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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Public Data Release Report
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EPA 260-R-08-001
February 2008
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Figure 1: Information Collected Under TRI
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What is the Toxics Release Inventory?
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a database
that contains detailed information on nearly
650 chemicals and chemical categories
that 22,880 industrial and other fa-
cilities manage through disposal
or other releases, recycling, en-
ergy recovery or treatment
(see Figure l).The data are
collected from industries
including manufacturing,
metal and coal mining,
electric utilities, com-
mercial hazardous waste
treatment, and other
industrial sectors.
Section 313 of the
Emergency Planning
and Community Right
to Know Act (EPCRA)
of 1986 was enacted to
facilitate emergency plan-
ning, to minimize the ef-
fects of potential toxic chem-
ical accidents, and to provide
the public with information on
releases of toxic chemicals in their
communities. The Pollution Prevention
Act (PPA) of 1990 mandates collection of
data on toxic chemicals that are treated on-site, re-
cycled, and combusted for energy recovery. Together, these
laws require facilities in certain industries, which manufacture, process, or use toxic chemicals above specified
amounts, to report annually on disposal or other releases and other waste management activities related to
these chemicals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains this information in a national database called the
Toxics Release Inventory, which is available to the public via the Internet (www.epa.gov/tri).
What are the benefits of TRI data?
The TRI provides the public with unprecedented access to information about toxic chemical releases and
other waste management activities on a local, state, regional and national level.
TRI data help the public, government officials and industry:
identify potential concerns and gain a better understanding of potential risks;
identify priorities and opportunities to work with industry and government to reduce toxic chemical dis-
posal or other releases and potential risks associated with them; and
establish reduction targets and measure progress toward reduction goals.
TRI data are widely used across EPA programs. For example, the National Partnership for Environmen-
tal Priorities, an element of the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), uses TRI data to identify fa-
cilities that may present pollution prevention opportunities. EPA also uses TRI data in the Risk Screen-
ing Environmental Indicator (RSEI) tool, which compares toxic chemicals released to the environment
from industrial sources. Using RSEI, you can examine rankings and trends, and set priorities for fur-
ther action. You can search for other EPA programs and tools that utilize TRI data by visiting EPA's
Web Site at: www.epa.gov or from EPA's publication How are the Toxics Release Inventory Data Used? at:
www.epa.gov/ tri/guide_docs/2003_datausepaper.pdf.
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What are the limitations of the TRI data?
Users of TRI data should be aware that TRI data reflect disposal
or other releases and other waste management of chemicals, not
whether (or to what degree) the public has been exposed to
them. Both the toxicity of a chemical and exposure consider-
ations should be taken into account when using the data.
TRI chemicals vary widely in toxicity, or their potential to
produce toxic effects. Some high-volume releases of less toxic
chemicals may appear to be more serious than lower-volume
releases of highly toxic chemicals, when just the opposite may
be true.
The potential for exposure may be greater the longer the chemical re-
mains unchanged in the environment. Sunlight, heat, or microorganisms
may or may not decompose the chemical. Smaller releases of a persistent,
highly toxic chemical may create a more serious problem than larger releases
of a chemical that is rapidly converted to a less toxic form.
For more detailed information on this subject refer to TheToxics Release Inventory (TRI) and
Factors to Consider When Using TRI Data document at: www.epa.gov/tri/tridata.
What should I know about the different types of disposal or
other releases?
The TRI Program collects data on a number of different types of disposal or other releases, as well as on cer-
tain waste management and recycling practices. Disposal or other releases of chemicals into the environment
occur through a range of practices that may ultimately affect the potential for human exposure to the toxic
chemicals. Facility releases may include discharges to air, water, and land. Facilities limit contamination and
human exposure by disposing of or otherwise releasing waste in certain ways. For example:
Disposal of harmful materials to Class I Underground Injection wells located in isolated formations be-
neath the lowermost underground source of drinking water, limits potential for contamination; and
Disposal to landfills that are designed with liners, covers, leak-detection systems, and groundwater monitor-
ing systems also limits the potential for human exposure to the contents of the landfill.
Most disposal or other release practices are subject to a variety of regulatory requirements designed to limit
environmental harm. Please refer to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Factors to Consider When Using TRI
Data (www.epa.gov/tri/tridata) for more information on the differences of these data elements.
What should I know about persistent bioaccumulative toxic
(PBT) chemicals?
Starting in 2000, EPA established more stringent reporting thresholds for persistent bioaccumulative toxic
(PBT) chemicals originally on, or added to, the TRI chemical list. PBT chemicals are of particular concern
not only because they are toxic but also because they remain in the environment for long periods of time, are
not readily destroyed, and build up or accumulate in body tissue. The TRI PBT chemicals include dioxin and
dioxin-like compounds, lead and lead compounds, mercury and mercury compounds, polycyclic aromatic
compounds (PACs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and certain pesticides, among other chemicals.
For more detailed information about the Agency's multimedia strategy for priority PBT chemicals, visit
EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances web site at:
www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/pbtstrat.htrn.
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f What does TRI data show for 2006?
Disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals decreased by 5% from 2005 to 2006. However, while
air releases of mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 4%, total disposal or other releases of
mercury and its compounds increased by 17% from 2005 to 2006.Total disposal or other releases of
dioxin and dioxin-like compounds increased by 52%.
Disposal or other releases of carcinogens decreased by 11% (104 million pounds) from 2005 to 2006,
including a decrease of 39% (72 million pounds) in arsenic and arsenic compounds
and a decrease of 5% (25 million pounds) in lead and lead compounds.Air releases
of carcinogens decreased by 7% (7 million pounds).
Federal facilities showed an overall decrease in disposal or other releases of
almost 624,000 pounds or 1% from 2005 to 2006.Total production-related waste
managed at federal facilities increased by 15 million pounds or 6%.
Overall, from 2001 to 2006, total production-related waste managed decreased by 10%,
as shown in Figure 4.
Manufacturing facilities have been required to report to EPA's TRI Program since 1987.
From 1988 to 2006, manufacturing facilities decreased their on- and off-site disposal or
other releases by 59% based on chemicals that have been consistently reported since 1988
For 2006, 22,880 facilities, including federal facilities, reported to EPA's
TRI Program. They reported 4.25 billion pounds of on-site and off-site
disposal or other releases of the almost 650 toxic chemicals, as shown in Table
- .j 1. Almost 88% of the total was disposed of or otherwise released on-site; 12%
was sent off-site for disposal. Metal mining facilities reported 29% and electric
utilities reported 24% of the total in 2006, as shown in Figure 2.
Persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals accounted for 455 million pounds or
11% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total, lead and lead
compounds accounted for 98% or 446 million pounds of PBT's. Total disposal or other releases
for mercury and mercury compounds were 5.1 million pounds and, for dioxin and dioxin-like
compounds, they were 130,277 grams (287 pounds).
There were 179 known or suspected carcinogens on the TRI list in 2006.They accounted for 820
million pounds or 19% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total
for carcinogens, lead and lead compounds accounted for 54% and arsenic and arsenic compounds for
14%. Almost three-quarters (592 million pounds or 72%) were disposed of or otherwise released to
some form of on-site land disposal. Styrene air emissions were 45% of the total 105 million pounds
of air emissions of carcinogens.
All federal facilities are required to report to EPA's TRI Program. For 2006, a total of 306 federal
facilities submitted 1,015 forms and reported 106 million pounds of total on- and off-site disposal
or other releases.
How did the TRI data change over time?
From 2005 to 2006, total disposal or other releases on- and off-site decreased by 105 million pounds
or 2%. On-site disposal or other releases and off-site disposal or other releases both decreased by 2%.
From 2005 to 2006, total production-related waste managed, which focuses on waste management
practices rather than ultimate disposition of a chemical, decreased by 2%. From 2005 to 2006, the
quantity of production-related waste recycled increased by 2% (156 million pounds), the quantity
used for energy recovery increased by 4% (133 million pounds), while the quantity treated decreased
by 7% (642 million pounds) and the quantity disposed of or otherwise released decreased 1% (65
million pounds).
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Toxics Release Inventory, 2006
Figure 2:2006 TRI Total Disposal or Other Releases
425 billion pounds
All Others 10%
22.880
TRI facilities
reported 4.25 billion
pounds of on-and
off-site disposal
or other releases
for RY 2006
Food 47.
Hazardous Waste/
Solvent Recovery 57.
Paper 57.
Primary Metals 117.
Metal Mining 297.
Electric Utilities 247.
Chemicals 127.
Data are from TRI Form R, Section 5 (all parts) and 6.1
(metals and metal compounds only) and 6.2 (disposal codes
only and metals and metal compounds reported under
codes M40 and M61) as of February 2008.
TABLE 1: TRI ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES, 2006
ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
POUNDS
PERCENT
Air
Water
Underground Injection
Land
TOTAL ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
1,408,281,830
_^^H
242,951,617
219,785,762
1,854,526,427
3,725,545,636
33.1
5.7
5.2
43.6
87.7
OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
Underground Injection
Lan
POTWs and Wastewater Treatment
Other
16,551,995
361,308,179
5,000,334
0.4
140.459.086
3.3
TOTAL OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
523,319,595
12.3
TOTAL ON- AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
4.248.865.230
100.0
Note: Data are from TRI Form, Sections 5 (all parts) and 6.1 (metals and metal compounds only) and 6.2 (Disposal codes only and metals and metal compounds
reported under codes M40 and M61).Does not include transfers to disposal or other releases sent to otherTRI facilities that reported the amounts as on-site disposal
other releases. Data as of February 2008.
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These 22,880 facilities reported Ik billion pounds of TRI chemicals in total production-related
waste managed during 2006. As shown in Figure 3: Waste Management Hierarchy. Source
Reduction is the preferred approach to managing waste, followed by recycling. Waste that
cannot be prevented or recycled can be used for energy recovery or treated.
Figure 3: Total Production-Related Waste Managed, by Waste Management Hierarchy, 2006
Source Reduction
Recycling
8.84 billion pounds (36.3Z)
Energy Recovery
3.15 billion pounds (12.98
Treatment
7.97 billion pounds (32.71)
Disposal or
Other Releases
Data are from TRI Form R, Section 8, as of February 2008. Quantity disposed of or
otherwise released on- and off-site is different from total on- and off-site disposal or
other releases because the amounts in Table 1 do not include amounts sent off-site to
other TRI facilities that report that amount disposed of or otherwise released on-site.
Also, the amounts in Table 1 may include amounts reported as non-production-related
waste managed in thisTable.The numbers may also be different due to the differences in
reporting requirements for Section 5 and 6 and Section 8.
What do TRI data show over a longer period of time?
Figure 4: Total Production-related Waste Managed, 2001-2006
S. 15-
§ 10-
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000 «
2001 2002
I Recycled On- and Off-site
I Energy Recovery On- and Off-site
2003 2004
' i Treated On- and Off-site
2005
2006
Number of Facilities
I Disposed of or Otherwise Released On- and Off-site
Note: Data are fromTRI Form, Section 8, for year indicated. Data as of February 2008.This figure covers those years for which comparable data on all
currently listed TRI chemicals, including PBTs, are available. Tables encompassing a wider range of years include only those chemicals for which data
are comparable (i.e., the chemical must have been consistently reported for the entire time covered) and can be generated using TRI Explorer.
From 2001-2006, total production-related waste managed
decreased by 107. and the number of facilities reporting decreased by 111
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What other information is available on the Public Data Release?
EPA has also developed an electronic report (eReport) for the 2006 Public Data Release. This report offers
detailed information on the 2006 Public Data release and is available on the TRI Web site. The eReport
includes:
a summary of key findings which provides a detailed look at the 2006 data; and
additional tables and charts which provide a look at the top chemicals, industries, and facilities for 2006.
To access this report and other information on the TRI the TRI Program, please visit our Web site at:
www. epa. gov/tr i.
How can I access TRI data?
TRI Explorer: Its On-line! Its Easy! Its Your Right to Know!
TRI Explorer provides fast and easy access to the TRI data and can answer your questions about a chemical,
facility, geographic area, or industry sector. It also provides further details and breakdown on the type of
disposal or other releases reported. Find out what chemicals were released to the air by facilities in your state
in 2006, what facilities reported in your zip code, or what progress has been made in reducing TRI chemicals
since 1988. TRI Explorer provides customized reports on these and many other topics using the TRI data.
Users ofTRI data can also customize maps of states or counties within a state to their preferences. Each report
can be quickly and easily sorted by total disposal or other releases, by fugitive air emissions, by surface water
discharges, by disposal to RCRA Subtitle C landfills, etc. Electronic state fact sheets with 2006 data are also
available for each state.Visit the TRI Explorer home page to begin creating your own report on TRI data at
www. epa. gov/tr iexplorer.
Customize reports
research data
quickly and easily
from your own computer:
www.epa.gov/triexplorer
Rle _Edit View Favorites Tools JHelp
.HBack . J J J ^Se,,oh
5 1 http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer
.JMedi, J £. J J .
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Data Set
H Sefecf 2006 PDR data set (frozen on October 12,
2007 and released to the public March 12, 2008)
Report colums to include [J
H Total On-site Disposal or Other Releases
Details
H On-Site Disposal to Class I Wells, RCRA
Subtitle C Landfills, and Other On-Site Landfills
H Other On-Site Disposal or Other Releases
BJ Total Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
Details
H Off-Site Disposal to Underground Injection
Wells, RCRA Subtitle C Landfills, and Other Landfills
H Other Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
H Total On- and Off-Site Disposal or Other Releases
Where can I find contact information?
There are three other options for finding more detailed information:
You can find out more information about the TRI program by contacting the toll-free Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA) Call Center at 1-800-424-9346, or
You can seek assistance in accessing and using TRI data by contacting the TRI User Support Service
202-566-0250 or e-mailing your questions to tri.us@epa.gov, or
You can find your state or regional TRI coordinator by visiting EPA's TRI web site at www.epa.gov/tri.
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