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EPA analysis shows decrease in toxic releases across Midwestern states

Release Date: 12/20/2010
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA 154

Chicago (Dec. 20, 2010) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has updated its annual analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), which provides vital information about pollution to the people of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The analysis for these six states, which comprise EPA Region 5, is part of the Agency's national TRI announcement.

For the first time, the 2009 TRI highlights toxic releases in large aquatic ecosystems including the Great Lakes, urban areas including Chicago, and tribal lands. In addition, portions of the analysis are available in Spanish.

"EPA's TRI provides up-to-date information that people can easily access to find out about the sources and quantities of toxic substances released in their communities," said Regional Administrator Susan Hedman.

In 2009, more than 511 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment in the six states located in Region 5. Compared to 2008 data, regional releases to the air were down 20 percent, on-site releases to surface water were down 24 percent and on-site releases to land were down 33 percent. More than 5,000 facilities in Region 5 report their chemical releases by July 1 of each year.

See Region 5 state fact sheets at: https://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/statefactsheet.htm

See Chicago data at: https://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri09/nationalanalysis/tri-urban-comm-chicago.html

See large aquatic ecosystems (Great Lakes) data at: https://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri09/nationalanalysis/tri-lae-great-lakes.html

More information on the 2009 TRI analysis is at: https://www.epa.gov/tri/