TRI Questions? Contact the TRI Information Center at 1

- 800

- 424

- 9346 (select option 3 ) 

# Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

What is TRI?
TRI is a publicly

- accessible EPA database containing information on disposal and other releases of over 6 5 0 toxic chemi cals from more than 20,000 U.S. industrial facilities.
The database also includes information on how facilities manage chemicals through recycling, energy recovery and treatment.

TRI was es t ablished in 1986 by Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and C ommunity Right

- to

- Know Act and later expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.
The goal of TRI is to provide communities with information about toxic chemical releases and waste management activities and to support informed decision

- making by ind ustry, government, non

- governmental organizations and the public.
Data are submitted annually by U.S. facilities that meet TRI reporting criteria.

TRI data can be downloaded or accessed through a variety of analytical tools and applications.



## What does TRI provide?
TRI includes information about:

 On

- s ite releases and other disposal of toxic chemicals to air, surface water and land;

 On

- s ite recycling, treatment and energy recovery associated with TRI chemicals;

 Off

- s ite transfers of toxic chemicals from TRI facilities to other locations;

 Pollution prevention activities at facilities;

 Releases of lead, m ercury, dioxin and ot her persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals; and

 Facilities in a variety of industry sectors ( includi ng manufacturing, metal mining, and electric power generation ) and some federal facilities. 

### “TRI has led the way on **right**

**- to** 

**- know issues** 

**... and**  **is a vital information source”** 

**–**

**EPA Administrator**

**Lisa P. Jackson**

Useful Links:

EPA

 TRI homepage:

www.epa.gov/tri

 Chemical Right

- to

- Know

Collaborative Forum: www.chemicalright2know.org (EPA & the Environmental Council of the States)

Non

- EPA

 TOXMAP by National Library

of Medicine: www.toxmap.nlm.nih.govFull list of TRI tools: www.epa.gov/tri/tritools TRI National Analysis: www.epa.gov/tri/ NationalAnalysis 

### Limitations of TRI Data:

TRI data do not reflect:

• Releases of toxic chemicals not included on the TRI chemical list

• Releases from facilities in industry sectors not covered by the TRI Program

• Risks to human health and the environment

TRI facilities report the

best readily available data to EPA. 

## TRI Data Use

How can TRI data be used?

 To identify sources of toxic chemical releases

 To begin analyzing potent ial toxic chemical hazards to human health and the environment

 To encourage pollution prevention at facilities

Who uses TRI data?

 Individuals, communities and environmental groups

 Governmental agencies

 Academic and investment communities

 News media

 Industry groups



## What do the TRI data show at the national level?

Accessing and Analyzing TRI Data Multiple Web

- based tools and applications provide easy access to TRI data and related analyses:

 myRTK: F or use on cell phones or desktop computers. Maps TRI facilities and displays identities and quantities of chemicals being released. Includes potential adverse health effects, facility enforcement history, and other contextual information.

 TRI Explorer: F or use on desktop computers. Provides access to TRI data on chemicals, facilities, geogra phic areas, and industry sectors.

 TRI.NET: D ownloadable application for use on desktop computers. Supports in

- depth analyses and includes mapping capabilities.

 Envirofacts: For use on desktop computers. Provides access to TRI and other EPA datasets related to air, water, and land

. 

### On

- site and Off

- site Disposal or Other Releases: In billions of pounds

On

- s ite: 3

. 67

- Air: 0. 8 0

- Water: 0.2 2

- Land: 2. 44

- Underground Injection: 0. 22

Off

- site: 0.41 Total : 4.09 

## Quick Facts for 20 1 1