Rubber, plastics toxic emissions down slightly in 1998

WASHINGTON (May 17)—Total toxic emissions from the rubber and plastics industries dropped 0.4 percent between 1997 and 1998, to 109.7 million pounds from 110.1 million, according to the latest Toxic Release Inventory figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency. Total emissions from all the industries originally required to report TRI data fell 8 percent to 2.38 billion pounds in 1998 from 2.59 billion in 1997. Emissions from all the original industries have fallen 45 percent since reporting requirements began in 1988, the EPA said.