Hexachlorobenzene

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Carcinogen PBT

CAS Number: 118-74-1

Hexachlorobenzene (CAS 118-74-1) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The TRI requires industrial facilities above specified threshold quantities to disclose annual manufacturing, processing, and otherwise-used volumes, along with quantities released to air, water, land, and off-site transfers.

Across the United States, 93 facilities have filed TRI Form R disclosures for Hexachlorobenzene, with a cumulative reported release volume of 40.7K lbs. The chemical carries a carcinogen classification in the TRI database, based on assessments from EPA, IARC, or the National Toxicology Program. It is also listed as a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substance — a category subject to lower reporting thresholds and elevated regulatory concern. The largest individual disclosure in the current dataset comes from GB BIOSCIENCES LLC in TX at 482.7K lbs.

TRI volumes are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and each pound counts equally regardless of chemical toxicity — so total pounds should not be equated with total risk. Inclusion of a chemical or facility in the TRI does not itself establish a health hazard; it documents the public right-to-know record. Consult EPA's IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for health-effect summaries.

Release Summary

Total Releases
40.7K lbs
Number of Facilities
93
Carcinogen
Yes
Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant
Yes

Which facilities release the most of this chemical?

Facilities with the largest reported releases of Hexachlorobenzene. Up to 50 shown.

# Facility Release (lbs)
1 GB BIOSCIENCES LLC 7.5K lbs
2 US MAGNESIUM LLC 3.7K lbs
3 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT - LA KE CHARLES FACILITY 3.0K lbs
4 US MAGNESIUM LLC 1.9K lbs
5 US ECOLOGY NEVADA INC. 1.7K lbs
6 US MAGNESIUM LLC 1.4K lbs
7 US ECOLOGY NEVADA INC. 1.3K lbs
8 US ECOLOGY NEVADA INC. 1.2K lbs
9 CHEMOURS JOHNSONVILLE PLANT 1.2K lbs
10 US ECOLOGY NEVADA INC. 1.1K lbs
11 CHEMOURS JOHNSONVILLE PLANT 1.1K lbs
12 CHEMOURS JOHNSONVILLE PLANT 845 lbs
13 US MAGNESIUM LLC 755 lbs
14 US ECOLOGY NEVADA INC. 747 lbs
15 WESTLAKE VINYLS INC 670 lbs
16 WESTLAKE VINYLS INC 615 lbs
17 WESTLAKE VINYLS INC 537 lbs
18 WESTLAKE VINYLS INC 504 lbs
19 CHEMOURS JOHNSONVILLE PLANT 500 lbs
20 CHEMOURS JOHNSONVILLE PLANT 477 lbs
21 WESTLAKE VINYLS INC 471 lbs
22 CHEMOURS DELISLE PLANT 431 lbs
23 OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORP 427 lbs
24 CHEMOURS DELISLE PLANT 420 lbs
25 FREEPORT_OLIN BC 359 lbs
26 CHEMOURS DELISLE PLANT 342 lbs
27 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT - LA KE CHARLES FACILITY 300 lbs
28 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT 280 lbs
29 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT INC 265 lbs
30 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT 250 lbs
31 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT - LA KE CHARLES FACILITY 230 lbs
32 OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL HOLDING CORP - GEISMAR PLANT 219 lbs
33 CHEMOURS DELISLE PLANT 215 lbs
34 HONDA DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING OF AMERICA LLC 210 lbs
35 OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORP 209 lbs
36 US ECOLOGY TEXAS INC 204 lbs
37 GB BIOSCIENCES LLC 204 lbs
38 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT - LA KE CHARLES FACILITY 200 lbs
39 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHWEST INC. 195 lbs
40 DOW CHEMICAL CO FREEPORT FACILITY 193 lbs
41 OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL HOLDING CORP - GEISMAR PLANT 193 lbs
42 DOW CHEMICAL CO FREEPORT FACILITY 191 lbs
43 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHWEST INC. 190 lbs
44 CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT INC 169 lbs
45 FREEPORT_OLIN BC 154 lbs
46 DOW CHEMICAL CO FREEPORT FACILITY 132 lbs
47 US ECOLOGY TEXAS INC 120 lbs
48 DOW CHEMICAL CO FREEPORT FACILITY 116 lbs
49 CHEMOURS DELISLE PLANT 101 lbs
50 HONDA DEVELOPMENT & MANUFACTURING OF AMERICA LLC 93 lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hexachlorobenzene?
Hexachlorobenzene (CAS Number: 118-74-1) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. It is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen. It is classified as a persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT). 93 facilities in the United States report releasing this chemical to the EPA.
How much Hexachlorobenzene is released in the U.S.?
U.S. facilities have reported a total of 40.7K lbs of Hexachlorobenzene releases to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory across 93 facilities. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. This includes releases to air, water, land, and off-site transfers.
Is Hexachlorobenzene harmful to health?
Hexachlorobenzene is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen by the EPA, based on evaluations from IARC, NTP, or EPA itself. It is classified as a persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT), meaning it persists in the environment and accumulates in food chains. Health effects depend on exposure levels, duration, and route. For specific health questions, consult a toxicologist or your local health agency.
Which facilities release the most Hexachlorobenzene?
The largest reported releasers of Hexachlorobenzene include facilities across multiple states. Release data is self-reported annually to the EPA under the TRI program. View the full list of 93 facilities on this page.
What is the CAS number for Hexachlorobenzene?
The CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry Number for Hexachlorobenzene is 118-74-1. CAS numbers are unique numerical identifiers assigned to every chemical substance described in the open scientific literature. This identifier is used to search scientific databases and regulatory filings.

Health Information

Carcinogen Classification: This chemical is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen by the EPA under the Toxic Release Inventory program. This classification is based on evaluations by agencies including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the EPA itself.

Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant (PBT): This chemical is classified as a PBT by the EPA. PBT chemicals are toxic, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate in food chains. Because of these properties, even relatively small releases can pose a significant threat to human health and the environment over time.

Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Release quantities are self-reported by facilities and may represent estimates. The total shown aggregates reports across all facilities and reporting years.

PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a chemical in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk at current exposure levels. For health-related questions about specific chemical exposures, consult your local health agency or a toxicologist.

Related

Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.