From US EPA: Updated 2023 Toxics Release Inventory Data

EPA has updated preliminary 2023 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data originally released in July 2024. The TRI provides information to communities about chemicals released to air, water, and land.

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) regulations require annual reporting from facilities in specific industry sectors that manufacture, import, process, or use a listed chemical in an amount that exceeds the given threshold for that chemical and activity (e.g., 25,000 lbs., 10,000 lbs. 100 lbs. etc.).

US EPA releases TRI updates periodically throughout the year; the Agency’s full analysis of the 2023 data will be published in next year’s 2023 TRI National Analysis. Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting, also known as “Form R,” “EPCRA 313,” and “SARA 313” is due annually from required facilities on July 1.

Released to Air (520.7 million lbs.)

Ammonia – 24% – approx. 125 million lbs.
Ammonia is a colorless, odorless gas that is used in many products including explosives, plastics, and fertilizers. Exposure can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and burns.

Methanol – 17% – approx. 88.5 million lbs.
This colorless, flammable liquid is used in the manufacture of paint, gasoline, and solvents, and can cause blindness, respiratory problems, and central nervous system damage if ingested or inhaled.

n-Hexane – 8% – approx. 41.7 million lbs.
n-Hexane is a colorless, flammable liquid that is used in a variety of industrial processes, including manufacturing paints, solvents, and pesticides. This chemical can be harmful to human health if inhaled — risks include neurological problems, liver damage, and even cancer.

Sulfuric acid – 7% – approx. 36.4 million lbs.
This chemical can be harmful to human health if inhaled, ingested, or contacts the skin or eyes—risks include irritation of eyes, skin, nose, and throat, bronchitis, stomatis, and more.

Styrene – 5% – approx. 25 million lbs.
Styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid that is used in the manufacture of rubber, paints, and plastics. Human health risks due to inhalation include respiratory problems, liver damage, and cancer.

Released to Water (184.8 million lbs.)

Nitrate compounds – 90% – approx. 166.3 million lbs.
Nitrate compounds are a common by-product of on-site wastewater treatment, especially at meat processing facilities that deal with biological material from animals. Nitrate compounds made up an impressive 90% of all TRI-listed chemical releases to water in 2024.

Manganese compounds – 2% – approx. 3.7 million lbs.
Ammonia is a colorless, odorless gas that is used in many products including explosives, plastics, and fertilizers. Exposure can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and burns.

Methanol – 24% – 2% – approx. 3.7 million lbs.
This colorless, flammable liquid is used in the manufacture of paint, gasoline, and solvents, and can cause blindness, respiratory problems, and central nervous system damage if ingested or inhaled.

Ammonia – 2% – approx. 3.7 million lbs.
Release of ammonia to the environment contributes to acid rain. Ammonia is a colorless, odorless gas that is used in a variety of industrial processes including manufacturing fertilizers, plastics, and explosives.

Sodium nitrite – 1% – approx. 1.8 million lbs.
This white, crystalline solid is used in the manufacture of explosives, fertilizers, and food additives. Inhalation and/or ingestion can cause irritation, digestive, and/or neurological symptoms.

Released to Land (2.2 billion lbs.)

US EPA has not released a breakdown of chemicals released to land in 2023.

Who reports what, when?

Annually by July 1, facilities that must submit TRI reporting are those that:

• Employ 10 or more full-time employees (or equivalent hours worked); and
• Are assigned SIC Major Group code 10, 12, or 20–39 or SIC Industry Groups 4911, 4931, 4939, 4953, 5169, 5171, 7839; or that are Federal agencies; and
• Manufactured, imported, processed, or used a covered chemical in a quantity exceeding the given threshold.

What chemicals are covered by TRI?

Chemicals that require reporting include about 800 substances with acute or chronic effects on human health or the environment. Exact details on who must report, which chemical substances require reporting, and reporting thresholds are found at 40 CFR 372.1, 40 CFR 372.65, and 40 CFR 372.25. The substances listed in 372.28 are dubbed "chemicals of special concern."

Typical thresholds for reporting TRI are 25,000 or 10,000 lbs., depending on the activity. Much lower reporting thresholds apply to chemicals of special concern—a list that includes aldrin, hexachlorobezene, mercury, mercury and lead compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). [See 40 CFR 372.28].

Complete Environmental Regulations Training

Want a clearer idea of how major EPA air, water, and chemical programs all fit together to affect your site's activities? Join in on the next Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar on December 19–20 at Lion.com.

EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more. Prefer to train at your own pace? Try the interactive online course.

Cheat Sheet to 40 CFR Part 372 Reporting ("TRI", "SARA 313", or "Form R") 

Tags: environmental compliance, Toxics Release Inventory, TRI