This report summarizes data on air emissions from the production of vulcanized elastomers (rubbers) and fabrication of rubber products. Hydrocarbons and particulates are emitted from various operations. Hydrocarbon emissions consist of monomers, rubber chemicals, and solvents which are volatilized during processing. Particulate emissions consist primarily of carbon black, soapstone, zinc oxide, and other materials emitted from compounding, grinding, and talc dusting operations. To assess the environmental impact of this industry, source severity was defined as the ratio of the time-averaged maximum ground level concentration of a pollutant emitted from a representative plant to the ambient air quality standard (for criteria pollutants) or to a reduced threshold limit value (for noncriteria pollutants). Source severities were greater than or equal to 1 for the following operations: the butadiene absorption vent in emulsion SBR production, the drying operation in solution SBR production, green tire spraying and curing operations in the tire industry, and rubber cementing in the rubber footwear industry. Emissions from rubber processing are expected to increase 15% over the period 1975 to 1980.

"March 1978." "This report was submitted in partial fulfillment of Contract No. 68-02-1874 by Monsanto Research Corporation under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-110).