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2006 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Public Data Release Brochure
EPA released the 2006 TRI Data on February 21st, 2008. This page provides an overview of the 2006 TRI data and relevant TRI information (including analysis, tables, charts, maps, etc). To fully understand the TRI data, we recommend that you read all of the materials.
An eight-page printable version of the brochure is available (PDF) (8 pp, 1.4MB, About PDF)
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
- What is the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)?
- What are the benefits of TRI data?
- What are the limitations of the TRI data?
- What should I know about the different types of disposal or other releases?
- What should I know about persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals?
- What do TRI data show for 2006?
- What other information is available on the Public Data Release?
- What do I access TRI data?
- Where can I find TRI data?
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 facilities manage through disposal or other releases, recycling, energy recovery or treatment (see Figure 1). The data are collected from industries including manufacturing, metal and coal mining, electric utilities, commercial 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 planning, to minimize the effects of potential toxic chemical 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, recycled, 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) |
Figure 1: Information Collected Under TRI
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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 disposal 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 Environmental Priorities, an element of the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), uses TRI data to identify facilities that may present pollution prevention opportunities. EPA also uses TRI data in the Risk Screening 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 further action. You can search for other EPA programs and tools that utilize TRI data by visiting EPA’s Web Site or from EPA’s publication How are the Toxics Release Inventory Data Used? (PDF). (76 pp, 791KB, About PDF)
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 considerations 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 remains 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 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Factors to Consider When Using TRI Data (PDF). (29 pp, 196KB, About PDF)
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 certain 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 beneath 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 monitoring 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 (PDF) (29 pp, 196KB, About PDF) 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.
What do TRI data show for 2006?
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 1. Almost 88 percent of the total was disposed of or otherwise released on-site; 12 percent was sent off-site for disposal. Metal mining facilities reported 29 percent and electric utilities reported 24 percent of the total in 2006, as shown in Figure 2.
Persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals accounted for 455 million pounds or 11 percent of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total, lead and lead compounds accounted for 98 percent 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 percent of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total for carcinogens, lead and lead compounds accounted for 54 percent and arsenic and arsenic compounds for 14 percent. Almost three-quarters (592 million pounds or 72 percent) were disposed of or otherwise released to some form of on-site land disposal. Styrene air emissions were 45 percent 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 percent. On-site disposal or other releases and off-site disposal or other releases both decreased by 2 percent.
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 percent. From 2005 to 2006, the quantity of production-related waste recycled increased by 2 percent (156 million pounds), the quantity used for energy recovery increased by 4 percent (133 million pounds), while the quantity treated decreased by 7 percent (642 million pounds) and the quantity disposed of or otherwise released decreased 1 percent (65 million pounds).
Disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals decreased by 5 percent in from 2005 to 2006. However, while air releases of mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 4 percent, total disposal or other releases of mercury and its compounds increased by 17 percent from 2005 to 2006. Total disposal or other releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds increased by 52 percent.
Disposal or other releases of carcinogens decreased by 11 percent (104 million pounds) from 2005 to 2006, including a decrease of 39 percent (72 million pounds) in arsenic and arsenic compounds and a decrease of 5 percent (25 million pounds) in lead and lead compounds. Air releases of carcinogens decreased by 7 percent (7 million pounds).
Federal facilities showed an overall decrease in disposal or other releases of almost 624,000 pounds or 1 percent from 2005 to 2006. Total production-related waste managed at federal facilities increased by 15 million pounds or 6 percent.
Overall, from 2001 to 2006, total production-related waste managed decreased by 10 percent, 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 percent based on chemicals that have been consistently reported since 1988.
Toxics Release Inventory, 2006
22,880 TRI facilities reported 4.25 billion pounds of on- and off-site disposal or other releases for 2006
| On-site Disposal or Other Releases | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pounds | Percent | |
Air |
1,408,281,831 | 33.1% |
Water |
242,951,617 | 5.7% |
Underground Injection |
219,785,762 | 5.2% |
Land |
1,854,526,427 | 43.6% |
| Total Onsite Disposal or Other Releases | 3,725,545,636 | 87.7% |
| Off-site Disposal or Other Releases | ||
| Pounds | Percent | |
Underground Injection |
16,551,995 | 0.4% |
Land |
361,308,179 | 8.5% |
POTWs and Waste Treatment |
5,000,334 | 0.1% |
Other |
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% |
| 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 other TRI facilities that reported the amounts as on-site disposal or other releases. Data as of February 2008. | ||
These 22,880 facilities reported 24 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.
What do TRI data show over a longer period of time?
From 2001-2006, total production-related waste managed decreased by 10 percent and the number of facilities reporting decreased by 11 percent
What other information is available on the Public Data Release?
EPA has developed Key Findings for the 2006 Public Data Release. Key Findings offers
detailed information on the 2006 Public Data release and is available on the TRI Web site. In addition EPA provides links to extensive data tables and charts which provide a look at the top chemicals, industries, and facilities for 2006.
How can I access TRI data?
TRI Explorer: It’s On-line! It’s Easy! It’s 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 of TRI 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/triexplorer.
Customize reports, research data quickly and easily from your own computer: www.epa.gov/triexplorer
Where can I find Information?
There are two 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 find your state or regional TRI coordinator.