New Toxics Release Inventory Data Shows Decrease in Releases of Certain Chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2020 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis on March 3. The report summarizes data on releases and other waste management practices of toxic chemicals. EPA’s analysis shows a 10% decrease in TRI chemical releases from 2019 to 2020 resulting in 343 million pounds fewer chemicals entering the environment. The report’s trends show a 27% decrease in releases since 2011, mostly from declining land and air releases.

Additionally, EPA has made enhancements to its “Where You Live” mapping tool which shows the releases of TRI chemicals that occurred in 2020. The tool now includes demographic data that allows users to overlay maps of the locations of facilities releasing TRI chemicals with maps of overburdened and vulnerable communities. EPA hopes that this data will help community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders “identify potential exposures to air and water pollution, better understand which communities are experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.”

EPA is hosting a public webinar on March 23, 2022, highlighting the findings and trends from the TRI analysis and showcasing the new interactive features of the National Analysis website. Registration is available online.