Priority and Toxic Chemicals

National Information

EPA has selected 31 chemicals and metals that are potentially harmful to human health and/or the environment. This list includes 28 organic chemicals and three metals and their compounds, and together they are the referred to as Priority Chemicals.

EPA's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program focuses efforts on reducing these 31 Priority Chemicals found in our nation's products and wastes by finding solutions that eliminate or substantially reduce the use of Priority Chemicals in production. If a manufacturer or waste generator cannot eliminate or reduce a Priority Chemical at its source, EPA will suggest to the manufacturer or waste generator ways to recover or recycle the chemical.

PRIORITY CHEMICALS LIST

Organic Chemicals and Compounds

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene *
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether
Acenaphthene
Acenaphthylene
Anthracene *
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene *
Dibenzofuran *
Dioxins/Furans (considered one chemical on this list) *
Endosulfan, alpha & Endosulfan, beta (considered one chemical on this list)
Fluorene
Heptachlor & Heptachlor epoxide (considered one chemical on this list)
Hexachlorobenzene *
Hexachlorobutadiene
Lindane (Hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma-)
Hexachloroethane
Methoxychlor
Naphthalene *
Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) (as defined in TRI) *
Pendimethalin
Pentachlorobenzene
Pentachloronitrobenzene
Pentachlorophenol
Phenanthrene *
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) *
Pyrene
Trifluralin

Metals and Metal Compounds

Cadmium *
Lead *
Mercury *

* priority chemicals present in EPA Region 3

Please direct any questions or comments about Priority Chemicals to Sharon Pérez-Suárez (perez-suarez.sharon@epa.gov).

Region 3 The Mid-Atlantic States

Priority and Toxic Chemicals

National Information

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