Why Is This Important?

Most of the chloroform in the environment is man-made; it is used to make coolants, as a fumigant for grain, and as a dry cleaning spot remover. Other sources of chloroform emissions include: pharmaceutical manufacturing, cooling towers, the bleaching of pulp at pulp and paper mills with chlorine, bleach used for domestic cleaning and laundry, combustion of gasoline, and air stripping towers. Low-level exposure to chloroform could result in dizziness, tiredness and headache. Exposure to higher concentrations is suspected to cause liver and kidney tumors. Chloroform is classified as a possible human carcinogen.

Definition

Mean of modeled annual average chloroform concentration for census tracts in a county

Data Sources

• USEPA Air Toxics Screening Assessment and NJDEP Division of Air Quality
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)
• Air Toxics Screening Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

All New Jersey counties exceed the health benchmark of 0.043 micrograms of chloroform per cubic meter of air. The highest ambient air concentration can be found in Bergen, Gloucester, Ocean, Salem, and Somerset Counties.

What Is Being Done?

In 1979, NJDEP adopted a regulation that specifically addressed air toxics emissions. This rule (Control and Prohibition of Air Pollution by Toxic Substances) listed 11 Toxic Volatile Organic Substances (TVOS) and required that sources emitting those TVOS to the air should register with the Department and demonstrate that they were using state-of-the-art controls to limit their emissions. Industrial facilities that emit this chemical must obtain permits from the NJDEP Air Program and are also subject to state and federal air pollution control technology requirements.

Available Services

To view select air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the United States go to: [http://www.epa.gov/airdata/] New Jersey County Risk Ratio tables can be found at the following URL: [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/airmon/airtoxics/nataest.htm#rrtab]

More Resources

The USEPA Integrated Risk Information System provides more detailed information about chloroform and research studies on its health effects at the following URL:. [https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=25] New Jersey Statewide Average 2005 NATA Modeled Air Concentrations and comparisons to health benchmarks can be found at: [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/airtoxics/Chloroform05.htm] Pollution Prevention and Community Right to Know: [http://web.doh.state.nj.us/rtkhsfs/factsheets.aspx] NJDEP "What's in My Community?" mapping application: [https://njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=76194937cbbe46b1ab9a9ec37c7d709b] On the map you will find every facility with an air permit registered with the Division of Air Quality at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.