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Latest Toxic Release Inventory Shows Continued Decline in Chemicals Released into Environment

Release Date: 6/30/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – Today the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency released its annual national Toxic Release Inventory providing information on toxic chemicals used and released in communities across the nation. This report is based on 2001 data submitted to EPA and states and compiled to create the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI).

“TRI is a public report card for the industrial community. It shows real progress in reducing chemical releases. TRI data is used by citizens, academia, government, non-profit organizations and industry, and creates a strong motivation for pollution prevention,” said Donald S. Welsh, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Despite the fact that facilities are now responsible for reporting more substances such as lead, overall reported toxic releases in the mid-Atlantic region have declined from 465 million pounds in 2000 to 425 million pounds in 2001. This is based on more than 650 chemicals and chemical categories which TRI tracks from a number of industries.

The complete 2001 TRI is available at EPA’s ‘Envirofacts Warehouse’
http:/www.epa.gov/enviro/html/tris/tris_query.html. Other TRI information and updates can be accessed at EPA’s TRI Home Page: https://www.epa.gov/tri/.