Toxic Releases Down 2% In Earliest Ever TRI Data Release

Feb 21: U.S. EPA releases the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) information database for the 2006 reporting year earlier than ever before in the 20-year history of the program. Improvements in electronic reporting and data processing have made the early release possible. Nationwide, EPA said chemical releases into the environment are down by two percent from 2005. EPA’s Chief Information Officer, Molly O’Neill said, “Citizens have information about hundreds of chemicals at their finger tips and, we’re getting that information to them faster than ever with improvements made in electronic reporting, data processing, and analysis. Making the public aware of this inventory of releases is a powerful tool for reducing pollution. From 2001 to 2006 we have seen a 24 percent decrease in total releases.”

The TRI is an on-line electronic database that includes information about chemical releases at facilities across the country. TRI tracks and contains detailed information on releases of nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories from about 23,000 industrial and federal facilities. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 established the TRI program following the tragic 1984 incident where a deadly cloud of methyl isocyanate that killed thousands of people in Bhopal, India. In 1990, The Pollution Prevention Act expanded the program by including data on toxic chemicals released, as well as treated, recycled, and burned for energy recovery.

In summary 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.

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.

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.

Access an overview release (click here). Access links to extensive information on the TRI 2006 report (click here). Access the TRI Explorer on-line tool that generates reports based on facilities, chemicals, geographic areas, or industry type at the county, state, and national level (click here). [*Toxics]