Ontario Region POLLUTION PREVENTION FACT SHEET. Pollution Prevention Program - Federal Programs Division

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1 Ontario Region Environmental Protection Branch Fact Sheet #5: ( Revised ) POLLUTION PREVENTION FACT SHEET Pollution Prevention Program - Federal Programs Division Persistent Toxic Substances: Toward Virtual Elimination This Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet is one in a continuing series prepared under the Pollution Prevention Program of the Federal Programs Division of Environment Canada, Ontario Region. This Program is intended to help federal departments in Ontario become model environmental citizens by managing beyond compliance. This Fact Sheet presents the following: A definition of persistent toxic substances, accompanied by examples; The effects of persistent toxic substances on the environment and human health; A description of some pollution prevention initiatives related to persistent toxic substances; and How federal facilities can contribute to solving the problem of persistent toxic substances. What are Persistent Toxic Substances? A toxic substance means a substance which can cause death; disease; behavioral abnormalities; cancer; genetic mutations; physiological or reproductive malfunctions; or physical deformities in any organism or its offspring, or which can become poisonous after concentration in the food chain or in combination with other substances. Persistent toxic substances are toxic chemicals that take a long time to break down, if ever, into harmless substances in the environment. There are various types of persistent toxic substances. They can be: Natural in origin - e.g. trace metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium; Commercial chemicals - e.g. chlorinated pesticides such as DDT, Mirex or PCB; or Industrial contaminants- e.g. dioxins, furans, PAHs. Some of these substances may be used regularly at federal facilities, for example, in laboratory and research facilities; in printing operations; in batteries; in ship hull treatment; or in wood treatment. Federal facilities should examine their use of these substances, and/or the use of products containing these substances. The various lists of the most critical persistent toxic substances presented in this Fact Sheet will help federal facilities determine the chemicals that should be targeted as a priority for Hazardous Waste Minimization Programs. Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances on the Environment and Human Health Persistent toxic substances have had disastrous effects in ecosystems and studies on human health indicate that people are also being affected through their food, drinking water and air. Many persistent toxic substances stay in the environment and food chain for very long periods. Long-term toxic exposures of fish, wildlife and humans have been linked to various reproductive, metabolic, neurological and behavioral abnormalities as well as immunity suppression and other lifethreatening problems such as cancer. Research in the Great Lakes Basin pertaining to persistent toxic substances has shown:

2 Population decreases in wildlife, increased mortality rates and reproductive problems; Congenital malformations/birth defects such as cross-billed ducks and tumors in fish; and Impacts on human health including the presence of toxic substances in breast milk, increased incidence of cancer and changes to the human reproductive system. Research demonstrates that persistent toxic substances are too dangerous to the ecosystem and to humans to permit their release in any quantity. Virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances must be facilitated by individual actions, corporate strategies and regulatory initiatives. The cleanup of contaminated areas (initiatives are already underway), the prevention of future contamination, and the use of less toxic and persistent substances are essential to the elimination of persistent toxic substances. Pollution Prevention Initiatives Related to Persistent Toxic Substances Each of the following initiatives prioritize specific persistent toxic substances in corresponding lists. Attached to this Fact Sheet is a composite table titled Persistent Toxic Substance Initiatives: Target Substances. It summarizes the typical use or source of each persistent toxic substance; a statement of potential use or release at federal facilities; and specifies under which of the following lists (IJC11, COA, MOEE, ARET A-1) each substance appears. You are encouraged to use this table as a guide to determine which of these substances should be targeted for action at your facilities. IJC11 - The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the International Joint Commission The principle of "virtual elimination/zero discharge" of persistent toxic substances was adopted in the Canada - U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The governments in both countries are moving toward this goal through a mixture of regulations, pollution prevention initiatives and public education. In 1985, eleven (11) of the most persistent and wide-spread toxic contaminants were identified as critical Great Lakes pollutants by the International Joint Commission (IJC). They are listed in Table 1. Chlorinated Organic Chemicals: - DDT - dieldrin - dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) - furan (2,3,7,8-TCDF) - hexachlorobenzene - mirex - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - toxaphene Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): - benzo[a]pyrene Toxic Metals: - alkylated lead - mercury Table 1. Critical Pollutants in the Great Lakes Eight (8) of these critical pollutants are organochlorine compounds and many have been used as pesticides or industrial chemicals. They are also found in industrial wastes, the combustion of wastes or fuels, or as impurities in pesticides. COA - Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem 1994 This six-year agreement between the federal and provincial governments sets firm targets for environmental priorities for the Great Lakes. It commits both governments to work jointly on achieving more than 40 measurable results by the year 2000 in order to restore degraded areas; prevent and control pollution; and conserve human and ecosystem health. The Agreement addresses many of Canada's obligations under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Targeted activities include not only clean-up, pollution prevention and control but also programs aimed at conserving the biodiversity of the basin and implementing sustainable land-use practices. Thirteen persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances are of immediate concern in the Great Lakes Basin and are referred to as Tier I substances as illustrated in Table 2. - aldrin/dieldrin - mirex - benzo(a)pyrene - octachlorostyrene - chlordane - PCBs - DDT - PCDD (dioxins) - hexachlorobenzene - PCDF (furans) - alkyl-lead - toxaphene - mercury Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet # 5 (Revised) - Page 2

3 Table 2. COA's Tier 1 Substances An additional 26 pollutants identified as Tier II have demonstrated potential to impair the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem, and these along with other pollutants will be subject to research and voluntary reductions at source. MOEE - Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy List of Candidate Substances for Bans and Phase-Outs MOEE published the Candidate Substances List for Bans and Phase-Outs in 1992 (see list Table 3). This list identifies 27 candidate substances, based on the criteria of toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation. CAS Number Substance Name aldrin anthracene benzo[a]pyrene benzo[g,h,i]perylene benz[a]anthracene cadmium and compounds chlordane DDT (+ DDD and DDE) ,4-dichlorobenzene ,3'-dichlorobenzidine dieldrin endosulfan (incl. Isomers and sulphate) endrin heptachlor hexachlorobenzene alpha-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane gama-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) mercury and compounds mirex pentachlorophenol perylene phenanthrene n/a polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) n/a polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and - furans toxaphene tributyl tin trifluralin Table 3. MOEE's Primary List of Candidates for Bans, Phase-Outs or Reductions These 27 substances, out of approximately 800 substances assessed, are the most inherently hazardous due to their persistence in water or sediment; potential to bioaccumulate; and their toxicological impacts. Almost all of the pesticides on the IJC List have been effectively banned in Ontario under Regulation 162/94. The ARET Initiative ARET stands for the Accelerated Reduction/Elimination of Toxic Substances. It is a voluntary Canadian program, with broad support by industry, health and professional associations, as well as both federal and provincial governments including the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The ARET Committee has developed a list of 101 candidate substances for action. Fourteen (14) of these, including several chlorinated organic compounds, PCBs, PAHs and metal compounds, have been shown to be persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative. These 14 substances, known as List A-1, are listed in Table 4 below: CAS Number Substance Name 1. Chlorinated Organic Chemicals hexachlorobenzene alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane ,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) octachlorostyrene pentachlorophenol ,3,7,8-tetrachlorobenzofuran ,3,7,8-tetrachlorobenzo-p-dioxin 2. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). 3. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as a group. 4. Nitro-PAHs ,6-dinitropyrene ,8-dinitropyrene 5. Metal Compounds methyl mercury tributyl tin Table 4. ARET's List A-1 of Candidate Substances For these substances, ARET has set a vision of virtual elimination of emissions from human activity, with a short-term goal of 90% reduction by the year The ARET challenge has gone out to companies and facilities to take action to meet the these targets. By March 1995, one year after the ARET challenge, 203 organizations had responded. By December 1995, responses had increased by 33%, for a total reduction commitment of over 20,000 tonne. Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet # 5 (Revised) - Page 3

4 Federal facilities are encouraged to incorporate the ARET goals as part of their Departmental Environmental Action Plans. For more information about the ARET contact the ARET Secretariat at (819) (Facsimile (819) ). National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) NPRI provides information on the on-site releases to air, water and land, as well as transfers off-site in the form of waste, of 178 substances. The NPRI is the only legislated, nation-wide, publicly accessible inventory of pollution releases and transfers in Canada. Anyone in Canada who manufactures, processes or otherwise uses any of the NPRI-listed substances in quantities of 10 tonnes or more per year, and who employs 10 or more people per year, must report any releases or transfers in wastes of those substances to Environment Canada. The 1993 database includes information filed by 1,466 facilities across Canada. The NPRI will support a number of environmental initiatives by identifying priorities for action, encouraging voluntary measures to reduce releases, allowing tracking of progress in reducing releases and supporting regulatory initiatives. For more information contact the NPRI Office at (819) Solving the Problem of Persistent Toxic Substances: What Federal Facilities Can Do Federal facilities in Ontario can do their part by virtually eliminating the use and emissions of persistent toxic substances from their operations. Below is some guidance to federal facilities on how to reach the goal of zero discharge/virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances. Persistent Toxic Substances Lists Provide Priorities for Hazardous Waste Minimization Programs. Most facilities find it more effective to select a few waste streams or processes to begin Hazardous Waste Minimization Programs. Persistent Toxic Substances should be considered first when developing targets for reduction. The principles of Hazardous Waste Minimization apply to Persistent Toxic Substances. For more information on how to develop a Hazardous Waste Minimization Program, you may refer to Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #3 - Hazardous Waste Minimization: Reducing Wastes at the Source (Revised),. Identify and Eliminate Persistent Toxic Substances Used or Generated in Your Operations Examine the Persistent Toxic Substances Lists attached to this Fact Sheet and assess the candidate substances in terms of their generation, use and quantities emitted by your facilities in order to identify opportunities for action. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) within your Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) Program can help in identifying, through the CAS Number, those chemicals used at your facility that are considered persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative. Examples of specific opportunity areas for reducing emissions and wastes of persistent toxic substances at federal facilities: Laboratory and Research Facilities Environmentally sound management and disposal, and elimination where possible, of instrumentation containing mercury. Elimination, where possible of research samples of various persistent toxic substances. Printing Facilities Substitution of printing inks for more environmentally friendly inks, eg. 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine from the MOEE List). Metal Degreasing Operations Elimination or minimization of the use of chlorinated solvents. Batteries Purchase mercury-free alkaline batteries. Return lead-acid and rechargeable batteries to suppliers for recovery. Incinerators Good operation and maintenance to provide efficient combustion and to minimize emissions of PAHs. Proper waste feedstock sorting and selection (eg. remove plastics, mercury-containing materials). Ship Hull Treatment Environmentally sound management and disposal of tributyl tin. Identification of effective alternatives. Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet # 5 (Revised) - Page 4

5 Wood Treatment Management and disposal of treatment chemicals (eg. Creosote, pentachlorophenol, etc.) in an environmentally safe manner. Better yet, use of Alternative materials to wood such as plastic lumber products. Participate in ARET! The ARET project provides federal facilities with a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the area of pollution prevention and to be model environmental citizens as called for in the federal Code of Environmental Stewardship. You are strongly encouraged to strive to meet the reduction goals outlined in ARET. Some Success Stories TWT Technologies Inc., is a joint venture company formed for the purpose of recycling treated wood products using its proprietary thermolysis process. TWT offers industry a means of life cycle management of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and creosote. Treating solutions are economically removed and recovered from treated wood and reused rather than discarded. PCP and oil preservatives are reused, reducing the risk of contamination to the environment. To date, DND has identified and is reviewing over 1000 products which contain ARET substances. The project is 60% complete with an elimination / replacement of 80% of the products reviewed. The quantity of the products which could not be replaced has been reduced by restricting use to applications where no alternatives are available. Listed are the key guidelines from the DND program: In order to clean blanks, the Royal Canadian Mint used to use a vapour degreaser. This process accounted for two-thirds of the Mint's consumption of Freon, an ozonedepleting substance. Due to increasing Freon prices, concern about the environment and new stringent regulations, the Royal Canadian Mint have switched to a new ultrasonic cleaning system which uses soaps and / or deionized water. The new system offers environmental benefits, cost savings and improved occupational health. The Automotive Manufacturing Pollution Prevention Project is a voluntary cooperative effort between the Canadian Motor Vehicle Manufacturer's Association (MVMA), Environment Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy. The project is aiming to demonstrate a verifiable reduction of persistent toxic substances by participating member companies which include Chrysler Canada, Ford Motor Company of Canada and General Motors of Canada. Similar Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have also been signed with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA), the metal finishing industry, and the printing and graphics sector. For more information please call the Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Centre at Items identified as containing an ARET substance are to be removed from DND's inventory unless there is a compelling requirement for its usage. Plans are to be developed that will lead to product elimination, substitution or special management procedures, ensuring the reduction of the potential environmental risk associated with continued usage. Systems are to be developed that will prohibit the purchase of new items that contain ARET substances, unless a specific management plan for that material is in place. Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet # 5 (Revised) - Page 5

6 Success Stories Does your department have a pollution prevention success story to share? Other government departments in Ontario would like to hear about your experience in dealing with a particular problem. Please provide relevant information to the Pollution Prevention Advisor, Federal Programs Division, Environment Canada. We will ensure that all interested parties obtain this information. Further Sources of Information 1. ARET Action Plan Guide. National Office of Pollution Prevention, Environment Canada. March ARET Secretariate. Tel: (819) ; Fax: (819) For further information about the Pollution Prevention Program for federal facilities in Ontario, please contact: Environment Canada Ontario Region - Environmental Protection Branch Federal Programs Division 49 Camelot Drive Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0H3 phone: (613) fax: (613) fpd@ec.gc.ca All Fact Sheets can be found on the Internet at: (aussi disponible en français) 2. Candidate Substances List for Bans and Phase-Outs. Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy. Multimedia Revision PIBS#2709. For a copy call the Public Information Centre at (416) Eighth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality. International Joint Commission Call the GLPPC at Environmental Leaders 1: Voluntary Commitments To Action On Toxics Through ARET Environmental Leaders 2. ( Available December 1996). ARET Secretariate. Tel: (819) ; Fax: (819) The First Progress Report Under the 1994 Canada-Ontario Agreement. Governments of Canada and Ontario. For information call the GLPPC at ; Internet access at 6. Hazardous Waste Minimization: Reducing Wastes at the Source; Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #3 (Revised),. Federal Programs Division, Environment Canada, Ontario Region. Tel: (613) The National Pollutant Release Inventory Summary Report; Environment Canada. For information call NPRI, Environment Canada, at (819) Internet access at 8. A Strategy for Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances (Volumes 1 and 2). Virtual Elimination Task Force. August Tel: Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet # 5 (Revised) - Page 6

7 Substance Name CAS Number Typical Use or Source Great Lakes Critical Pollutants List - IJC 11(11) COA Tier 1 Substances (13) MOEE List for Bans & Phaseouts(27) ARET List A-1 (14) Potential Use or Release at Federal Facilities Commercial Chemicals 3,3 -dichlorobenzidine Manufacture of azo dyes; intermediate for the benzidine yellow pigments. 4,4 - methylenebis (2- chloroaniline) (MOCA) Curing agent for polyurethane and epoxy resins, for industrial gears, gaskets, sport boots and skate board wheels. Octachlorostyrene (OCS) Originates primarily from the waste product of electrolytic chlorine production. Has been detected in effluent streams of chlorine production plants, steel mills, and aluminum smelting processes (airborne dust from abrasion of raw materials).has no commercial use. Also released from the incineration of PVC. Pentachlorophenol Wood preservative and biocide. Currently registered under Pest Control Products Act as hard surface disinfectant, herbicide and insecticide. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Metal Compounds n/a Used in electrical transformers and capacitors, hydraulic equipment, lubricants, vacuum pumps and gas-transmission turbines. No longer manufactured and uses are restricted to equipment already in use. Cadmium and compounds Coating of other metals (electroplating). Alloys for engine parts, solder. Nickel-cadmium batteries, photoelectric cells.curing agent for rubber, telephone and trolley wires. Alkylated lead compounds e.g. tetraethyl lead Mercury and compounds methyl mercury n/a Lead additives for gasoline to prevent knocking in motors. Use restricted in Canada. Naturally occuring element. Used in barometers, thermometers, hydrometers, fluorescent lamps. Methy mercury: formed as a result of mercury being converted by microorganisms in soil or sediment. Tributyl tin Ship hull treatment (anti-fouling additive in marine paints). Industrial Contaminants Catalyst for polymerization reactions, reducing agent, dehalogenating agent. Yes Yes Yes Yes COA Tier II (nonpesticidal) Yes Polycyclic Aromatic PAHs are generally present in coal tar and produced when Yes (all PAHs) January 1997 Addendum to Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #5 (Revised) (Page A-7)

8 Substance Name Hydrocarbons (PAHs) CAS Number Typical Use or Source organic material is burned. Great Lakes Critical Pollutants List - IJC 11(11) COA Tier 1 Substances (13) anthracene Used in the manufacture of dyes (anthraquinone, alizarin). benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) Formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood, tobacco, incineration of garbage etc. Used as a carcinogenic agent in medical research. benzo(g,h,i)perylene By-product of coking processes (anaerobic cool distillation). benz(a)anthracene By-product of coking processes. MOEE List for Bans & Phaseouts(27) 1,6 dinitropyrene ,8-dinitropyrene perylene By-product of coking processes. Potentially produced in petroleum refinining processes. phenanthrene By-product of coking processes. Potentially produced in petroleum refining processes. Polychlorinated dibenzo-pdioxins and furans 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorobenzop-dioxin (TCDD) 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorobenzofuran (TCDF) Pesticides n/a Many commercial chemicals contain dioxins or furans as impurities, however, none are currently manufactured in Canada and use of these chemicals has decreased considerably over the past 10 years. A major concern for release of dioxins and furans are municipal incinerators and effluents from pulp and paper mills, which can be reduced by changing the processing system Pentachlorophenol is the major source of dioxins. It is used to preserve and protect wood, and is still widely used in Canada. The second largest source is the herbicide 2,4-D. Mixtures such as Agent Orange, no longer registered or used in Canada, contain dioxins. Hexachlorophene, believed to contain TCDD, is still used for in registered health care products PCBs are the most significant source of furans. While use and storage of PCBs is now strictly controlled, the potential for releases through accidental spills or fires remains. Existing stocks of PCBs await the establishment of suitable destruction facilities. ARET List A-1 (14) Potential Use or Release at Federal Facilities (e.g. lab wastes) Aldrin Insecticide. Registration discontinued federally in 1990 (i.e. no January 1997 Addendum to Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #5 (Revised) (Page A-8)

9 Substance Name CAS Number Typical Use or Source manufacture permitted, but wholesale and retail sale acceptable until 1995). Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport and disposal prohibited). Chlordane Insecticide. Registration discontinued federally in 1990 (i.e. no manufacture permitted, but wholesale and retail sale acceptable until 1995). Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport and disposal prohibited). DDT (+DDD and DDE) Insecticide. Registration discontinued federally in (i.e. no manufacture permitted, but wholesale and retail sale acceptable until 1990). Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport and disposal prohibited). DDD and DDE are metabolites and contaminants of DDT. 1,4 - dichlorobenzene Insecticide. Used domestically against clothes moths. Also used as air freshener, urinal deodorizer, etc. Dieldrin Soil insecticide, now restricted to applications for termite control. Registration discontinued federally in 1990 (i.e. no manufacture was permitted, but wholesale and retail sale was acceptable until 1995). Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport and disposal prohibited). Endosulfan Insecticide. Registered for use as a miticide and insecticide to control various agricultural pests and specific home and garden pests. Endrin Registration discontinued federally in 1990 (i.e. no manufacture permitted, but wholesale and retail sale acceptable until 1995). Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport & disposal prohibited). Heptachlor Insecticide. Used for subterranean mite control and cotton boll weevil. Never has been registered under federal Pest Control Products Act. Alpha - 1,2,3,4,5,6- hexachlorocyclohexane By-product of organic chemical processes, such as the production of lindane. No longer registered under the federal Pest Control Products Act. Great Lakes Critical Pollutants List - IJC 11(11) COA Tier 1 Substances (13) MOEE List for Bans & Phaseouts(27) ARET List A-1 (14) Potential Use or Release at Federal Facilities Yes Yes Lindane Insecticide (seed treatment) and aracide (mite control). January 1997 Addendum to Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #5 (Revised) (Page A-9)

10 Substance Name MOEE List for Bans & Phaseouts(27) (gamma-1,2,3,4,5,6- hexachlorocyclohexane) CAS Number Typical Use or Source By-product of organic chemical processes. Used in medicine as a pediculicide and scabicide, and as a veterinary ectoparasiticide. Mirex NEVER registered or used in Canada by the agricultural industry. Mirex was used as fire retardant. Prohibited import, manufacture, processing, offer for sale and use of mirex under CEPA. Explicit ban in Ontario in 1994 (i.e. use, handling, storage, selling, transport and disposal prohibited). Toxaphene Vegetable crop insecticide, herbicide. Manufacture banned in the U.S. in Not registered for use in Canada. Trifluralin Herbicide. Used extensively in North America, primarily in the pre-emergence control of weeds in field crops. Great Lakes Critical Pollutants List - IJC 11(11) COA Tier 1 Substances (13) ARET List A-1 (14) Potential Use or Release at Federal Facilities Yes January 1997 Addendum to Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet #5 (Revised) (Page A-10)