• An average of 2.3 billion gallons of benzene, a known carcinogen, are produced each year in the U.S. alone.15 • Fifty - six billion pounds of styrene, another petrochemical, which is used to make
Styrofoam and is a known neurotoxin, are released into the environment each year in the U.S..16 •
Over 1.3 billion pounds of one of the most toxic phthalates (a plasticizer) are released into the environment.17 • An estimated twelve million pounds of arsenic and arsenic - related compounds (a toxic heavy
metal) were released into the environment in 1999.18 • Dentists use approximately forty metric tons of mercury a year.