EPA TRI Chemical
Formaldehyde
CAS Number: 50-00-0
- Total releases
- 95.2M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 928
- Carcinogen
- Yes
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) is disclosed by 928 Form R facilities totaling 95.2M 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.
Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) 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 BAYER CROPSCIENCE LP in LA at 51.0M 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.
LAND pathway mix
Formaldehyde: how the 95.2M lbs splits
95.2M lbs across all reported pathways
- Land Disposal66.8M lbs70.2%
- Air Releases24.6M lbs25.9%
- Off-site Transfers2.8M lbs2.9%
- Water Discharges939.2K lbs1.0%
Formaldehyde's 95.2M lbs Form-R total is LAND, with land disposal making up 70.2% of the bar. Next segment: air releases at 25.9%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Formaldehyde releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 11% (20.0M lbs → 17.8M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Formaldehyde is highly concentrated: Louisiana accounts for 70.3% of the reported total (34 facilities). Next: Texas.
- Louisiana 66.9M lbs
- Texas 4.3M lbs
- Ohio 2.5M lbs
- Georgia 1.8M lbs
- North Carolina 1.7M lbs
Reporting for Formaldehyde is highly concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 75.2% of the reported total (403 facilities). Next: Paper.
- Chemicals 71.5M lbs
- Paper 6.3M lbs
- Wood Products 6.1M lbs
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product 3.5M lbs
- Natural Gas Processing 1.5M lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Formaldehyde. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Formaldehyde in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Formaldehyde is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Formaldehyde? ▼
Which facilities disclose the most Formaldehyde? ▼
What is the CAS number for Formaldehyde? ▼
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.