contribute to smog. Some, like Freon 113 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane, or TCA, erode stratospheric ozone, creating a higher risk of skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation.

Others, like methylene chloride and perchloroethylene, are thought to raise the risk of cancer for those chronically exposed. Still others, like toluene and methyl ethyl ketone, are suspected of causing reproductive harm, based on animal studies.

Experts caution, however, that the mere release of these compounds tells nothing about specific risks to the health of Valley residents, including those near polluting plants.

“It’s nice it’s going down, I guess,” said Dr. Paul Papanek, chief of the toxic substances epidemiology branch of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. But “this very large, gee-whiz number doesn’t help you” pinpoint “what people get exposed to,” Papanek said.

Health risks depend on factors such as industrial stack heights, wind patterns and toxicity of specific chemicals--none of which are covered in toxic-release reports.

A clearer view of health risks may emerge in a few months as the South Coast Air Quality Management District implements the state’s toxic “hot spots” law.

Under this law, which is distinct from the federal right-to-know act, hundreds of firms, including some in the Valley, are required to assess the risks of their emissions on the surrounding neighborhood.

Among Valley firms already filing their assessments, five estimated a maximum added cancer risk to their nearest neighbors of at least 1 case per 100,000 population. They are: Lockheed’s Burbank and Palmdale plants, Rockwell’s Rocketdyne division on Canoga Avenue, Price Pfister Inc. in Pacoima, Menasco Manufacturing Co. in Burbank and Prudential Overall Supply in Van Nuys. Firms posing significant risks must notify their neighbors--although officials have yet to decide what level of risk will trigger the warnings.

Besides lacking risk data, the toxic-release inventory is incomplete in other ways, ignoring huge sources of toxic releases. Scores of widely used toxic chemicals aren’t covered by the law and so aren’t counted in companies’ annual estimates. Moreover, only manufacturers must file the yearly reports. Government installations and entire polluting industries--such as electric utilities and agricultural, mining, and dry cleaning firms--are exempt. Thus, according to experts, totals like the Valley’s 5 million pounds are probably but a fraction of the toxic substances vented to the air by stationary sources of pollution. And that, of course, does not count the vast toxic tonnages spewed by vehicle tailpipes.

Still, the law has had a “positive influence on industrial waste reduction,” said Joel Hirschorn, a private consultant who formerly directed pollution control studies for the congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

“People in industry say this all the time--that they didn’t realize themselves until they had to get the data that they were producing so much waste.”

General Motors officials said concern for the company’s image has been a big incentive to cut pollution at their Van Nuys plant. Although GM again in 1990 was the area’s biggest emitter with 606,485 pounds, that marked a huge decrease from 1.93 million pounds in 1989.

GM officials said lower production may explain about half the decrease. The other half reflected deliberate pollution control measures, including reducing reliance on liquid chemical cleaners that readily turn to polluting vapors.

With or without more improvement, GM is expected to relinquish its place as the Valley’s top emitter. The Van Nuys plant, which makes Firebirds and Camaros, is scheduled to close next summer as part of a companywide retrenchment caused by sluggish sales.

The virtual shutdown of Lockheed’s huge Burbank complex also has lowered area emissions. Lockheed is transferring production to plants in Georgia and Palmdale. As a result of the phased withdrawal, emissions from the Burbank plant dwindled from 1,054,400 pounds in 1988 to 350,190 pounds in 1989, to 150,805 pounds last year, according to company reports.

Price Pfister, a Pacoima faucet manufacturer that estimated its emissions at 151,673 pounds in 1989, reported a nearly 80% reduction to 32,157 pounds.

American National Can Co. in Chatsworth cut emissions from 210,103 pounds to 57,812 pounds.

And Polycarbon, Inc., the largest emitter in the Santa Clarita Valley, also reported a large decrease from 387,223 to 112,086 pounds. The firm cut its discharge of perchloroethylene, a suspected carcinogen, from about 241,000 to 15,000 pounds.

“We made some . . . process changes and were able to do some things to improve the equipment, so the number went down significantly,” said J. P. Sterry, president of Polycarbon, which makes carbon and graphite fibers used in packing and sealing materials.

Sterry noted that Polycarbon, like other firms, pays for the chemicals it wastes by allowing them to be vented to the air. “I think any prudent manufacturer is going to try to reduce his pollutants,” Sterry said. “It’s a cost savings to us.”

Wambold Furniture in Simi Valley remained the largest emitter in eastern Ventura County, but reduced its discharge of TCA from an estimated 91,000 pounds in 1989 to just over 64,000 pounds last year.

Among the year’s larger increases, Ward Engineering Inc. in North Hollywood emitted an estimated 131,500 pounds of acetone, TCA and other compounds, compared with 11,250 pounds in 1989. And Menasco Manufacturing in Burbank reported an increase from about 126,000 to nearly 175,000 pounds.

Two of 1990’s top emitters did not file reports in previous years, something company officials said they couldn’t explain.

Columbia Showcase and Cabinet Co., a longtime Sun Valley cabinetmaker, said it put out 163,500 pounds of TCA in 1990. “Why we didn’t file before, I have no idea,” company President Sam Patterson said. He referred the question to a company consultant who could not be reached.

Remo Inc., a North Hollywood manufacturer of drums and tambourines, ranked fourth in the Valley with emissions of 191,820 pounds, most of it methylene chloride. Remo chemist Gerardo J. Reyes said he has been on board a few months and had “no idea” why the firm didn’t file in previous years.

* DISCHARGES: Other Southern California manufacturers report their toxic air emissions. A3

General Motors success story was too good to be true. B7

Largest Emitters of Airborne Toxic Chemicals

Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys for 1990

Rank: 1 Company: Polycarbon Inc., Santa Clarita Main business: Carbon graphite products Est. emissions in lbs.*: 112,086(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, perchloroethylene Rank: 2 Company: Lockheed Advanced Development Co., Palmdale Main business: Defense/aerospace Est. emissions in lbs.*: 83,455(+) Main compounds emitted: TCA, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone Rank: 3 Company: American Cyanamid, Santa Clarita Main business: Aerospace composites Est. emissions in lbs.*: 82,570(-) Main compounds emitted: acetone, methylene chloride Rank: 4 Company: Novacap, Santa Clarita Main business: Ceramic chip capacitors Est. emissions in lbs.*: 53,390(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, trichloroethylene Rank: 5 Company: Gruber Systems Inc., Santa Clarita Main business: Molds for cultured marble Est. emissions in lbs.*: 50,429(-) Main compounds emitted: acetone, styrene * Estimates prepared by companies themselves. (+) means emissions increased in 1990 from 1989 levels. (-) means emissions fell.

Manufacturers’ Toxic Emissions

* Toxic Emission Sites

Locations of manufacturing firms that estimated their toxic air emissions in 1990 at more than 5,000 pounds.

Number of sites by community Chatsworth: 12 Burbank: 10 North Hollywood: 9 Van Nuys: 8 Sylmar: 6 Glendale area: 5 Sun Valley: 5 Newbury Park: 4 Canoga Park: 3 Pacoima: 3 San Fernando: 3 Moorpark: 2 Northridge: 2 Arleta: 1 Sepulveda: 1 Simi Hills: 1 Simi Valley: 1 Westlake Village: 1 Woodland Hills: 1

Largest Emitters of Airborne Toxic Chemicals

San Fernando Valley and Glendale areas for 1990 Rank: 1 Company: General Motors, Van Nuys Main business: Auto assembly Est. emissions in lbs.*: 606,485(-) Main compounds emitted: xylene, n-butyl alcohol glycol ethers Rank: 2 Company: Rockwell Intl., Rocketdyne Div., 6633 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park Main business: Defense/aerospace Est. emissions in lbs.*: 440,914(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, Freon 113, perchloroethylene Rank: 3 Company: Crown Beverage, Van Nuys Main business: Aluminum cans Est. emissions in lbs.*: 341,000(+) Main compounds emitted: glycol ethers, n-butyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone Rank: 4 Company: Remo Inc., North Hollywood Main business: Drums, tambourines Est. emissions in lbs.*: 191,820(**) Main compounds emitted: methylene chloride, TCA perchloroethylene Rank: 5 Company: Menasco Inc., Burbank Main business: Aircraft components Est. emissions in lbs.*: 174,832(+) Main compounds emitted: TCA, methylene chloride Rank: 6 Company: The Marquardt Co., Van Nuys Main business: Defense/aerospace Est. emissions in lbs.*: 168,815(+) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 7 Company: Columbia Showcase and Cabinet Co., Sun Valley Main business: Cabinets Est. emissions in lbs.*: 163,500(**) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 8 Company: Products Research & Chemical Co., Glendale Main business: Sealants Est. emissions in lbs.*: 162,974(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, methyl ethyl ketone Rank: 9 Company: Lockheed Advanced Development Co., Burbank Main business: Defense/aerospace Est. emissions in lbs.*: 150,805(-) Main compounds emitted: perchloroethylene, methyl ethyl ketone Rank: 10 Company: Philips Components(***), 4561 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles Main business: Ceramic chip capacitors Est. emissions in lbs.*: 150,098(+) Main compounds emitted: methylene chloride, Freon 113 Rank: 11 Company: SFE Technologies, San Fernando Main business: Filters, capacitors Est. emissions in lbs.*: 141,687(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 12 Company: Nelson Name Plate Co., 3191 Casitas Ave., Los Angeles Main business: Name tags, etching Est. emissions in lbs.*: 139,479(+) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 13 Company: Ward Engineering Inc., North Hollywood Main business: Lighting fixtures Est. emissions in lbs.*: 131,500(+) Main compounds emitted: acetone, TCA, methyl ethyl ketone Rank: 14 Company: Easton Aluminum Inc., Van Nuys Main business: Sporting goods Est. emissions in lbs.*: 123,320(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 15 Company: New Hampshire Ball Bearings Inc., Chatsworth Main business: Ball bearings Est. emissions in lbs.*: 117,307(-) Main compounds emitted: Freon 113, TCA Rank: 16 Company: Valley-Todeco Co., Sylmar Main business: Aircraft fasteners, bearings Est. emissions in lbs.*: 81,365(+) Main compounds emitted: perchloroethylene Rank: 17 Company: Crane Co. Hydro-Aire Div., Burbank Main business: Aircraft components Est. emissions in lbs.*: 77,500(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, Freon 113 Rank: 18 Company: Pacific Steel Treating, North Hollywood Main business: Heat treating steel Est. emissions in lbs.*: 67,000(-) Main compounds emitted: perchloroethylene Rank: 19 Company: Wambold Furniture, Simi Valley Main business: Oak furniture Est. emissions in lbs.*: 64,347(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 20 Company: Rockwell Intl., Rocketdyne Div., 8900 De Soto Ave., Canoga Park Main business: Defense/aerospace Est. emissions in lbs.*: 63,307(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA Rank: 21 Company: Burbank Steel Treating Inc., Burbank Main business: Heat treating steel Est. emissions in lbs.*: 62,000(**) Main compounds emitted: TCA, ammonia Rank: 22 Company: Borden, Inc., Chatsworth Main business: Condiments Est. emissions in lbs.*: 60,750(**) Main compounds emitted: propane sultone Rank: 23 Company: American National Can Co., Chatsworth Main business: Alumininum Cans Est. emissions in lbs.*: 57,812(-) Main compounds emitted: glycol ethers, n-butyl alcohol Rank: 24 Company: Rockwell Intl., Rocketdyne Div., Santa Susana Field Lab, Simi Hills Main business: Energy, aerospace testing Est. emissions in lbs.*: 52,279(-) Main compounds emitted: TCA, Freon 113 Rank: 25 Company: Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Van Nuys Main business: Beer Est. emissions in lbs.*: 47,075(+) Main compounds emitted: ammonia * Based on reports by the companies to the U.S. and state environmental protection agencies. (+) means emissions increased in 1990 from 1989 levels. (-) means emissions decreased.

** Did not file ’89 report.

*** Closed June, ’91

Times researchers Dan Malcor and Janet Lundblad contributed to this story.