(www.epa.gov) – Tens of thousands of chemicals are used by industries and businesses in the United States to make the products on which our society depends, such as pharmaceuticals, clothing and automobiles. Many of the chemicals needed to create these products are toxic; therefore, some releases of toxic chemicals into the environment are inevitable. It is your right to know what chemicals are being used in your community, how they are being disposed of, and whether their releases are increasing or decreasing over time. The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a database that contains detailed information on disposal or other releases of more than 650 chemicals from thousands of U.S. facilities that report to TRI. These toxic chemicals can be harmful to humans, the environment or both.

These facilities are typically large and are involved in manufacturing, metal mining, electric power generation and hazardous waste treatment. Federal facilities are also required to report to TRI by Executive Order. The latest report, 2011 TRI National Analysis, is EPA’s annual interpretation of TRI data, and it provides the public with valuable information on how toxic chemicals were managed, where toxic chemicals ended up and how 2011 compares to previous years.

Credit: EPA