RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Toxic emissions in Virginia increased in 2013 for the first time in seven years.
According to the state Department of Environmental Quality report, factories, power plants and other operations released about 36 million pounds of the potentially dangerous chemicals in 2013.
That’s up 10 percent from 32.7 million pounds in 2012. Officials with the agency say spot checks indicate the pollution went up because of increased production at some factories and power plants.
While the numbers are up for the first time since 2006, the latest available figures are far below the 151.2 million pounds released in 1988, when the reports began.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1EMK6KC) that BAE Systems in Montgomery County had the most toxic releases with 9.05 million pounds. It operates the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com
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