EPA TRI Chemical
Ethylene
CAS Number: 74-85-1
- Total releases
- 85.0M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 335
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Ethylene (CAS 74-85-1) is disclosed by 335 Form R facilities totaling 85.0M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Ethylene (CAS 74-85-1) 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 EQUISTAR CHEMICALS CLINTON PLANT in IA at 8.4M 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
Ethylene: how the 85.0M lbs splits
85.0M lbs across all reported pathways
- Air Releases84.9M lbs99.9%
- Off-site Transfers67.3K lbs0.1%
- Land Disposal21.3K lbs<0.1%
- Water Discharges1.9K lbs<0.1%
Ethylene's 85.0M lbs Form-R total is AIR, with air releases making up 99.9% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 0.1%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Ethylene releases across all reporting facilities increased by 2% (15.5M lbs → 15.9M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Ethylene is highly concentrated: Texas accounts for 54.6% of the reported total (122 facilities). Next: Louisiana.
- Texas 46.4M lbs
- Louisiana 20.3M lbs
- Iowa 8.4M lbs
- Illinois 2.5M lbs
- Pennsylvania 2.4M lbs
Reporting for Ethylene is highly concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 92.1% of the reported total (156 facilities). Next: Petroleum.
- Chemicals 78.2M lbs
- Petroleum 4.3M lbs
- Petroleum Bulk Terminals 920.8K lbs
- Primary Metals 473.6K lbs
- Natural Gas Processing 420.0K lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Ethylene. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ethylene in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Ethylene is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Ethylene? ▼
Which facilities disclose the most Ethylene? ▼
What is the CAS number for Ethylene? ▼
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.