The EPA maintains the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), a national database that identifies more than 600 designated toxic chemicals manufactured and used at industrial facilities and the annual amounts of these chemicals released as waste.
The decline in industrial chemical discharges indicates progress in reducing the release of contaminants into Long Island Sound’s watershed.
Toxic releases in the Sound’s watershed have declined by more than 90 percent since the late 1980s. This is consistent with trends in toxic releases throughout the country. Facilities releasing industrial chemicals have been improved with better emissions-reducing technology. There has also been an increase in the national awareness of the harmful effects of toxic releases. Air emissions account for the majority of on-site releases.
Data Note *Total on-site releases include air emissions, other on-site land releases, and surface water discharges.
*Total on-site releases include air emissions, other on-site land releases, and surface water discharges.