EPA TRI Chemical
Hydrogen Cyanide
CAS Number: 74-90-8
- Total releases
- 31.8M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 149
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Hydrogen Cyanide (CAS 74-90-8) is disclosed by 149 Form R facilities totaling 31.8M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Hydrogen Cyanide (CAS 74-90-8) 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 ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS-CHOCOLATE BAYOU PLANT in TX at 2.9M 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
Hydrogen Cyanide: how the 31.8M lbs splits
31.8M lbs across all reported pathways
- Air Releases28.3M lbs89.1%
- Land Disposal3.3M lbs10.5%
- Off-site Transfers137.4K lbs0.4%
- Water Discharges5.0K lbs<0.1%
Hydrogen Cyanide's 31.8M lbs Form-R total is AIR, with air releases making up 89.1% of the bar. Next segment: land disposal at 10.5%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Hydrogen Cyanide releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 12% (7.1M lbs → 6.3M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Hydrogen Cyanide is highly concentrated: Texas accounts for 53.0% of the reported total (43 facilities). Next: Louisiana.
- Texas 16.8M lbs
- Louisiana 5.2M lbs
- California 2.2M lbs
- Utah 1.1M lbs
- Tennessee 708.2K lbs
Reporting for Hydrogen Cyanide is highly concentrated by industry: Petroleum facilities account for 78.5% of the reported total (70 facilities). Next: Chemicals.
- Petroleum 25.0M lbs
- Chemicals 5.8M lbs
- Electrical Equipment 510.5K lbs
- Metal Mining 323.6K lbs
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product 195.4K lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Hydrogen Cyanide. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hydrogen Cyanide in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Hydrogen Cyanide is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Hydrogen Cyanide? ▼
Which facilities disclose the most Hydrogen Cyanide? ▼
What is the CAS number for Hydrogen Cyanide? ▼
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.