EPA TRI Chemical
Hydroquinone
CAS Number: 123-31-9
- Total releases
- 2.1M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 60
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Hydroquinone (CAS 123-31-9) is disclosed by 60 Form R facilities totaling 2.1M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Hydroquinone (CAS 123-31-9) 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 INEOS NITRILES USA LLC GREEN LAKE PLANT in TX at 671.7K 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
Hydroquinone: how the 2.1M lbs splits
2.1M lbs across all reported pathways
- Land Disposal1.6M lbs76.9%
- Off-site Transfers380.1K lbs18.1%
- Air Releases78.8K lbs3.8%
- Water Discharges25.0K lbs1.2%
Hydroquinone's 2.1M lbs Form-R total is LAND, with land disposal making up 76.9% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 18.1%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Hydroquinone releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 33% (512.9K lbs → 342.8K lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Hydroquinone is concentrated: Texas accounts for 45.6% of the reported total (24 facilities). Next: Ohio.
- Texas 956.3K lbs
- Ohio 322.1K lbs
- Louisiana 287.7K lbs
- Tennessee 226.9K lbs
- New York 117.7K lbs
Reporting for Hydroquinone is highly concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 91.6% of the reported total (46 facilities). Next: Hazardous Waste.
- Chemicals 1.9M lbs
- Hazardous Waste 175.9K lbs
- Computers and Electronic Products 55 lbs
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product 22 lbs
- Petroleum 0 lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Hydroquinone. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hydroquinone in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Hydroquinone is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Hydroquinone? ▼
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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.