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Indicator: Air Releases of All Reported Toxic Chemicals

Data and Data Discussion provided by Communities Count

Figure 1: Air Releases of Toxic Chemicals

Figure 2: Air Release of Carcinogenic Chemicals

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Upstream Indicators

There are currently no published Upstream Indicators.

Downstream Indicators
  •   Air Quality --- The number of good and moderate air quality days has remained steady since 2001. Before then, the number of moderate days declined as good days increased. People most at risk to exposure to pollutants include children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and people with respiratory problems. Poor air quality can also impair scenic visibility, affect vegetation and cause damage to the built environment.   (view data graph)
  •   303d Listed Watercourses --- Although approximately 50% of watercourses included on the 1998 Washington State 303(d) list have been de-listed, the total number of listed water segments has increased in the past decade. The most significant increase in listings has occurred with regards to temperature.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

Sustainability Snapshot:

There is growing awareness that some Puget Sound communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution. The total pounds of toxic substances that are released into the air by major manufacturing facilities provides a way to help quantitatively track this pollution burden. This pollution poses an environmental justice challenge as it presents higher health risks for people living nearby, often poor people and/or people of color.

Sustainability Trend:

Overall, there has been a substantial decrease in toxic air emissions since the late 1980s in King County, particularly in the South Region. Since 2000 the total toxic emissions have decreased by about half. However, some communities are at greater risk of toxic exposures.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Air releases of all reportable toxic chemicals and all carcinogenic chemicals, King County

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

The amount of reportable toxic chemicals and reportable carcinogenic substances released to the air by major manufacturing facilities in King County has fluctuated over the last 6 years. Amounts vary by the region where the facilities are located. In 2006, 79% of all toxic release facilities were located in Seattle and South Region, which produced 90% of the total pounds released in King County. For comparison, the tables also show the relative size of the population in each region.

Overall, toxic air emissions have decreased substantially since the late 1980’s, particularly in South Region. Since 2000, total toxic emissions have decreased by about half, from 1.6 million pounds in 2000 to 800,000 pounds in 2006. 5.8% of toxic emissions released in 2006 were potentially carcinogenic substances compared to 11.5% of all releases in 2000.

In King County, some communities are at greater risk of toxic exposures based on proximity to facilities monitored by the Evironmental Protection Agency as Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites. A vulnerability analysis using 1989 income and nearness to 2002 TRI facilities found a statistical correlation between living near a TRI facilityand having an income at or below the household median income.

Data Source and Limitations

Data on air releases of toxic chemicals are from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Manufacturing facilities that meet certain criteria must report chemical releases to the environment under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. The TRI is a public database containing this information. “Air releases” include both routine and accidental emissions. The EPA determines carcinogenicity of the chemicals.

TRI information is limited for several reasons: 1) it relies on self reporting of estimated releases (not direct measurement) by the polluter, 2) only those substances which are on the TRI list of over 600 toxic chemicals must be reported, and 3) it doesn’t include toxic releases from smaller businesses (such as drycleaners and gas stations) or mobile pollution sources, such as motor vehicle traffic. Toxic releases to the air represent the majority of environmental releases in King County and are the most likely route of exposure for the surrounding communities. However, because the chemicals released are not uniformly distributed within the census block group or region in which they were released, not everyone living in proximity to the facility is exposed to the same degree. Furthermore, in calculating the total pounds released, we have made no distinction between chemicals of varying toxicity. Some types of releases are more dangerous than others. Release estimates are only considered reliable to two significant digits, so all figures have been rounded. For this reason, region subtotals may not add up to the King County total. No attempt has been made to link facility location with population density, so there is no way to estimate the level of exposure of people living in the different regions. These data are meant to be descriptive only. A more thorough geospatial analysis would be required to determine who is at greatest risk from exposure to toxic air pollution.

The toxics information in the map is taken from EPA tables. EPA's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) database is EPA's computerized listing/inventory of potential hazardous waste sites. Superfund data are from EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) include those sites identified by EPA that warrant further investigation under CERCLA and, if necessary, need remedial action.

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