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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program

2008 TRI National Analysis

EPA released the 2008 TRI Data on December 8, 2009. This Web page provides an overview of the 2008 TRI data and relevant TRI information (including analyses, tables, charts, maps, etc.) To fully understand the TRI data, we recommend that you read all of the materials.

What is the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and what do the data show for 2008?

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a database containing detailed information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories that approximately 22,000 industrial and federal facilities manage through disposal or other releases, or recycling, energy recovery, or treatment. This inventory was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.

For 2008, 21,695 facilities, including federal facilities, reported to the TRI Program. They reported 3.86 billion pounds of on-site and off-site disposal or other releases of the TRI chemicals, a 6% decrease from 2007. Over 87% of the total was disposed of or otherwise released on-site; 12% was sent off-site for disposal. Metal mining facilities accounted for 30% of the total in 2008, while electric utilities accounted for 23%. Total releases of persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBT's) decreased by 2%.

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What materials are available?

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How can I obtain a data set for my state?

The 2008 TRI data are provided in four ways:

  1. Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds Toxic Equivalency Data : Six data files are being made available to represent the reporting year 2008 TRI Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compound TEQ and individually reported mass quantity data.
  1. Basic Data : Single downloadable files containing approximately 100 of the most commonly requested data fields.
  1. Basic Plus Data : Sets of seven downloadable files containing (in aggregate) all data submitted to EPA by facilities.
  1. State Fact Sheets : Accessible in TRI Explorer, an interactive online display system.

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What is done about facility data errors?

We check facilities' reports for data quality. When we find a potential error, we notify the facility. However, we cannot correct a reporting error in the TRI database until the facility sends us a certified revision or withdrawal. As you use TRI data, be aware that the database may reflect uncorrected facility reporting errors. In addition, the TRI Program continuously receives and processes revisions sent in by facilities to correct their data errors from prior years. Where revisions have been made, the data for prior years in the 2008 National Analysis may differ from the data in previous Public Data Releases.

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What's new in the National Analysis this year?

TRI “Public Data Release” Becomes TRI National Analysis: To improve transparency and give communities access to the TRI data as quickly as possible, EPA released the raw 2008 TRI data in August and September 2009.  This gave communities unprecedented access to the data while EPA completed its analysis and quality checks.  Since the raw data had already been released to the public, the title “Public Data Release” is no longer appropriate for the annual analysis of the TRI data.  The full analysis of TRI releases and trends that has always accompanied the Public Data Release is now being published as the “TRI National Analysis”.

Reinstated TRI Reporting Requirements: Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements changed on March 11, 2009, as a result of a change in federal law. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act returned TRI reporting requirements to the rules in effect prior to December 22, 2006. These changes affected TRI reports due July 1, 2009. The change requires that all reports on persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals be submitted on "Form R," the more detailed form. For all other chemicals the shorter form, "Form A," may be used only if the "annual reporting amount" is 500 pounds or less and the chemical was manufactured, processed or otherwise used in an amount not exceeding 1 million pounds during the reporting year. These changes will increase the amount of critical information being provided to communities.

Toxic Equivalents (TEQ) Values for Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds: For the first time, the TRI National Analysis includes grams TEQ (Toxic Equivalents) values for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. The category of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in TRI contains 17 different chemicals. They are all very toxic, but some are much more toxic than others. TEQ values provide a weighted sum for each facility, a number that reflects both quantity and toxicity. This helps to understand the relative hazard from dioxins. However, it does not necessarily compare the risk from different facilities, because it does not take into account the amount of exposure to the chemicals. TEQ values will help the public make more informed environmental decisions within their communities. Expressing dioxin releases and waste management information in grams as TEQ values also permits easier comparisons between TRI data and other EPA and international data. For more information, see the TRI Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds Toxic Equivalency (TEQ) Information Rule web page.

Production-Related Context for TRI Data: The economy is one of many factors that may affect toxic releases by affecting production at facilities. This year, the Industrial Production Index (IPI) will be presented alongside TRI Production-Related Waste data in the 2008 TRI National Analysis Key Findings document. The IPI is an economic indicator compiled by the Federal Reserve Board that measures the real output of manufacturing, mining, and utilities industries. The IPI is available for most TRI sectors, allowing trends in the IPI to be shown alongside trends in the same sectors in TRI data. This does not show a relationship between the economy and toxic chemical releases, but it can help illustrate when trends in economic production coincide with trends in toxic releases and waste management.

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Are online tools available?

TRI Explorer - This on-line tool generates reports based on facilities, chemicals, geographic areas, or industry type (NAICS code) at the county, state, and national level. It provides information for on- and off-site disposal or other releases, transfers off-site, and other waste management data (i.e., recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and quantities released). A Tutorial is now available to help use TRI Explorer more effectively, no knowledge of databases is required.

Envirofacts - EPA created the Envirofacts Warehouse to provide the public with direct access to information contained in its databases on Air, Chemicals, Facility Information, Grants/Funding, Hazardous Waste, Risk Management Plans, Superfund, Toxic Releases, etc.

TRI.Net - is a downloadable high performance data engine for querying the Toxics Release Inventory. This tool supports large and complex queries and trends with interactive drill-downs and ad hoc query capabilities. TRI.Net is recommended for users who are familiar with TRI data and need a more powerful tool to efficiently analyze the data.

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What other information should I consider when using TRI data to assess releases in my neighborhood?

Release estimates alone are not sufficient to determine exposure or to calculate potential risks to human health and the environment. TRI data, in conjunction with other information, such as the toxicity of the chemical, the release medium (e.g., air), and site-specific conditions, can be used as a starting point in evaluating exposures that may result from releases of toxic chemicals.

  • Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) contains summaries of hazard assessments and EPA regulatory information on over 500 specific chemicals. It is a key source for descriptive and quantitative hazard/risk information, such as oral reference doses and inhalation reference concentrations for chronic, non-carcinogenic health effects; oral slope factors and unit risk for chronic exposure to carcinogens; EPA drinking water health advisories; and summaries of EPA regulatory actions. The system is useful in the risk assessment process.
  • The National Library of Medicine (NLM) TOXNET System Exit EPA Disclaimer -- NLM's TOXNET System makes TRI data and health information accessible to concerned citizens and to businesses and organizations interested in environmental or public health issues. TOXNET offers state-of-the-art, user-friendly, on-line searching.
  • Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) - RSEI is a screening tool that compares toxic chemicals released to the environment from industrial sources. You can examine rankings and trends, and set priorities for further action. Information can be sorted in numerous ways such as by chemical, media, geographic areas, etc.
  • ATSDR ToxFAQs(TM) Exit EPA Disclaimer - ToxFAQs(TM), produced by The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a series of summaries about hazardous substances being developed by the ATSDR Division of Toxicology. Information for this series is excerpted from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles and Public Health Statements. Each fact sheet serves as a quick and easy to understand guide. Answers are provided to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ's) about exposure to hazardous substances found around hazardous waste sites and the effects of exposure on human health.
  • New Jersey Hazardous Substances Fact Sheets Exit EPA Disclaimer - Fact sheets for 1,234 individual hazardous chemicals that include information relating to acute and chronic health hazards, identification, workplace exposure limits, medical tests, handling and storage, definitions, emergency response information for fires, spills and first aid, and other information.

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