2-Year Comparison of Toxic Emission Data

Manufacturers in the Southeast/ Long Beach area released more than 7.9 million pounds of toxic emissions into the air in 1990, down slightly from 8.2 million pounds the previous year, according to reports they filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The manufacturers are required to provide estimates of their toxic emissions to the government under a law passed by Congress in 1986. More than 300 toxic substances are covered by the reporting program, which does not regulate toxic pollution or analyze the health risk it poses.

Manufacturers that have at least 10 employees and use more than 10,000 pounds of a toxic chemical in a year are required to report. Such major sources of pollution as chemical and fuel storage yards, industrial dry cleaners and government facilities are not covered. The chart contains the manufacturers’ estimates, in pounds, of their toxic emissions in 1989 and 1990.

How to Obtain Toxic Emission Data

Toxic emission data for specific manufacturers--or all manufacturers within a particular ZIP code, a city or an entire county--can be obtained from the California Environmental Protection Agency in Sacramento.

Data seekers can call the Cal EPA help desk at (916) 327-1848, or write: Cal EPA, Office of Environmental Information, 555 Capitol Mall, Room 525, Sacramento, Calif. 95814.

Floppy discs containing a full year of data for the entire state may also be purchased for $50 each.

Discs are available for 1987, ‘88, ’89 and ’90.

Toxic Chemicals and Their Effects

Compounds in largest volumes emitted into the environment by manufacturers. Chemical & Human and Environmental Effect

1,1,1-Trichloroethane: TCA for short. A clear liquid used to degrease metal and to clean printing presses and electronic parts, among other things. Fairly low in toxicity; a high dose is needed to cause immediate effects. Concentrated exposure can irritate the eyes and lungs, and affect the heartbeat and central nervous system. Workers have died from high exposure in enclosed spaces. No link with cancer has been proved in limited animal tests. TCA depletes the ozone shield that screens the sun’s harmful rays.

Methylene Chloride: A clear liquid used as paint stripper, metal degreaser and in adhesives, foam and plastics processing. Common ingredient in paint strippers sold to consumers. Irritates skin and in high concentrations affects heart and central nervous system. Considered a probable human carcinogen based on animal tests.

Freon 113: An odorless, colorless gas used as a blowing agent in foam manufacture, as a refrigerant and as a cleaning solvent. Widely used due to its low toxicity, although high levels can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and asphyxia. Strong ozone depleter.

Perchloroethylene: Also known as PCE or tetrachloroethylene. Used in metal drying and degreasing. Also the most widely used dry-cleaning chemical. Detected in many local drinking water supplies due to ground water seepage. Moderately toxic. Workplace exposure has resulted in liver, kidney and central nervous system effects. Considered a probable human carcinogen based on animal tests.

Acetone: Flammable liquid used as fingernail polish remover; also to make chemicals, remove paint and clean and dry precision equipment. Toxicity is low, but at high levels it can irritate the nose and throat and cause lightheadedness. Reacts in sunlight to create smog.

Ammonia: A colorless liquid or gas with irritating odor used as a household cleaner, as a refrigerant, in metal treating and synthetic fibers. Concentrated fumes can cause severe irritation to eyes and lungs.

Styrene: A flammable, usually colorless, oily liquid with pungent odor used in the manufacture of plastics and resins. One of the most heavily used chemicals in the U.S. Can irritate eyes, nose and throat. Vapors contribute to smog. Suspected carcinogen.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone: MEK for short. A solvent used to make paints, paint removers, adhesives, drugs, cosmetics and artificial leather. Explosion hazard. Concentrated exposure can cause dizziness, headaches and blurred vision. Chronic, low-level exposure can cause decreased memory and slow reflexes. May cause reproductive harm, based on animal studies.

Toluene: A flammable liquid used as a gasoline additive and in making inks, detergents and pharmaceuticals. Skin and eye irritant. Chronic exposure may cause anemia, damage to liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Contributes to ozone, the main ingredient in smog. May be toxic to fetus.

Xylene: A flammable liquid used in fuels, lacquers and such household products as glues and fingernail polish and rubber cement. Can irritate eyes, nose and throat. Chronic exposure can damage the liver and central nervous system. Fatalities have resulted from breathing intense concentrations. Xylene vapors contribute to smog.

Glycol Ethers: Used in resins, paints, dyes, cosmetics and brake fluids. Concentrated exposure can cause nausea, headaches and kidney damage. May be toxic to fetus.

n-Butyl Alcohol: A flammable liquid used as a solvent in the manufacture of resins, varnishes, detergents and lacquers. Can cause skin, eye and throat irritation.

Company 1989 1990 BELL GARDENS J.P. Turgeon & Sons 48,000 38,051 Metal Surfaces Inc. 170,000 90,442 Model Plating Co. 17,800 16,270 Total 235,800 144,763 CERRITOS Frederick Ramond Inc. 17,800 16,703 International Coatings Co. 8,303 5,823 Penn Lithographics 52,340 46,944 Total 78,443 69,470 COMMERCE B.M. & Co. 1,302 999 Boyd Furniture 0 86,171 Chemifax 1,250 1,000 Daelco Division, Quenell Enterprises 8,451 3,360 Globe Iron Foundry Inc. 1,000 0 Grow Group Inc. 629 189 Hickory Springs of California 780,417 1,015,200 Kolpak-L.A. Division 500 5 Lever Brothers Co. 1,000 1,010 McWhorter Inc. 4,000 3,945 OEM Plating & Manufacturing Corp. 2,000 295 Ramcar Batteries Inc. NA 255 Pillsbury Co. 250 5 U.S. Can Co., Plant 26 7,250 22,005 Wagner Brake Co. 26,250 * Total 834,299 1,134,439 COMPTON AAA Plating & Inspection 180,000 130,000 Acra-Cast Foundries 841 611 Allen Foam Corp. 1,500 1,000 Athearn Inc. 25,250 12,805 Beckett Enterprises/Fibernetics 69,086 60,856 Betz Laboratories Inc. 0 8 Cal-Style Furniture 90,850 67,131 Continental Polymers Inc. 7,700 0 Corryhiebert Corp. 93,189 * Crain Industries 994,250 951,775 EJS Lighting Corp. 24,030 21,762 Flo-Kem Inc. 2,953 1,888 Great Western Foam Products 72,513 79,810 Grow Group Inc., Auto Division 5,805 5,935 JBI Inc. 37,500 13,250 Kraco Enterprises Inc. 500 510 Lightolier/West Inc. 14,000 25,000 Mr. Gasket Co. 54,357 42,442 Ralphs Central Facility 25,974 30,000 S&K; Plating 250 250 Thorock Metals Co. Inc. 0 5 Tnemec Co. 37,980 35,056 Vantage Associates Inc. 13,805 43,040 W.R. Meadows/D.F.C Co. 1,000 1,000 Total 1,753,333 1,524 134 CUDAHY Commando Plastics Corp. 80,450 67,919 Custom Chemical Formulators Inc. 1,000 * Day-Glo Color Corp. 0 350 Total 81,450 68,269 DOWNEY Aerojet Ordnance Co. 105,050 69,175 Coca-Cola Bottling Co. 2,280 0 Manufacturers Wire Corp. 250 10 Rockwell International 88,500 58,500 Total 196,080 127,685 HAWAIIAN GARDENS Mar-Lak Products Co. 19,459 14,817 Total 19,459 14,817 HUNTINGTON PARK Aircraft X-Ray Labs Inc. 26,427 23,878 Buckeye Brass Foundry Inc. 1,500 1,500 Commercial Enameling Co. 500 755 Dresser Industries Inc. 500 0 Endemano Plating Co. 35,369 21,864 H.P. Metal Finishing Co. 13,642 15,928 Henry Co. 4,665 6,700 Industrial Steel Treating Co. 0 12,909 Los Angeles Galvanizing Co. 750 750 Myers Container Corp. 198,975 90,745 Trico Industries 32,940 33,980 Total 315,268 209,009 LAKEWOOD Deutsch Fastener Corp. 100,340 66,010 Total 100,340 66,010 LA MIRADA Ardrox Inc. 18,611 3,939 Crown Cork & Seal Co. 16,300 48,500 DAP Inc. 965 370 Dietzgen Corp. 3,600 3,560 Drackett Inc. NA * 1,000 Gannon Manufacturing Co. 3,756 0 H.B. Fuller Co. 1,510 0 Hussman LA 35,961 * Laroche Industries 1,975 1,756 Western Wheel Corp. 4,454 7,814 X-A Cabinet Corp. 52,679 40,206 Total 139,811 107,145 LONG BEACH Asphalt Products Oil Corp. 500 255 Burke Chemicals 750 510 Cal Bumper Co. Inc. 500 10 Calwest Galvanizing Corp. 750 750 Certified Alloy Products 7 2 Custom Fiberglass Mfg. Co. (Snug Top) 103,189 116,733 Domtar Gypsum Inc. 0 154 Douglas Aircraft Co. 1,139,514 1,366,455 Edgington Oil Co. 2,077 * NA J.H. Baxter and Co. 30,427 18,018 Liquid Carbonic Carbon Dioxide Corp. 12,000 13,884 Master Processing Corp. 30,250 31,100 Monsanto Co. 4,600 0 Niklor Chemical Co. 8,690 13,990 Reda, a Camco Co. 250 * Robertshaw Controls Co. 233,443 NA Rohm & Haas Southern California Inc. 11,702 9,974 Seaside Inc. 2,250 35 TABC Inc. 160,500 169,220 Total 1,741,399 1,741,090 LYNWOOD Cargill Inc. 31,902 24,466 Golden Hill Wood Products 325,550 345,250 J & D Laminating 11,200 16,500 Manchester Tank & Equipment Co. NA * 29,927 Taylor Desk Co. 0 14,218 Total 368,652 430,361 MAYWOOD Cook Induction Heating Co. Inc. 750 0 Total 750 0 MONTEBELLO Grow Group Inc. 25,575 16,966 H & L Tooth Co. NA 16,150 Lilly Industrial Coatings 66,823 77,951 Royal Paper Box Co. 58,514 0 Total 150,912 111,067 PARAMOUNT Ace Clearwater Enterprises 82,743 82,743 Aerospace Aluminum Heat Treating 28,700 NA Anaplex Corp. 0 25,200 Cerro Metal Products 1,750 1,750 Consolidated Fabricators 96,150 93,545 Federated Weiner Metals 17,700 * Four Star Foundry 195 146 Kramer Roller Co. 0 10 Paramount Petroleum Corp. 89,027 16,691 Surface Treatment & Inspection Inc. 2,900 2,650 Weber Metals Inc. 250 NA Western Petroleum Inc. 500 10 Total 319,915 222,745 PICO RIVERA General Felt Industries 1,250 15 Lubricating Specialties Co. 0 255 M & T Harshaw 484 336 Northrop Corp., B-2 Division 29,700 42,500 Total 31,434 43,106 SANTA FE SPRINGS All Pure Chemical Co. 500 10 Aqua Mix Inc. NA 505 Armstong Containers Inc. 250 250 Associated Plating Co. 1,000 17,000 California Industrial Products 34,500 1,000 Deluxe Packages 37,781 23,084 Dino of California 0 21,250 Diversey Corp. 2,000 2,265 Dura Steel Products Inc. 53,500 51,000 Electronic Chrome Co. Inc. 0 1 Fine Line Paint Corp. 250 1,750 Flint Ink Corp. 3,393 1,680 Foss Plating Co. 1,792 1,005 Golden West Refining Co. 239,436 122,709 Grow Group Inc. 143 221 Hillerich & Bradsby Co. 29,000 40,000 Le Fiell Manufacturing Co. 258,000 221,000 Lewis Industries Inc. 233,090 212,273 Lilly/Ram Inc. (Thomson Division) 1,000 1,000 Mark Anthony Inc. NA 10,250 P.F.I. Inc. (Paints for Industry) 500 1,250 Parker Hannifin Corp. 7,679 7,500 PGP Industries 1,750 1,755 Plastics Research Corp. 36,373 NA PMC Specialties Group 93,327 150,799 Polycoat Products Co. 8 15 Powerine Oil Co. 3,644 15,660 Precision Tube Bending NA 43,000 Pressure Vessel Service Inc. 0 15 Santa Fe Enameling & Metal Finishing 82,367 64,348 Schnee-Morehead Inc. 5 5 Sika Corp. 424 500 Sonic Plating Co. 1,700 1,700 Southern California Chemical 20,539 16,142 Standard Precision Inc. 1,000 1,000 Trojan Battery Co. 176 10 Trojan Battery Co. 53,995 32,450 Valvoline Inc. 500 10 Witco Corp. Organics Division 450 500 Witco Corp. Organics Division (Altamar) 2,480 4,005 Total 1,202,552 1,068,917 SIGNAL HILL Chemoil Refining Corp. 3,688 241 Chemoil Refining Corp. 0 55 U.S. Battery & Battery Plate Manufacturing 500 500 Total 4,188 796 SOUTH GATE Anadite Inc. NA 36,000 Armstrong World Industries Inc. 38,637 35,628 Arnco 500 255 Artistic Brass 13,744 39,357 Astro Aluminum Treating Co. 50,218 72,183 ECK Adams Corp. NA 16,214 Guardsman Products Inc. 35,250 38,300 Hi-Tech Seat Products, Kustom Fit 48,322 37,197 Pacific Alloy Castings 1,000 20 Techni-Cast Corp. 642 315 The Dial Corp. 250 250 The PQ Corp. 250 5 Total 188,813 275,724 WHITTIER CMC Printed Bag Co. 389,250 578,500 Leggett & Platt Inc. 16,288 0 Merchants Metals 1,440 500 Omega Recovery Services 5,000 0 Quaker City Plating & Silversmith 48,800 36,000 Total 460,778 615,000 AREA TOTALS 8,223,676 7,974,547

Company % Change BELL GARDENS J.P. Turgeon & Sons -21 Metal Surfaces Inc. -47 Model Plating Co. -9 Total -39 CERRITOS Frederick Ramond Inc. -6 International Coatings Co. -30 Penn Lithographics -10 Total -11 COMMERCE B.M. & Co. -23 Boyd Furniture -- Chemifax -20 Daelco Division, Quenell Enterprises -60 Globe Iron Foundry Inc. -100 Grow Group Inc. -70 Hickory Springs of California +30 Kolpak-L.A. Division -99 Lever Brothers Co. +1 McWhorter Inc. -1 OEM Plating & Manufacturing Corp. -85 Ramcar Batteries Inc. -- Pillsbury Co. -98 U.S. Can Co., Plant 26 +204 Wagner Brake Co. -- Total +36 COMPTON AAA Plating & Inspection -28 Acra-Cast Foundries -27 Allen Foam Corp. -33 Athearn Inc. -49 Beckett Enterprises/Fibernetics -12 Betz Laboratories Inc. -- Cal-Style Furniture -26 Continental Polymers Inc. -100 Corryhiebert Corp. -- Crain Industries -4 EJS Lighting Corp. -9 Flo-Kem Inc. -36 Great Western Foam Products +10 Grow Group Inc., Auto Division +2 JBI Inc. -65 Kraco Enterprises Inc. +2 Lightolier/West Inc. +79 Mr. Gasket Co. -22 Ralphs Central Facility +16 S&K; Plating 0 Thorock Metals Co. Inc. -- Tnemec Co. -8 Vantage Associates Inc. +212 W.R. Meadows/D.F.C Co. 0 Total -13 CUDAHY Commando Plastics Corp. -16 Custom Chemical Formulators Inc. -- Day-Glo Color Corp. -- Total -16 DOWNEY Aerojet Ordnance Co. -34 Coca-Cola Bottling Co. -100 Manufacturers Wire Corp. -96 Rockwell International -34 Total -35 HAWAIIAN GARDENS Mar-Lak Products Co. -24 Total -24 HUNTINGTON PARK Aircraft X-Ray Labs Inc. -10 Buckeye Brass Foundry Inc. 0 Commercial Enameling Co. +51 Dresser Industries Inc. -100 Endemano Plating Co. -38 H.P. Metal Finishing Co. +17 Henry Co. +44 Industrial Steel Treating Co. -- Los Angeles Galvanizing Co. 0 Myers Container Corp. -54 Trico Industries +3 Total -34 LAKEWOOD Deutsch Fastener Corp. -34 Total -34 LA MIRADA Ardrox Inc. -79 Crown Cork & Seal Co. +198 DAP Inc. -62 Dietzgen Corp. -1 Drackett Inc. -- Gannon Manufacturing Co. -100 H.B. Fuller Co. -100 Hussman LA -- Laroche Industries -11 Western Wheel Corp. +75 X-A Cabinet Corp. -24 Total -23 LONG BEACH Asphalt Products Oil Corp. -49 Burke Chemicals -32 Cal Bumper Co. Inc. -98 Calwest Galvanizing Corp. 0 Certified Alloy Products -71 Custom Fiberglass Mfg. Co. (Snug Top) +13 Domtar Gypsum Inc. -- Douglas Aircraft Co. +20 Edgington Oil Co. -- J.H. Baxter and Co. -41 Liquid Carbonic Carbon Dioxide Corp. +16 Master Processing Corp. +3 Monsanto Co. -100 Niklor Chemical Co. +61 Reda, a Camco Co. -- Robertshaw Controls Co. -- Rohm & Haas Southern California Inc. -15 Seaside Inc. -98 TABC Inc. +5 Total under 1% LYNWOOD Cargill Inc. -23 Golden Hill Wood Products +6 J & D Laminating +47 Manchester Tank & Equipment Co. -- Taylor Desk Co. -- Total +17 MAYWOOD Cook Induction Heating Co. Inc. -100 Total -100 MONTEBELLO Grow Group Inc. -34 H & L Tooth Co. -- Lilly Industrial Coatings +17 Royal Paper Box Co. -100 Total -26 PARAMOUNT Ace Clearwater Enterprises 0 Aerospace Aluminum Heat Treating -- Anaplex Corp. -- Cerro Metal Products 0 Consolidated Fabricators -3 Federated Weiner Metals -- Four Star Foundry -25 Kramer Roller Co. -- Paramount Petroleum Corp. -81 Surface Treatment & Inspection Inc. -9 Weber Metals Inc. -- Western Petroleum Inc. -98 Total -30 PICO RIVERA General Felt Industries -99 Lubricating Specialties Co. -- M & T Harshaw -31 Northrop Corp., B-2 Division +43 Total +37 SANTA FE SPRINGS All Pure Chemical Co. -98 Aqua Mix Inc. -- Armstong Containers Inc. 0 Associated Plating Co. +1,600 California Industrial Products -97 Deluxe Packages -39 Dino of California -- Diversey Corp. +13 Dura Steel Products Inc. -5 Electronic Chrome Co. Inc. -- Fine Line Paint Corp. +600 Flint Ink Corp. -50 Foss Plating Co. -44 Golden West Refining Co. -49 Grow Group Inc. +55 Hillerich & Bradsby Co. +38 Le Fiell Manufacturing Co. -14 Lewis Industries Inc. -9 Lilly/Ram Inc. (Thomson Division) 0 Mark Anthony Inc. -- P.F.I. Inc. (Paints for Industry) +150 Parker Hannifin Corp. -2 PGP Industries +0.3 Plastics Research Corp. -- PMC Specialties Group +62 Polycoat Products Co. +88 Powerine Oil Co. +330 Precision Tube Bending -- Pressure Vessel Service Inc. -- Santa Fe Enameling & Metal Finishing -22 Schnee-Morehead Inc. 0 Sika Corp. +18 Sonic Plating Co. 0 Southern California Chemical -21 Standard Precision Inc. 0 Trojan Battery Co. -94 Trojan Battery Co. -40 Valvoline Inc. -98 Witco Corp. Organics Division +11 Witco Corp. Organics Division (Altamar) +61 Total -11 SIGNAL HILL Chemoil Refining Corp. -93 Chemoil Refining Corp. -- U.S. Battery & Battery Plate Manufacturing 0 Total -81 SOUTH GATE Anadite Inc. -- Armstrong World Industries Inc. -8 Arnco -49 Artistic Brass +186 Astro Aluminum Treating Co. +44 ECK Adams Corp. -- Guardsman Products Inc. +9 Hi-Tech Seat Products, Kustom Fit -23 Pacific Alloy Castings -98 Techni-Cast Corp. -51 The Dial Corp. 0 The PQ Corp. -98 Total +46 WHITTIER CMC Printed Bag Co. +49 Leggett & Platt Inc. -100 Merchants Metals -65 Omega Recovery Services -100 Quaker City Plating & Silversmith -26 Total +33 AREA TOTALS -3

* Moved or out of business.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California EPA and the companies listed.