A recent U.S. Environmental and Protection Agency analysis showed an overall decrease in the release of toxic chemicals into the environment in 2021.
EPA's 2021 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis indicates the release of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program were 10% lower than 2012 despite an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021, according to a March 16 news release. For 2021, 89% of TRI chemical waste releases were managed through preferred practices including recycling, energy recovery and treatment.
"TRI reporting is a key part of EPA's efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods," EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash said in the release. "Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution."
Despite these numbers, the analysis showed Massachusetts had an increase in the overall release of pollutants to the environment since 2020, the release reported. Despite the numbers for 2021, for the previous 10 years, Massachusetts has still reduced air emissions by 55% resulting from closures of a coal fired power plant and aluminum can manufacturer.
The companies in Massachusetts with the greatest releases of toxic chemicals were in various industries, including plastics, fabricated metals, manufacturing and chemical, according to the release.
The TRI National Analysis now includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with 176 PFAS reportable to TRI, the release said. In 2021, facilities managed 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste, an increase from the previous year.
The report also includes updated visualizations and analytical tools, making the data more accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed, the release reported. The data can be used by community groups, policymakers and other stakeholders to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities and take action at the local level.
