OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY1996 Pollutants of Concern – Additional Information
Acetaldehyde
Mobile sources are the primary contributor of acetaldehyde emissions. Outdoor concentrations are also greatly impacted by secondary formation. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of acetaldehyde click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here
Acrylonitrile
The primary exposure to acrylonitrile appears to be occupational, via the inhalation pathway. Acrylonitrile is primarily used in the manufacture of acrylic and modacrylic fibers. It is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of plastics, adiponitrile, acrylamide, and nitrile rubbers and barrier resins. Exposure to acrylonitrile in the air you breathe or the water you drink is unlikely when your place of living is not near a factory where acrylonitrile is made or near a hazardous waste site that contains acrylonitrile. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of acrylonitrile click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here
Arsenic Compounds
Arsenic emissions are primarily from burning of fuels and wastes from area and mobile sources, although background levels are significant. It is an element that is widely distributed in the earth’s crust, and is released by volcanoes and mineral weathering. It is also emitted from commercial and industrial processes, including smelting of mineral ores.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of Arsenic click here
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
The primary source of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate emissions is background concentrations. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate is commonly used in the manufacture of plastic products. Due to its wide use, volatility, and persistence, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate is widely distributed in the environment.
For health effects of bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, also known as di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, click here.
1,3-Butadiene
The primary source of 1,3-butadiene emissions is on-road mobile sources. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click on here.
The health benchmark used by EPA is a provisional standard not approved by Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). New Jersey used the approved health benchmark developed by California.
For health effects of 1,3-butadiene click here.
To look at EPA’s risk estimate click here.
Cadmium Compounds
Cadmium emissions come primarily from area sources and background. It is emitted by the burning of fossil fuels and waste. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of cadmium click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Carbon Tetrachloride
Emissions of carbon tetrachloride are rare. However, significant quantities of carbon tetrachloride remain in the air due to its long half-life. This residual level is represented in NATA as a background concentrations.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click on here.
For health effects of carbon tetrachloride click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Chloroform
Chloroform does not react quickly in the atmosphere, so there are
significant residual levels from emissions around the world that
are represented in NATA as background concentrations.
In New Jersey, there are also point sources dominating the predicted
air concentrations in a few counties. The USEPA NATA estimate of
point source emissions in Warren County was fourteen (14) times
higher than Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reported emissions.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click here.
For health effects of chloroform click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Chromium VI
Chromium VI emissions (also known as hexavalent chromium) come primarily from point sources, mostly chromium electroplaters. There is also a significant contribution from Background concentrations. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of chromium VI click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Cobalt
Cobalt is a naturally-occurring element that is used to make superalloys, pigments, catalysts, and lithium or nickel-cadmium batteries. It is emitted into the air primarily from fossil fuel and waste combustion; vehicular and aircraft exhaust; processing of alloys; copper and nickel smelting and refining; and the manufacture and use of cobalt chemicals and fertilizers.
For health effects of Cobalt click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
1,3-Dichloropropene
1,3-dichloropropene is emitted from area sources. It is used primarily as a soil fumigant and agricultural pesticide. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of 1,3-dichloropropene click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Ethylbenzene
Ethylbenzene is emitted primarily from gasoline engines. It is naturally found in coal tar, petroleum and in manufactured products such as inks, pesticides, and paints. It is used to make other chemicals such as styrene, and in solvents and fuels.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of ethylbenzene click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Ethylene Dibromide
Emissions of ethylene dibromide are rare. However, significant
quantities of ethylene dibromide remain in the air due to its long
half-life. This residual level is represented in NATA as a background
concentrations. The primary source of ethylene dibromide emissions
is almost exclusively background.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click here.
For health effects of ethylene dibromide click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Ethylene Dichloride
Emissions of ethylene dichloride are rare. However, significant
quantities of ethylene dichloride remain in the air due to its long
half-life. This residual level is represented in NATA as a background
concentrations. The primary source of ethylene dichloride emissions
is background.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click here.
For health effects of ethylene dichloride click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Ethylene Oxide
The primary source of ethylene oxide emissions is area sources, primarily commercial and hospital sterilizers. It is also used as a chemical intermediate in manufacturing. A significant amount is now attributable to background concentrations. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of ethylene oxide click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Formaldehyde
The primary source of formaldehyde emissions is mobile sources.
Since formaldehyde does not degrade quickly in the atmosphere, there
is also a significant contribution from background in a number of
counties. Formaldehyde is also formed in the atmosphere as a result of emissions
of other pollutants.
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click here.
For health effects of formaldehyde click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Hydrazine
Individuals may be exposed to hydrazine in the workplace or to small amounts in tobacco smoke. Hydrazine is used in agricultural chemicals (pesticides), chemical blowing agents, pharmaceutical intermediates, photography chemicals, boiler water treatment for corrosion protection, textile dyes, and as fuel for rockets and spacecraft. Accidental discharge into water, air, and soil may occur during storage, handling, transport, and improper waste disposal. However, hydrazine rapidly degrades in the environment and is rarely encountered. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of hydrazine click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Methyl Chloride (Chloromethane)
Outdoor concentrations of methyl chloride are mostly attributable background levels. Some is produced by industry, but it is also formed from combustion, and the breakdown of plastic waste.
For health effects of methyl chloride, also known as Chloromethane, click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
MTBE was used as an additive for unleaded gasolines to achieve more efficient burning, and was therefore emitted primarily from mobile sources. It was omitted from gasoline in 2006.
For health effects of MTBE click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Naphthalene
Naphthalene emissions are mainly from area sources, such as combustion of wood, tobacco, and fossil fuels. Its major consumer use is in moth repellants and toilet deodorant blocks. It is also used in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics.
For health effects of naphthalene click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Polycyclic Organic Matter (POM)
Polycyclic organic matter comprises a broad class of compounds
that are formed primarily from combustion, and are present in the
air in particulate form. The primary source of POM is area sources
(including all types of combustion and use of some consumer products).
For additional information on the sources of emissions as described
by USEPA, click here.
To evaluate risk from POM, USEPA assumed that 5% of the total POM
emissions were in the form of benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic constituent
of POM. NJDEP used the same assumption in our risk assessment.
For health effects of polycyclic organic matter click here.
To look at USEPA’s risk estimate click here.
Perchloroethylene
Perchloroethylene is emitted mostly from dry cleaning. Since perchloroethylene does not degrade quickly in the atmosphere, there is also a contribution from background concentrations. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of perchloroethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene, click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
Trichloroethylene
Most of the trichloroethylene used in the United States is released into the atmosphere from industrial degreasing operations. Exposure to trichloroethylene may happen to workers in the factories where it is manufactured or used, and to persons breathing air around these factories. Persons may also be exposed to trichloroethylene through the use of products containing the chemical and from evaporation and leaching from waste disposal sites. It is also an ingredient in adhesives, paint removers, typewriter correction fluids, and spot removers. Trichloroethylene is not thought to occur naturally in the environment. However, it has been found in underground water sources and many surface waters as a result of the manufacture, use, and disposal of the chemical. For additional information on the sources of emissions as described by USEPA click here.
For health effects of trichloroethylene click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
1,1,2-trichloroethane is used as a solvent and chemical intermediate in industry. However, the largest source of emissions in New Jersey appears to be volatilization from wastewater and municipal sewage treatment plants.
For health effects of 1,1,2-trichloroethane click here.
To view NJDEP’s County Risk Ratio Tables click here.