Report blames petroleum industry for 25% of toxic pollutants

WASHINGTON (AFP)

Aside from oil and gas extraction, mining, wastewater treatment, electric utilities and chemical manufacturing are named as the principle offenders.

“Ninety percent of the 5.5 billion kilograms of toxic pollutant releases and transfers reported in North America in 2005 can be traced to just 30 substances from 15 industrial sectors across the United States, Canada and Mexico,” it said.

The US petroleum industry reported 1.5 billion kilograms “of toxic pollutants reported by all sectors in 2005″ the CEC said.

AFP