This document describes the properties of 1,3-butadiene as an air pollutant, defines its production and use patterns, identifies source categories of air emissions, and provides butadiene emissions data in terms of emission factors and national inventory estimates. The document is a part of an ongoing EPA series designed to assist the general public at large, but primarily State/local air agencies, in identifying sources of HAPs and determining emissions estimates. Butadiene is primarily used in the manufacture of synthetic elastomers (rubbers, latexes) and for producing raw materials for nylon. Butadiene is emitted into the atmosphere from its production, its use as a chemical feedstock in the production of other chemicals, the use of these other chemicals, mobile sources, and from a wide variety of miscellaneous processes involving fossil fuel and biomasss combustion, petroleum refining, secondary lead smelting, and wastewater treatment.

Project Officer: Dennis Beauregard. Prepared by Eastern Research Group under Contract Number 68-D2-0160. "November 1996." "EPA/454-R-96-008." Includes bibliographical references.