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Toxic Chemicals
apparent consumption of cobalt in the United States was 9,600 metric tons, as compared to the U.S. TRI 2007 release data of 3,162 metric tons (397 metric tons of
cobalt and 2,765 metric tons of cobalt compounds). The 2007 estimated consumption
of lead in the United States was 1,540,000 metric tons, as compared to the U.S. TRI
2007 release data of 224,925 metric tons (9,498 metric tons of lead and 215,427 metric tons of lead compounds).
Excluding the quantity of mercury that has accumulated as a result of historical
use (reservoir), best estimates from a 2002 study indicated that the total use of
mercury in raw materials in the United States was approximately up to 2,143 tons
per year, or 28 percent greater than the approximately up to 1,665 tons per year of
mercury waste released (air, water, solid) in the United States across various sectors
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] 2002).
MASSACHUSETTS TOXICS USE REDUCTION ACT
The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA; 1989) requires that large-quantity
users of toxic materials submit an annual Toxics Use Report to the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) and participate in a planning
process designed to reduce their wastes and use of toxic chemicals.
The MADEP Bureau of Waste Prevention is responsible for implementing TURA
through review of toxics use reports, enforcement actions, managing toxics use data,
and evaluating the overall progress of the state.
The Administrative Council on TUR consists of seven members representing state
agencies and is responsible for environmental protection, public health, occupational
safety, and economic development.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Regulated facilities in Massachusetts are required to file a toxics use report if they
meet all three of the following criteria:
• The facility employs at least 10 full-time employees.
• The facility conducted business practices activities described by certain
SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes.
• The facility is a large-quantity toxics user; it processed or used a
TUR-regulated chemical in excess of reporting thresholds. A facility is
considered a large-quantity toxics user if
• 25,000 pounds of toxic substances were manufactured or processed
during the reporting year or
• 10,000 pounds of a toxic substance were used during the reporting year or
• 100 lbs, 10 lbs, or 0.1 lbs of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)
chemicals (depending on the specific PBT chemical) were manufactured,
processed, or used during the reporting year.
Some examples of where manufacturers installed upgrades to their manufacturing processes to achieve a reduction in their use of toxic chemicals under the