Advertisement

EPA releases toxic release analysis

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its annual Toxics Release Inventory analysis providing information about American communities.

The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country, an EPA release said Thursday.

Advertisement

The analysis shows total releases including disposals for the latest reporting year, 2010, were higher than the previous two years but lower than 2007 and prior year totals, the EPA said.

The 2010 TRI data show 3.93 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment nationwide, a 16 percent increase from 2009.

"We will continue to put accessible, meaningful information in the hands of the American people," EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said. "Widespread public access to environmental information is fundamental to the work EPA does every day."

TRI data is submitted to EPA and U.S. states annually by industry sectors including manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities and commercial hazardous waste facilities.

Latest Headlines