EPA Proposes Adding 16 Chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory List

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its plan to add 16 chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals. Established as part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), TRI is a public database containing information on toxic chemical releases and waste management. The TRI contains information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical groups from thousands of industrial facilities in the U.S.

Based on a review of available studies, EPA has concluded that the chemicals to be added to the TRI could cause cancer in people. The purpose of the proposed addition to the TRI is to inform the public about chemical releases in their communities and to provide the government with information for research and potential development of regulations.

Four of the chemicals being proposed for addition to the TRI fall under the polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) category. This category includes chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic (PBT) and are likely to remain in the environment for a long time. According to EPA, these chemicals are not readily destroyed and may build up or accumulate in body tissue.

EPA will accept public comments up until 60 days after the proposal appears in the Federal Register.