PlainEnviro

EPA TRI Chemical

Ethylene Oxide

CAS Number: 75-21-8

Total releases
875.7K lbs
Number of facilities
155
Carcinogen
Yes
PBT substance
No
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Carcinogen

According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Ethylene Oxide (CAS 75-21-8) is disclosed by 155 Form R facilities totaling 875.7K 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.

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Ethylene Oxide (CAS 75-21-8) 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.

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 HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICAL LLC PORT NECHES FACILITY in TX at 127.9K 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 Oxide: how the 875.7K lbs splits

875.7K lbs across all reported pathways

  • Air Releases814.4K lbs93.0%
  • Off-site Transfers33.9K lbs3.9%
  • Land Disposal20.6K lbs2.4%
  • Water Discharges6.7K lbs0.8%

Ethylene Oxide's 875.7K lbs Form-R total is AIR, with air releases making up 93.0% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 3.9%.

Trend & Where It's Reported

Reported Release Trend

Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Ethylene Oxide releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 4% (189.3K lbs → 181.2K lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.

Geographic Concentration

Reporting for Ethylene Oxide is concentrated: Texas accounts for 47.2% of the reported total (34 facilities). Next: Louisiana.

  • Texas 412.9K lbs
  • Louisiana 225.9K lbs
  • Virginia 40.9K lbs
  • Arkansas 20.4K lbs
  • Georgia 16.8K lbs
Industry Sources

Reporting for Ethylene Oxide is highly concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 75.9% of the reported total (77 facilities). Next: Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

  • Chemicals 664.8K lbs
  • Miscellaneous Manufacturing 147.3K lbs
  • Hazardous Waste 21.3K lbs
  • Plastics and Rubber 20.4K lbs
  • Other 10.8K lbs

Which facilities release the most of this chemical?

Facilities with the largest reported releases of Ethylene Oxide. Up to 50 shown.

# Facility Release (lbs)
1 Huntsman Petrochemical LLC Port Neches Facility
127.9K lbs
2 Basf Corp
61.0K lbs
3 Ineos Oxide Bayport Eo Plant
50.2K lbs
4 The Dow Chemical Co - Louisiana Operations
47.7K lbs
5 Sterilization Services of Virginia
44.5K lbs
6 St Charles Operations (taft/star) Union Carbide Corp
42.7K lbs
7 Union Carbide Corp Seadrift Plant
33.9K lbs
8 Midwest Sterilization Corp
31.9K lbs
9 Eastman Chemical Co Texas Operations
29.1K lbs
10 Celanese Ltd Clear Lake Plant
26.0K lbs
11 Shell Chemical LP
23.9K lbs
12 Huntsman Petrochemical LLC
22.6K lbs
13 Tm Deer Park Services LP
20.6K lbs
14 Formosa Plastics Corp Texas
20.4K lbs
15 Baxter Healthcare Corp
20.4K lbs
16 Lacc LLC Us/lotte Chemical Louisiana LLC
18.7K lbs
17 Sasol Chemicals (usa) Llc-Lake Charles Chemical Complex
17.4K lbs
18 Lyondell Chemical Co
14.7K lbs
19 Harcros Chemicals Inc
12.3K lbs
20 Dow Chemical Co Freeport Facility
12.0K lbs
21 Evonik Corp
11.7K lbs
22 Sterling Specialty Chemicals LLC
11.2K lbs
23 Monument Chemical Kentucky LLC
10.8K lbs
24 Edwards Lifesciences Technology Sarl
8.4K lbs
25 Royal Sterilization Systems
8.4K lbs
26 Ingredion Inc
7.5K lbs
27 Croda Inc
7.3K lbs
28 Terumo Bct Sterilization Services Inc
7.3K lbs
29 Sterilization Services of Tennessee
7.3K lbs
30 Becton Dickinson & Co Covington Operations
7.2K lbs
31 Becton Dickinson & Co Madison Operations
6.9K lbs
32 Becton Dickinson & Co
6.5K lbs
33 B. Braun US Device Manufacturing LLC
6.4K lbs
34 Midwest Sterilization Corp
6.4K lbs
35 Ashland Specialty Ingredients Gp
6.0K lbs
36 Bcp Ingredients Inc.
4.8K lbs
37 Specialty Products US LLC - Polyox Plant
4.4K lbs
38 Ethicon Inc
4.1K lbs
39 Lanxess Corp
4.0K lbs
40 Basf Corp
3.9K lbs
41 International Sterilization Laboratory
3.8K lbs
42 Union Carbide Corp Institute Facility
3.8K lbs
43 Steri-Tech Inc.
3.2K lbs
44 Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC
2.9K lbs
45 Championx-Freeport
2.8K lbs
46 Bd Medical
2.6K lbs
47 Basf Corp
2.1K lbs
48 Meglobal Oyster Creek
2.0K lbs
49 Indorama Ventures Oxides LLC
1.9K lbs
50 Nouryon Surface Chemistry LLC
1.8K lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ethylene Oxide in the EPA TRI? ▼
Ethylene Oxide (CAS Number: 75-21-8) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. The TRI extract marks it with a carcinogen classification flag based on EPA/IARC/NTP listings. 155 facilities in the United States report releasing this chemical to the EPA.
How much Ethylene Oxide is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
U.S. facilities have reported a total of 875.7K lbs of Ethylene Oxide releases to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory across 155 facilities. Release quantities are self-reported estimates covering air, water, land, and off-site transfers. They are disclosure totals, not toxicity-weighted harm scores.
How does EPA TRI classify Ethylene Oxide? ▼
Ethylene Oxide carries a carcinogen classification flag in the TRI database (drawn from EPA, IARC, or NTP listings). TRI classification flags document inventory listing status; they are not a site-specific exposure or health diagnosis. For health-effect summaries see EPA IRIS and ATSDR toxicological profiles.
Which facilities disclose the most Ethylene Oxide? ▼
Huntsman Petrochemical LLC Port Neches Facility in TX reports the largest disclosed release of Ethylene Oxide in this dataset, at 127.9K lbs. Most reporting facilities for this chemical fall under chemicals. Release data is self-reported annually to the EPA under the TRI program. View the full list of 155 facilities on this page.
What is the CAS number for Ethylene Oxide? ▼
The CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry Number for Ethylene Oxide is 75-21-8. CAS numbers are unique numerical identifiers assigned to every chemical substance described in the open scientific literature. This identifier is used to search scientific databases and regulatory filings.

Related Guides

Understanding TRI Data
How the Toxic Release Inventory works
Biggest Polluters in America
Which facilities release the most toxics
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

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.

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Data sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro

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.