Test Results are Consistent with 2004 Toxic Release Inventory Reporting

DuPont’s DeLisle plant fulfilled a voluntary pledge made to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to test air emissions of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. The testing is an important part of DuPont’s corporate plan to reduce the creation of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds by 90 percent by the end of 2007.

DuPont contracted Weston Solutions, a professional stack testing firm, to perform air monitoring for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds at the DeLisle plant. Test results show that levels of dioxin emitted to the air by the plant are consistent with the plant’s 2004 reported dioxin air emissions, which were based on calculations and engineering factors.

In addition, 2,3,7,8 TCDD, the form of dioxin with the highest toxicity equivalent (TEQ), was not detected in air emissions from plant stacks. In August 2005 the site reported finding concentrations of 31.7 parts per trillion of 2,3,7,8 TCDD in the Line 2 ore dryer baghouse, a processing unit on the plant site. The material captured in this unit is contained and disposed of in the site’s landfill. With the limited amount of material involved and low exposure time, adverse health effects were not expected. These new test results demonstrate that although 2,3,7,8 TCDD is present, the plant’s environmental treatment technology is effective in treating those streams.

Calculations using the new test results show that in 2005 DuPont DeLisle emitted 1.0386 grams (0.0023 pounds) of dioxin to the air. This is consistent with the plant’s 2004 reported dioxin air emissions. In 2004 the plant reported air emissions of 1.1156 grams of dioxin as part of their Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For comparison, a paperclip weighs approximately 1 gram. (Additional information about dioxin air emissions is included in the FACT SHEET section of the release below.)

Emissions at these levels are not a cause for health concern, since likely exposures are lower than conservative health risk screening levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and well below background levels that occur in the environment.

Dioxins are also produced by non-industrial sources such as cars and trucks, small engines in lawnmowers and boats, charcoal grills, forest fires, tobacco smoke and residential waste burning. Diesel trucks traveling on Interstate 10 between DeLisle and Gulfport, Miss. emit more dioxin to the air each year than the DuPont DeLisle plant.

  “We committed voluntarily to MDEQ that we would test our plant’s dioxin air emissions, and we have met that commitment,” said Pat Nichols, plant manager. “The levels of emissions tested are not only consistent with our 2004 TRI reports, but below levels of concern.”

In the coming year the plant will spend $28 million to implement a “TRI Reduction Project,” recently permitted by Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The project is a key part of DuPont’s corporate plan to reduce the generation of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds by 90% by the end of 2007. 

The test results also showed air emissions of 13.9 pounds of hexachlorobenzene and 6.9 pounds of pentachlorobenzene. These compounds are not dioxins or dioxin-like compounds. Emissions at these levels are not a cause for health concern, since likely exposures are lower than conservative health risk screening levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The DuPont DeLisle site has operated in Mississippi for more than 25 years and produces titanium dioxide, a white pigment used widely in the paper, plastics and coatings industries.   DuPont is the world’s largest manufacturer of the pigment.

DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

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FACT SHEET

Background on Dioxin Air Emissions: Dioxin air emissions are reported to the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program in two parts: stack air emissions and fugitive air emissions. Stack air emissions are emissions directly from point sources at a facility. Fugitive air emission are emissions from non-point sources and other activities such as permitted wood burning. Stack air emissions and fugitive air emissions are combined to make total air emissions. The chart below shows 2004 and 2005 stack, fugitive and total air emissions numbers.

The new test results referred to in this news release were used to calculate the site’s 2005 dioxin air emissions, as shown above.

In 2005 the site was shut down for approximately four months due to Hurricane Katrina, resulting in lower dioxin stack air emissions. Stack air emissions would likely have been higher if the plant had run a full year. During 2005 dioxin fugitive air emissions included permitted wood burning during Hurricane Katrina recovery. Fugitive air emissions of dioxin would likely have been lower if the hurricane had not occurred. The plant does not plan to speculate what 2005 emissions would have been without the impact of Hurricane Katrina.