TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Releases of Chemicals
Disposal or other releases of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals into the environment
occur in several ways. Chemicals may be disposed of at a facility or be released to the air,
water, or land. Facilities may also ship waste containing chemicals to an off-site location for
disposal.
Evaluating releases of TRI chemicals can help identify potential concerns and gain a better
understanding of potential risks that may be posed by the releases. This evaluation can also
help identify priorities and opportunities for government and communities to work with
industry to reduce toxic chemical releases and potential associated risks.
Many factors can affect trends in releases at facilities,
including production rates, management practices, the
composition of raw materials, and the installation of control
technologies. Note that most disposal or other release
practices are subject to a variety of regulatory requirements
designed to limit environmental harm. To learn more about
what EPA is doing to help limit the release of harmful
chemicals to the environment, see EPA's laws and
regulations webpage.
&EPA
What is a release?
In TRI, a "release" of a
chemical generally refers
to a chemical that is
emitted to the air,
discharged to water, or
placed in some type of
land disDosal unit.
Trend in total releases
Disposal or Other Releases, 2003-2014
5,000
4,000
a. 3,000
2,000
1,000
20 t
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
On-site Air Releases
I On-site Land Disposal
¦Reporting Facilities
i On-site Surface Water Discharges
i Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
30
o
10 f
1
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
From 2003 to 2014:
Total disposal or other releases of TRI chemicals decreased in the long term by 13%.
The long-term decrease is driven mainly by declining air releases, down 870 million
pounds (55%) since 2003. The decrease is driven by electric utilities due to a shift from
coal to other fuel sources and the installation of control technologies at coal-fired power
plants, which has led to decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, such
as hydrochloric acid.
Air emissions have also accounted for a declining share of the total releases (down from
36% in 2003 to 19% in 2014) while the portion of releases that are disposed on land
has increased (up from 48% in 2003 to 65% in 2014).
The number of facilities reporting to the TRI Program declined by 12% overall, although
the count has remained steady at about 21,800 facilities since 2010.
From 2013 to 2014:
Total releases decreased by 6% due primarily to decreases in on-site land disposal by the
metal mining sector.
Land Disposal
Land disposal trend
On-site Land Disposal, 2003-2014
3,000
2,000
CL
*6
I
I
H
llllll
mi
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
i Other Land Disposal ¦ Surface Impoundment ¦ Land Treatment ¦Landfills ¦ Underground Injection
From 2003 to 2014:
2
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
On-site land disposal increased from 2.1 to 2.5 billion pounds, an 18% increase.
Recent fluctuations are primarily due to changes in waste quantities reported to EPA's TRI
Program as "other land disposal," which can include chemical waste disposed of in waste
piles and spills or leaks.
"Other land disposal" increased by 98%, while all other types of on-site land disposal
decreased. Most of the toxic chemical waste reported as other land disposal is contained
in waste rock at metal mines.
Land disposal trends are largely driven by the metal mining sector, which accounted for
70% of land disposal quantities. For this reason, the next figure presents on-site land
disposal excluding metal mining.
Metal mining facilities typically handle large volumes of material. In this sector, even small
changes in the chemical composition of mineral deposits being mined can lead to big
changes in the amount of toxic chemicals reported nationally. In recent years mines have
cited changes in production of waste rock, changes in the composition of waste rock, and
the closure of a heap leach pad as the primary reasons for the reported variability in land
disposal of TRI chemicals. Changes in waste rock composition can have an especially
pronounced effect on TRI reporting because of a regulatory exemption that applies based on
a chemical's concentration in the rock, regardless of total chemical quantities generated.
Federal and state agencies require that waste rock be placed in engineered structures that
contain contaminants. Federal and state land management agencies also require that waste
rock and tailings piles and heap leach pads be stabilized and re-vegetated to provide for
productive post-mining land use.
For more information on waste management by the mining industry, see the Metal
Mining section.
In 2014:
3
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
On-site Land Disposal Excluding Metal Mines, 2003-2014
1,000
CL
*6
750
500
250
llllll.|||ii
1111111111 i I
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
i Other Land Disposal ¦ Surface Impoundment ¦ Land Treatment ¦Landfills ¦ Underground Injection
From 2003 to 2014:
Total on-site land disposal for all industries other than metal mining decreased by 16%.
Disposal to landfills, which accounts for the greatest percentage of land disposal when
metal mining is excluded, decreased by 22%.
While releases to land have decreased in other sectors, releases by metal mining drive
overall land disposal trends. See the following section, Land Disposal bv Sector, for more
information.
4
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Land disposal by sector
On-site Land Disposal by Sector, 2014
2.53 billion pounds
Electric Utilities:
11%
Metal Mining:
70%
Chemicals: 10%
Primary Metals:
4%
Hazardous Waste
Management: 3%
All Others: 2%
The metal mining sector accounted for the majority of releases to land in 2014, mostly
due to chemicals contained in waste rock.
The contribution by sector to the quantities of TRI chemicals disposed of on-site to
land has not changed considerably in recent years.
5
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Air Releases
Air releases trend
On-site Air Releases, 2003-2014
Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions
2,000
1,500
o
a.
O 1,000
500
Mini
i i i i i i i i i i i
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
From 2003 to 2014:
Air releases declined significantly, serving as a primary driver of decreases in total
releases.
Air releases decreased by 870 million pounds (55%). The decrease is driven by electric
utilities due to a shift from coal to other fuel sources and the installation of control
technologies at coal-fired power plants, which has led to decreases in hazardous air
pollutants (HAP) emissions, such as hydrochloric acid, at electric utilities.
Air releases of OSHA carcinogens also decreased; see the Air Releases of OSHA
Carcinogens figure.
Air releases of other chemicals of special concern, including lead and mercury, also
decreased; see the Chemicals of Special Concern section.
In 2014:
Ammonia, followed by hydrochloric acid, accounted for the greatest quantities of air
releases of TRI chemicals.
6
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Air releases by sector
Air Releases by Sector, 2014
738.23 million pounds
Electric Utilities:.
25%
Chemicals:
21%
Plastics and
Rubber
5%
Paper:
Primary Metals:
5%
All Others:
14%
Food/Beverages/Tobacco
6%
L Petroleum:
5%
Electric utilities, chemicals, and paper accounted for the greatest releases to air in 2014.
Together, these three industries contributed almost two-thirds of total air releases.
Air releases in these three sectors have decreased since 2013:
o Chemicals: 22 million pounds (-12%)
o Electric utilities: 15.9 million pounds (-8%).
o Paper: 2 million pounds (-1%)
7
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Water Releases
Water releases trend
On-site Surface Water Discharges, 2003-2014
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
Facilities are required to report the quantities of TRI chemicals they release to receiving
streams or other water bodies.
From 2003 to 2014:
Surface water discharges decreased by 16 million pounds (7%). Most of this decline is
due to nitrate compounds, which decreased by 11 million pounds (5%).
Nitrate compounds are often formed during wastewater treatment processes such as
when nitric acid is neutralized, and is the type of TRI chemical most commonly released to
water.
Surface water discharges of other TRI chemicals, many of which are more toxic than
nitrate compounds, have been decreasing at a faster rate. Releases to water are
discussed further in the next few figures starting with water releases bv chemical.
In 2014:
Nitrate compounds accounted for 89% of all surface water discharges.
&EPA
8
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Water releases by chemical
Water Releases by Chemical, 2014
Nitrate
Compounds
89%
Other:
11%
19%
26%
All Others
Ammonia
iSodium Nitrate
Zinc and Zinc Compounds
Manganese and Manage se Compounds
Methanol
Barium and BariumCompounds
Nitrate compounds accounted for 89% of all water releases in 2014. Nitrate compounds
are soluble in water and commonly formed as part of the wastewater treatment process.
Manganese and its compounds, ammonia and methanol are the next most commonly
released TRI chemicals and, combined, account for 7% of all quantities of TRI chemicals
released to water.
9
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Chemicals with greatest decreases in water releases
Chemicals with Largest Percentage Decreases in Surface Water
Discharges, 2003-2014
O
on
ro
+¦»
c
V
u
5
Q.
Arsenic and Arsenic
Compounds
Nickel and Nickel
Compounds
Zinc and Zinc
Compounds
Vanadium and
Vanadium
Compounds
Methanol
0%
-20%
-40%
-60%
-80%
Note: Limited to chemicals with releases to water of at least 100,000 pounds in 2003 and at least 100 current
forms with discharges to water.
From 2003 to 2014:
Nitrate compounds discharges decreased by the greatest quantity, decreasing by 11
million pounds (-5%).
In 2014:
The chemicals with the largest percentage decreases in surface discharges were:
o Methanol, which is used as a solvent, chemical feedstock, and for other purposes, is
discharged primarily by paper manufacturing facilities;
o Arsenic, nickel, and zinc, and their associated compounds, are metals and are
primarily discharged to surface water by electric utilities facilities; and
o Vanadium and its associated compounds are primarily discharged by metal mining and
chemical manufacturing facilities.
10
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Water releases by sector
Water Releases by Sector, 2014
215.55 million pounds
Chemicals: 15%
Primary Metals:
17%
Electric Utilities: 2%
Stone/Clay/Glass:
2%
All Others: 8%
Petroleum: 13%
Food/Beverages/Tobacco:
33%
The food, beverages, and tobacco sector accounted for approximately one-third of the
quantities of TRI chemicals released to water in 2014, which is similar to their
contribution over the past 10 years.
Nitrate compounds alone accounted for 98% of the quantities of releases of TRI
chemicals to water from the food, beverages, and tobacco sector.
&EPA
ii
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
Off-site disposal or other releases, by state receiving transfer, 2014
I
Legend
* * Basemap ~
Q, Find address or pi
CANADA
T/HrfsTw
A
t \
if
* % tkihmtla *1
> \
\ **
(1 of 4)
Transfers for Disposal to Kansas: 3.06
million lb
Top Sources:
1: Kansas
2: Missouri
3: Texas
4: Nebraska
5: Louisiana
Top Chemicals:
MEXIC Zoom to
_.j" ^ ->.i; , a.
" Caribbean Sen
i'
Esri, DeLorme, FAO, NOAA, EPA *J.
Note: The transfers shown do not include transfers to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) and, thus,
reflect only a portion of total TRI transfers.
TRI facilities report the quantities of chemicals that they transfer off-site for disposal or
further waste management. The levels of shading on the map indicate increasing ranges of
chemical quantities transferred, as described in the map legend.
In 2014:
Nationally, 84% of TRI transfers were of metals and metal compounds.
Metals transferred: zinc, manganese, barium, chromium, and lead and their compounds
were the top five in terms of quantities transferred.
Non-metals transferred: nitrate compounds, methanol, ammonia, asbestos,
and ethylene glycol were the top five in terms of quantities.
12
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Top States Ranked by Receiving Transfers of TRI Chemicals in 2014
State Ranking
Total Transfers
Metal Transfers
Non-Metal Transfers
1
Indiana
Indiana
Texas
2
Illinois
Illinois
Ohio
3
Michigan
Michigan
Louisiana
4
Texas
Pennsylvania
Indiana
5
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Five states received 48% of the total quantity of TRI chemicals transferred off-site for
disposal or other releases.
45 of the 50 U.S. states were their own largest sources of transfers for disposal; that is,
facilities sent chemical waste for disposal to other sites within their state borders.
A large number of transfers were from neighboring states (states with directly adjoining
borders). Overall, 92% of TRI chemical transfers for disposal came from either within a
state or from neighboring states.
&EPA
13
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Releases by Industry
Releases trend by sector
Total Disposal or Other Releases by Sector, 2003-2014
5,000
3,750
o
^ 2,500
S 1,250 -
Illlll
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
i All Others
I Hazardous Waste Management
i Primary Metals
Electric Utilities
i Food/Beverages/Tobacco
Paper
Chemicals
i Metal Mining
From 2003 to 2014:
Total releases from all sectors decreased by 576 million pounds.
Since 2010, on-site releases to land by metal mining facilities have fluctuated
significantly. Metal mines have cited changes in production and changes in the
composition of waste rock as the primary reasons for this variability.
From 2013 to 2014:
Decreases in the past year are driven by three sectors:
o Metal mining decreased by 195 million pounds (-10%)
o Chemical manufacturing decreased by 29 million pounds (-5%)
o Electric utilities decreased by 18 million pounds (-3%)
The industry sectors whose facilities report to the TRI Program vary substantially in size,
scope, and business type. As a result, the amounts and types of toxic chemicals generated
and managed among industry sectors differ greatly. Within an industrial sector, however, the
processes, products, and regulatory requirements can be similar, resulting in similar toxic
chemical use, manufacture, and waste generation by facilities therein. Looking at waste
management trends within a sector can illuminate emerging issues and reveal opportunities
14
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
for better waste management practices. A more detailed analysis of releases and waste
management by sector can be found in the industry sector profiles.
Release and value added trends for manufacturing
Total Disposal or Other Releases and Value
Added for Manufacturing Sectors, 2003-2014
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
I TRI Disposal or Other Releases
-Valued Added
It is also important to consider the influence that production and the economy have on the
manufacture, processing, and use of TRI chemicals and the associated waste management
quantities facilities report to the TRI Program. This figure presents the trend in total disposal
or other releases by the manufacturing sectors and the trend in the manufacturing sectors'
value added (as shown by the solid line). This figure illustrates how changes in the
production at facilities may influence the quantities of toxic chemicals these facilities
release to the environment. "Value added" is obtained from the Bureau of Economic
Analysis is used as a proxy for production levels in the manufacturing sectors. Value added
measures the contribution of manufacturing to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
which represents the total value of goods and services produced annually in the United
States. The manufacturing sectors include most facilities (88% in 2014), including chemical
manufacturers, metals processing, and pulp and paper manufacturing. Excluded facilities
include mines, electric utilities, and waste management facilities.
From 2003 to 2014, total disposal or other releases by the manufacturing sectors
decreased by 26%, while value added by the manufacturing sectors (adjusted for inflation)
decreased by only 4%. This suggests that other factors besides production may be
contributing to declining releases. Possible other factors include installation of new pollution
control measures and the implementation of source reduction activities. Given that the
number of facilities reporting to the TRI Program has declined since 2003, it is also possible
15
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
that outsourcing of manufacturing activities overseas has contributed to the overall
decrease in total disposal and other releases.
More information on production trends for individual sectors, including additional non-
manufacturing sectors, can be found in the industry sector profiles.
&EPA
16
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Chemicals of Special Concern
In this chapter, we take a closer look at some TRI chemicals that are of special concern: 1)
persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals; and 2) known or suspected human
carcinogens.
Chemicals designated as PBTs are not only toxic, but also remain in the environment for a
long time where they tend to build up (bioaccumulate) in the tissue of organisms throughout
the food web. These organisms serve as food sources for other organisms that are sensitive
to the toxicities the chemicals cause.
Reporting requirements for TRI's 16 PBT chemicals and 4 chemical categories are more
stringent than for other TRI chemicals. See TRI's PBT weboage for the full list of PBTs.
Use these links or the dropdown menu above to find out more about specific
PBTs: lead and lead compounds: mercury and mercury compounds: and dioxin and dioxin-
like compounds.
There are also about 180 chemicals included on the TRI chemical list that are known or
suspected human carcinogens, which EPA refers to as Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OSHA) carcinogens. These chemicals also have different reporting
requirements. A full list of these chemicals can be found on the TRI basis of OSHA
carcinogens weboage. Select a graphic from the dropdown menu above to see how the
volume of OSHA carcinogens released to air have changed over time.
17
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Lead releases trend
Total Disposal or Releases of Lead
and Lead Compounds, 2003-2014
1,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
From 2003 to 2014:
Total releases of lead and lead compounds rose and fell between 2003 and 2014,
with an overall increase of 72%.
Total releases especially fluctuated between 2010 and 2013. The metal mining sector
accounts for most of the disposal of lead and lead compounds, driving the overall
trend. For example, metal mines reported 91% of total lead releases in 2014.
From 2013 to 2014:
Total releases of lead and lead compounds decreased by 11% (92 million pounds).
The next figure shows disposal or other releases of lead and lead compounds excluding
metal mining.
18
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Lead releases trend, excluding metal mining
-o
C
3
O
o.
"S
uO
c
o
Disposal or Other Releases of Lead and Lead
Compounds, Excluding Metal Mining, 2003-2014
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
From 2003 to 2014:
Metal mining accounts for the majority of releases of lead and lead compounds.
Other sectors decreased releases of lead by 25 million pounds (30%). The primary
metal, hazardous waste, and electric utilities sectors have driven these declines.
Lead air releases
O
Q-
O
E
1,500
1,250
1,000
750
500
250
On-site Air Releases of Lead
and Lead Compounds, 2003-2014
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
19
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
From 2003 to 2014:
Air releases of lead and lead compounds decreased by 65%. Electric utilities and
metal mines have driven this decrease.
The sector with the greatest quantity of emissions of lead and lead compounds to air
is the primary metals sector, which includes iron and steel manufacturers and
smelting operations.
From 2013 to 2014:
Air releases of lead and lead compounds decreased by 45% due to a large decrease
in air releases at a lead smelter.
Air releases of mercury and mercury compounds
o
a.
3
o
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
On-site Air Releases of Mercury
and Mercury Compounds, 2003-2014
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
From 2003 to 2014:
Releases of mercury and mercury compounds to air decreased by 45%.
Electric utilities are also driving the decline in mercury air emissions, with a 51%
reduction. Reasons for this include a shift from coal combustion to combustion of
other fuel sources and installation of control technologies at coal-fired power plants.
In 2014:
Electric utilities, which include coal- and oil-fired power plants, accounted for 57% of
the emissions of mercury and mercury compounds to air reported to the TRI
Program.
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Dioxin releases trend
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (dioxins) are PBTs characterized by EPA as probable
human carcinogens. Dioxins are the unintentional byproducts of combustion and several
industrial chemical processes. EPA requires facilities to report up to 17 types of dioxin (or
congeners). Congener information was first collected in 2010.
While as a chemical class dioxin congeners cause the same toxic effects, they differ widely
in their potencies in causing these effects. The mix of dioxins from one source can have a
very different level of toxicity than the same total amount, but different mix, from another
source. These varying potencies can be taken into account using Toxic Equivalency Factors
(TEFs), which are based on each congener's toxic potency. EPA multiplies the total grams of
each congener reported by facilities by the associated TEF to obtain a toxicity weight, and
sums all congeners for a total of grams in toxicity equivalents (grams-TEQ). Analyzing dioxins
in grams-TEQ is useful when comparing disposal or other release quantities of dioxin from
different sources or different time periods, where the mix of congeners may vary.
&EPA
Total Disposal or Other Releases, Dioxin
and Dioxin-like Compounds, 2003-2014
160,000
120,000
ra 80,000
40,000 -
I
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
2,000
1,500
1,000 £
ro
k
- 500
On-site Air Releases
i On-site Land Disposal
-Total TEQ
i On-site Surface Water Discharges
i Total Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
From 2003 to 2014:
Releases of dioxins decreased by 35%.
21
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&EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Since 2010, grams-TEQ increased by 264%, while dioxin grams released increased
by 118%.
o This suggests that releases of the more toxic congeners have increased at a faster
rate than releases of dioxins overall, causing grams-TEQ of dioxins to increase at a
higher rate than overall grams.
From 2003 to 2014:
Releases of dioxins increased 14%, largely due to an increase in dioxins reported
by one smelting facility.
In 2014, most (68%) of the quantity released was disposed of off-site.
22
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Dioxin releases by sector
Releases of Dioxin arid Dioxin-Iike Compounds
by Sector, 2014
88,243 Grams
All Others:
1%_
Hazardous Waste
Management:
3%
Primary Metals;
43%
.Chemicals:
52%
1,996 Grams-TEQ
All Others:
Paper:
Chemicals:
5%_
Hazardous Waste
Management:
1%
Primary Metals:
91%
This figure shows the releases of dioxins in grams and grams-TEQ. EPA multiplies the
total grams of each congener (i.e., each type of dioxin) reported by its associated Toxic
Equivalency Factor to obtain a toxicity weight, and sums all of the congeners for a total in
grams-TEQ. Analyzing dioxins in grams-TEQ is useful when comparing disposal or other
23
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
release quantities of dioxin where the mix of the congeners may vary. Various industry
sectors may dispose of or otherwise release very different mixes of dioxin congeners.
In 2014, four industry sectors accounted for most of the grams and grams-TEQ of dioxins
released.
The chemical manufacturing industry accounted for 52% and the primary metals sector
for 43% of the total grams of dioxins released.
However, when TEFs are applied, the primary metals sector accounted for 91% and the
chemical manufacturing sector for just 5% of the total grams-TEQ released.
OSHA carcinogens air releases trend
Air Releases of OSHA Carcinogens, 2003-2014
150
125
o
a.
*6
irt
C
o
100
75 -
50
25 -
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
Among the chemicals that are reportable to the TRI Program, there are about 180 known or
suspected carcinogens, which EPA refers to as OSHA carcinogens.
From 2003 to 2014:
Air releases of these carcinogens decreased by 48%.
The long-term decreases in air releases of OSHA carcinogens were driven mainly by
decreases in emissions of stvrene from the plastics and rubber and transportation
equipment industries.
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Hazard and Risk of TRI Chemicals
Among other information, TRI provides data about environmental releases of toxic chemicals
from industrial facilities throughout the United States, measured in pounds. Pounds of
releases, however, is not an indicator of any health risks posed by the chemicals. Although
TRI data generally cannot indicate to what extent individuals have been exposed to toxic
chemicals, TRI can be used as a starting point to evaluate exposure and the potential risks
TRI chemicals pose to human health and the environment.
The human health risks resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals are determined by many
factors, as shown in the figure below. TRI contains some of this information, including what
chemicals are released from industrial facilities; the amount of each chemical released; and
the amounts released to air, water, and land.
Overview of Factors That Influence Risk
1 1
¦ TRI Air
Non-TRI Water
Land
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Chemical
Gonoentration
Chemical
Properties
Individual Exposed
Timing of Exposure
Du ration of Exposu re
It is important to keep in mind that while TRI often includes information on a large portion of
the toxic chemicals used by industry, it does not
cover all facilities, all toxic chemicals, or all sources
of TRI chemicals in communities. For example,
potential sources of chemical exposure that are not
covered by TRI include exhaust from cars and
trucks, chemicals in consumer products, and
chemical residues in food and water.
To provide information on the potential hazard and
risk posed by disposal or other releases of TRI
chemicals, the TRI Program uses EPA's publicly
available Risk-Screenina Environmental Indicators
(RSEI) model, a screening-level model that uses
simplifying assumptions to fiil data gaps and reduce
the complexity of calculations in order to quickly
evaluate large amounts of data. RSEI includes TRI data for on-site releases to air and water,
transfers to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), and transfers for off-site incineration.
RSEI does not currently model other release pathways, such as land disposal.
&EPA
Helpful Concepts
The hazard of a toxic chemical is
its ability to cause an increased
incidence of adverse health effects
(e.g., cancer, birth defects). Toxicity
is a way to measure the hazard of
a chemical.
The risk of a toxic chemical is the
chance of adverse health effects
occurring as a result of exposure to
the chemical. Risk is a function of
hazard and exposure.
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
RSEI produces hazard estimates and unitless risk
"scores," which represent relative chronic human
health risk. Each type of result can be compared to
other results of the same type.
RSEI hazard estimates consist of the pounds
released multiplied by the chemical's toxicity
weight. They do not include any exposure
modeling or population estimates.
RSEI risk scores are estimated of potential human
risk based on pathway-specific modeling of
chemical concentrations at specific points in the
environment, like in the air around a facility or in
the water downstream from a facility.
Note that the RSEI model should be used for
screening-level activities such as trend analyses that
compare relative risk from year to year, or ranking
and prioritization of chemicals or industry sectors for
strategic planning. RSEI does not provide a formal risk assessment, which typically requires
site-specific information, more refined exposure information, and detailed population
distributions.
&EPA
RSEI: Risk-Screening
Environmental Indicators
RSEI results consider more than
just chemical quantities released.
RSEI hazard results also
consider:
o Toxicity of the chemical
RSEI scores also consider:
o Location of releases
o Toxicity of the chemical
o Fate and transport
o Human exposure pathways
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Top chemicals released§ in 2014, ranked in order by...
Pounds released
RSEI Hazard
(toxicity* pounds)
RSEI Score
(estimated dose*toxicity*exposed population)
1. Nitrate compounds 1. Diaminotoluene (mixed isomers) 1. Chromium and compounds
2. Methanol
2. Chromium and compounds
2. Cobalt and compounds
3. Ammonia
3. Hydrazine
3. Nickel and compounds
4. Hydrochloric acid 4. Polycyclic aromatic compounds 4. Polycyclic aromatic compounds
5. Sulfuric acid
5. Arsenic and compounds
5. Arsenic and compounds
Why are the rankings different?
The top five chemicals by pounds are released in large amounts and are comparatively less toxic than the
top chemicals by hazard or score. None of them are known carcinogens - cancer effects usually drive RSEI
hazard and RSEI scores.
The top five chemicals by RSEI hazard have very high toxicity weights and all of them are carcinogens. The
rank for diaminotoluene (mixed isomers) is driven by large transfers to incineration.
For a chemical to have a high RSEI score, it must be either very toxic, have a large number of people
potentially exposed, or have potential for very high exposures (or some combination).
Diaminotoluene is the top chemical by RSEI hazard, but it is not in the top five by RSEI score because
almost all of the diaminotoluene transferred to incineration is destroyed during the incineration process,
resulting in little human exposure.
§This includes chemicals released on-site to air and water by TRI facilities, or transferred and released off-site to air and
water by POTWs and incinerators.
Note: RSEI is commonly used to quickly screen and highlight situations that may potentially lead to chronic human health
risks. More information about the model can be accessed at the RSEI webpage.
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*>EPA
TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Hazard trend
to
C
o
RSEI Hazard and Corresponding Releases, 2003-2014
60 r 2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
Air Releases
i Direct Water Releases
i Off-site Incineration
-Total Pounds Released
Transfers to POTWs
o
3
V)
a
"O
o
c
RSEI hazard estimates consider the amounts of chemicals released on-site to air and water
by TRI facilities, or transferred off-site to POTWs or incinerators, and the toxicity of the
chemicals.
From 2003 to 2014:
The increase in the hazard estimate from 2004 to 2007 is driven mainly by an increase
in off-site transfers of diaminotoluene for incineration and increased chromium releases
to air.
The overall RSEI hazard estimate increased by 7%, while corresponding pounds released
decreased by 40%. This suggests that in recent years TRI reporters may be releasing
chemicals that have relatively higher toxicities.
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Risk trend
RSEI Score and Corresponding Releases, 2003-2014
1,600
2.5
1,400
2.0
1,200
1,000
1.5
800
1.0
600
400
0.5
200
0.0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Air Releases Off-site Incineration Transfers to POTWs
Direct Water Releases 9 Total Pounds Released
RSEI risk "scores" represent relative chronic human health risk and can be compared to
RSEI-generated scores from other years. RSEI scores are different from RSEI hazard
estimates because they also consider the location of the release, its fate and transport
through the environment, and the route and extent of potential human exposure.
From 2003 to 2014:
The RSEI score decreased by 60%, while the corresponding pounds released over the
same time period decreased by 40%. These results suggest that the RSEI score is going
down because of reduced exposure modeled in RSEI, which may be a result of where the
chemical waste is released or how it is being released, such as a shift in the release
media. Taking into account the RSEI hazard trend, the results are not due to reduced
toxicity.
The large fluctuation in RSEI score between 2004 and 2009 was driven by a large
increase and subsequent decrease in chromium releases from three facilities.
&EPA
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TRI National Analysis 2014: Releases of Chemicals
www.epa.gov/trinationalanalvsis
Updated January 2016
Non-Production-Related Waste
Non-production-related waste refers to quantities of TRI chemicals disposed of or released,
or transferred off-site, as the result of one-time events, rather than due to standard
production activities. These events may include remedial actions, such as decommissioning
a heap leach pad, catastrophic events, or other one-time events not associated with normal
production processes. Non-production-related waste is included in a facility's total disposal
or other releases, but not as part of its production-related waste managed, which may
account for discrepancies between the two figures.
Non-Production-Related Waste, 2003-2014
240 -t
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
Non-production-related waste from all facilities was below 35 million pounds in all years
but 2013.
o In 2013, a mining facility reported a one-time only release of 193 million pounds due
to decommissioning a heap leach pad. The facility reported zero releases in 2014.
In 2014, TRI facilities reported 15 million pounds of one-time releases:
o 26% (3.7 million pounds) was reported from the federal cleanup of an old nuclear
weapons production site. 98% of which was lead.
o Other quantities reported included 633,365 pounds of nitric acid from a chemical
manufacturing facility.
&EPA
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