The chemical manufacturing industry includes establishments which produce basic chemicals and manufacture products by predominantly chemical processes. Chemicals are manufactured through the manipulation and transformation of organic and inorganic raw materials by a chemical process and the formulation of end products.
The chemical sector has multi-media impacts. It is one of the largest users of natural gas, which is required for energy and as a feedstock. The sector emitted more than 1.5 million tons of criteria air pollutants, of which more than 80 percent were carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Nitrous Oxides (NOx). Nearly half of these emissions are energy-related.
The chemical sector also manages a huge amount of chemicals that are reported to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory. About five percent of the more than 10 billion pounds of chemicals managed are disposed or otherwise released to air and water, while the rest goes to treatment, energy recovery, and recycling.
The chemical industry is affected by nearly all federal environmental statutes.