Name:
Date:
Exploring Your Backyard Using the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI): Part 1
Directions:
1.	Go to https://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/.
2.	Select the Fact Sheet search option from
the set of horizontal tabs.
3.	Choose your state from the map or from
the list of options under the Topic of
Interest menu.
4.	Hit submit to generate your community
factsheet. Use the information provided
to fill out the chart below.
Key Words
TRI facility - an industrial facility required
to report to TRI because it is in a covered
industry sector and exceeds the established
employee and chemical thresholds.
Production-related waste - a release of
toxic chemicals from an industrial facility
into the air, water, or land as a result of the
production process.
State:

Number of TRI facilities:

Total production-related waste managed (in
pounds):

Most common on-site release method (air,
water, or land):

Your state's national ranking based on total
releases per square mile:

Consider the following questions:
1. How does your state compare to the rest of the country? Did this surprise you?
2. Scroll to find the chart titled "Total On-site Releases by Environmental Medium."
Do releases in your state seem to be increasing or decreasing over time?
3. Look at the map displaying the location of TRI facilities in your state. Are they
spread out throughout the state or clustered in one area? Why might that be?
4. What was most surprising about the information you found?

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Exploring Your Backyard Using the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI): Part 2
Directions:
1.	Return to the TRI Explorer main menu
https://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/.
2.	This time, you will generate a chemical report. Click on the
horizontal tab titled Release Reports and then select Chemical
from the list of options that appear below the tabs.
3.	Identify two chemicals that can be found in the zip code or
county of your home or school. Fill out the chart below.
Your zip code or county name:	

Chemical #1
Chemical #2
Name of chemical:


Name of facility producing this chemical:


Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting
Year:


How much of this chemical was released
in pounds/year? (total release)


How much of this chemical was released
into the air in pounds/year?


How much of this chemical was released
into the land in pounds/year?


How much of this chemical was released
into the water in pounds/year?

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Exploring Your Backyard Using the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI): Part 3
Directions:
1.	Go to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's website ToxFAQs at
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp.
2.	Choose ONE of the chemicals from part 2 of this exercise and find it in the
registry.
3.	Create your own Chemical Report by answering the questions below.
Name of chemical:
Methods of exposure for
humans (inhalation,
ingestion, skin contact, etc.):

Potential health effects:

Is the chemical known to
cause cancer? Explain and
be sure to distinguish
between suspect and known.

What consumer products
and/or industries is this
chemical frequently found
in?

What federal laws,
regulations, or
recommendations currently
exist regarding this
chemical?

BONUS ACTIVITY: Choose a product your classroom or home that has chemicals listed in
its ingredients (cleaning products are generally a good place to start). Choose one of the
chemical ingredients and make another chemical report just like this one using the
ToxFAQ's website.

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