2008 TRI National Analysis

TRI "Public Data Release" Becomes TRI National Analysis: To improve transparency and give communities access to the TRI data as quickly as possible, EPA released the raw 2008 TRI data in August and September 2009. This gave communities unprecedented access to the data while EPA completed its analysis and quality checks. Since the raw data had already been released to the public, the title "Public Data Release" is no longer appropriate for the annual analysis of the TRI data. The full analysis of TRI releases and trends that has always accompanied the Public Data Release is now being published as the "TRI National Analysis".

Reinstated TRI Reporting Requirements: Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements changed on March 11, 2009, as a result of a change in federal law. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act returned TRI reporting requirements to the rules in effect prior to December 22, 2006. These changes affected TRI reports due July 1, 2009. The change requires that all reports on persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals be submitted on "Form R," the more detailed form. For all other chemicals the shorter form, "Form A," may be used only if the "annual reporting amount" is 500 pounds or less and the chemical was manufactured, processed or otherwise used in an amount not exceeding 1 million pounds during the reporting year. These changes will increase the amount of critical information being provided to communities.

Toxic Equivalents (TEQ) Values for Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds: For the first time, the TRI National Analysis includes grams TEQ (Toxic Equivalents) values for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. The category of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in TRI contains 17 different chemicals. They are all very toxic, but some are much more toxic than others. TEQ values provide a weighted sum for each facility, a number that reflects both quantity and toxicity. This helps to understand the relative hazard from dioxins. However, it does not necessarily compare the risk from different facilities, because it does not take into account the amount of exposure to the chemicals. TEQ values will help the public make more informed environmental decisions within their communities. Expressing dioxin releases and waste management information in grams as TEQ values also permits easier comparisons between TRI data and other EPA and international data. For more information, see the TRI Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds Toxic Equivalency (TEQ) Information Rule web page.

Production-Related Context for TRI Data: The economy is one of many factors that may affect toxic releases by affecting production at facilities. This year, the Industrial Production Index (IPI) will be presented alongside TRI Production-Related Waste data in the 2008 TRI National Analysis Key Findings document. The IPI is an economic indicator compiled by the Federal Reserve Board that measures the real output of manufacturing, mining, and utilities industries. The IPI is available for most TRI sectors, allowing trends in the IPI to be shown alongside trends in the same sectors in TRI data. This does not show a relationship between the economy and toxic chemical releases, but it can help illustrate when trends in economic production coincide with trends in toxic releases and waste management.

We check facilities' reports for data quality. When we find a potential error, we notify the facility. However, we cannot correct a reporting error in the TRI database until the facility sends us a certified revision or withdrawal. As you use TRI data, be aware that the database may reflect uncorrected facility reporting errors. In addition, the TRI Program continuously receives and processes revisions sent in by facilities to correct their data errors from prior years. Where revisions have been made, the data for prior years in the 2008 National Analysis may differ from the data in previous Public Data Releases.

Release estimates alone are not sufficient to determine exposure or to calculate potential risks to human health and the environment. TRI data, in conjunction with other information, such as the toxicity of the chemical, the release medium (e.g., air), and site-specific conditions, can be used as a starting point in evaluating exposures that may result from releases of toxic chemicals.

Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) contains summaries of hazard assessments and EPA regulatory information on over 500 specific chemicals. It is a key source for descriptive and quantitative hazard/risk information, such as oral reference doses and inhalation reference concentrations for chronic, non-carcinogenic health effects; oral slope factors and unit risk for chronic exposure to carcinogens; EPA drinking water health advisories; and summaries of EPA regulatory actions. The system is useful in the risk assessment process.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) TOXNET System makes TRI data and health information accessible to concerned citizens and to businesses and organizations interested in environmental or public health issues. TOXNET offers user-friendly on-line searching.

Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) is a screening tool developed by EPA that analyzes risk factors to put TRI release data into a chronic health context. RSEI is often used by government regulators, communities, journalists, industry and others to examine trends, identify important emissions situations for follow-up, support community-based projects, and initially screen potential impacts of emissions. Information can be sorted in numerous ways such as by chemical, media, geographic areas, etc.

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry ToxFAQs(TM)
ToxFAQs is a series of summaries about hazardous substances being developed by ATSDR's Division of Toxicology. Information for this series is excerpted from the ATSDR Toxicological Profiles and Public Health Statements. Each fact sheet serves as a quick and easy to understand guide. Answers are provided to the most frequently asked questions about exposure to hazardous substances found around hazardous waste sites and the effects of exposure on human health.

New Jersey Right to Know Hazardous Substances Fact Sheets for 1,600 hazardous substances that include information relating to acute and chronic health hazards, identification, workplace exposure limits, medical tests, handling and storage, definitions, emergency response information for fires, spills and first aid.