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Oxy Facts Sheet

Occidental Chemical 1999 Self Reported Toxic Release Inventory Air Emissions (view 2000 report)

Occidental’s Self-reported Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals are all hazardous substances which have harmful health effects. We are forced to breathe not only these hazardous Occidental emissions, but also Occidental’s ‘criteria’ air pollutants and added to the most dangerous of all – UNKNOWN AMOUNTS of DIOXIN – not even evaluated by DEP. Why did DEP allow increases?

Just look at the DOCUMENTED HARMFUL HEALTH EFFECTS!

Vinyl Chloride – 130,000 lbs. of this TOXIC Substance went into our air from Occidental in just one year, 1999, a 10,000 lb. increase over 1997. Vinyl Chloride chemical profile 75-01-4 identifies it as a HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD. Vinyl Chloride is a recognized CARCINOGEN and a Suspected Cardiovascular or Blood Toxicant, Developmental Toxicant, Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicant, Neurotoxicant, Reproductive Toxicant, Respiratory Toxicant, and a Skin or Sense Organ Toxicant. Ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health. Vinyl Chloride is a known carcinogen according to the 8th Report on Carcinogens, The State of California, and a Group 1 Carcinogen by The International Agency for Cancer Research (IACR) Vinyl Chloride is listed as a HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANT in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 versus SARA 313 Toxic Chemicals. Vinyl Chloride is on EPA’s list of 33 Urban AIR TOXICS, on Cal EPA Air Resources Board Toxic Air Contaminant Summary, and on EPA Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants.

Ammonia – 64,000 lbs. of this TOXIC Substance went into our air from Occidental in just one year, 1999, a 5,000 lb. INCREASE over 1997. Ammonia appears on a list of 77 Regulated TOXIC Substances and Threshold Quantities 112r of the Clean Air Act. The threshold quantity for an accidental release is 10,000 lbs. Ammonia’s toxicity to human health is not readily available.

Vinyl Acetate – 22,000 lbs. of this TOXIC Substance went into our air from Occidental in 1999. Vinyl Acetate is on the list for HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 versus SARA 313 Toxic Chemicals and on the 112r, Clean Air Act TOXIC Substance with an accidental threshold of 15,000, while EPA requires reporting of 5,000 lbs. or more from an accidental release. Long term affects from breathing lower levels of Vinyl Acetate for a long time are not known. Long-term animal studies show a reduced ability of animals to fight infection. There are no human studies on the carcinogenicity of Vinyl Acetate, but an animal study showed an increase in tumors of the nose of rats who breathed vinyl acetate. Vinyl acetate has caused eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation and blisters.

Acetaldehyde – 7,800 lbs. of this TOXIC Substance went into our air from Occidental in 1999, an amount NEARLY TRIPLED from 1997. The Chemical Profile for Acetaldehyde CAS 75-07-0 identifies it as a HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD. Acetaldehyde is a recognized CARCINOGEN. Acetaldehyde is a suspected Developmental Toxicant, Kidney Toxicant, Neurotoxicant, Respiratory Toxicant, and a Skin or Sense Organ Toxicant. Acetaldehyde is ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health. Acetaldehyde is a carcinogen according to the State of California, a Probable Carcinogen according to EPA, a Reasonably Anticipated Carcinogen according to The 8th Report on Carcinogens. Acetaldehyde appears on an EPA list of 33 urban TOXICS. Acetaldehyde is listed on Cal EPA Air Resources Board Toxic Air Contaminant Summary and EPA Health Effects Notebook for HAZARDOUS AIR Pollutants.

Occidental had INCREASES from 1997 to 1999 in the most dangerous chemicals to human health – both recognized CARCINOGENS.