EPA TRI Chemical
Carbon Tetrachloride
CAS Number: 56-23-5
- Total releases
- 704.5K lbs
- Number of facilities
- 53
- Carcinogen
- Yes
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Carbon Tetrachloride (CAS 56-23-5) is disclosed by 53 Form R facilities totaling 704.5K lbs of reported releases. The TRI extract marks this chemical with a carcinogen classification flag. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Carbon Tetrachloride (CAS 56-23-5) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The TRI requires industrial facilities above specified threshold quantities to disclose annual manufacturing, processing, and otherwise-used volumes, along with quantities released to air, water, land, and off-site transfers.
The carcinogen flag above reflects an assessment from EPA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or the National Toxicology Program, not a TRI-specific determination. The largest individual disclosure in the current dataset comes from OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL HOLDING CORP - GEISMAR PLANT in LA at 143.0K lbs.
TRI volumes are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and each pound counts equally regardless of chemical toxicity, so total pounds should not be equated with total risk. Inclusion of a chemical or facility in the TRI does not itself establish a health hazard; it documents the public right-to-know record. Consult EPA's IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for health-effect summaries.
AIR pathway mix
Carbon Tetrachloride: how the 704.5K lbs splits
704.5K lbs across all reported pathways
- Air Releases605.2K lbs85.9%
- Land Disposal78.1K lbs11.1%
- Off-site Transfers17.8K lbs2.5%
- Water Discharges3.4K lbs0.5%
Carbon Tetrachloride's 704.5K lbs Form-R total is AIR, with air releases making up 85.9% of the bar. Next segment: land disposal at 11.1%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Carbon Tetrachloride releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 63% (186.9K lbs → 69.7K lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Carbon Tetrachloride is concentrated: Louisiana accounts for 47.5% of the reported total (14 facilities). Next: Kansas.
- Louisiana 334.7K lbs
- Kansas 115.0K lbs
- Ohio 105.4K lbs
- Texas 70.1K lbs
- Kentucky 28.5K lbs
Reporting for Carbon Tetrachloride is highly concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 92.2% of the reported total (32 facilities). Next: Hazardous Waste.
- Chemicals 649.7K lbs
- Hazardous Waste 38.7K lbs
- Electric Utilities 13.7K lbs
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product 2.2K lbs
- Plastics and Rubber 40 lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Carbon Tetrachloride. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carbon Tetrachloride in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Carbon Tetrachloride is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Carbon Tetrachloride? ▼
Which facilities disclose the most Carbon Tetrachloride? ▼
What is the CAS number for Carbon Tetrachloride? ▼
Health Information
Carcinogen Classification: This chemical is classified as a known or suspected carcinogen by the EPA under the Toxic Release Inventory program. This classification is based on evaluations by agencies including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and the EPA itself.
Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Release quantities are self-reported by facilities and may represent estimates. The total shown aggregates reports across all facilities and reporting years.
PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a chemical in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk at current exposure levels. For health-related questions about specific chemical exposures, consult your local health agency or a toxicologist.
Related
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.