EPA TRI Chemical
Copper
CAS Number: 7440-50-8
- Total releases
- 110.7M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 3,021
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Copper (CAS 7440-50-8) is disclosed by 3,021 Form R facilities totaling 110.7M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Copper (CAS 7440-50-8) 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.
A carcinogen flag, when present on other chemicals in this database, reflects an assessment from EPA, IARC, or the National Toxicology Program rather than a TRI-specific determination. The largest individual disclosure in the current dataset comes from WIELAND METALS INC in IL at 24.0M 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.
MIXED pathway mix
Copper: how the 110.7M lbs splits
110.7M lbs across all reported pathways
- Off-site Transfers75.8M lbs68.5%
- Land Disposal33.4M lbs30.1%
- Air Releases1.5M lbs1.3%
- Water Discharges100.9K lbs0.1%
Copper's 110.7M lbs Form-R total is MIXED, with off-site transfers making up 68.5% of the bar. Next segment: land disposal at 30.1%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Copper releases across all reporting facilities increased by 20% (18.4M lbs → 22.0M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Copper is concentrated: Illinois accounts for 25.1% of the reported total (160 facilities). Next: Indiana.
- Illinois 27.7M lbs
- Indiana 27.5M lbs
- California 6.0M lbs
- Tennessee 3.5M lbs
- Georgia 3.4M lbs
Reporting for Copper is highly concentrated by industry: Primary Metals facilities account for 54.9% of the reported total (663 facilities). Next: Other.
- Primary Metals 60.7M lbs
- Other 26.6M lbs
- Hazardous Waste 12.0M lbs
- Fabricated Metals 3.5M lbs
- Transportation Equipment 2.1M lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Copper. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Copper in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Copper is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Copper? ▼
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What is the CAS number for Copper? ▼
Health Information
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.