PlainEnviro

EPA TRI Chemical

Lead and Lead Compounds

EPA TRI Category Code: N420

Total releases
1385.2M lbs
Number of facilities
3,582
Carcinogen
No
PBT substance
Yes
Verify at EPA TRI →
PBT

According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Lead and Lead Compounds (EPA TRI Category Code N420) is disclosed by 3,582 Form R facilities totaling 1385.2M lbs of reported releases. It is also listed as a persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT) in the TRI extract. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.

View saved records

Lead and Lead Compounds (EPA TRI Category Code N420) 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 PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic) status above carries a lower TRI reporting threshold than most listed chemicals, reflecting elevated regulatory concern about long-term environmental buildup. The largest individual disclosure in the current dataset comes from RED DOG OPERATIONS in AK at 540.8M 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

Lead and Lead Compounds: how the 1385.2M lbs splits

1385.2M lbs across all reported pathways

  • Land Disposal1311.8M lbs94.7%
  • Off-site Transfers72.4M lbs5.2%
  • Air Releases875.9K lbs0.1%
  • Water Discharges121.2K lbs<0.1%

Lead and Lead Compounds's 1385.2M lbs Form-R total is LAND, with land disposal making up 94.7% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 5.2%.

Trend & Where It's Reported

Reported Release Trend

Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Lead and Lead Compounds releases across all reporting facilities increased by 424% (116.8M lbs → 612.8M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.

Geographic Concentration

Reporting for Lead and Lead Compounds is concentrated: Alaska accounts for 39.2% of the reported total (15 facilities). Next: Utah.

  • Alaska 543.2M lbs
  • Utah 299.9M lbs
  • Nevada 241.8M lbs
  • Arizona 70.9M lbs
  • Missouri 41.5M lbs
Industry Sources

Reporting for Lead and Lead Compounds is highly concentrated by industry: Metal Mining facilities account for 87.5% of the reported total (74 facilities). Next: Primary Metals.

  • Metal Mining 1212.4M lbs
  • Primary Metals 67.6M lbs
  • Hazardous Waste 66.1M lbs
  • Other 10.0M lbs
  • Electrical Equipment 7.7M lbs

Which facilities release the most of this chemical?

Facilities with the largest reported releases of Lead and Lead Compounds. Up to 50 shown.

# Facility Release (lbs)
1 Red Dog Operations
540.8M lbs
2 Kennecott Utah Copper Mine Concentrators & Power Plant
279.1M lbs
3 Robinson Nevada Mining Co
90.3M lbs
4 Nevada Gold Mines Llc-Cortez District
59.9M lbs
5 Nevada Gold Mines LLC - Phoenix Mine
52.3M lbs
6 Max Environmental -- Yukon Facility
28.0M lbs
7 Freeport-McMoran Bagdad Inc
15.1M lbs
8 Freeport-McMoran Morenci Inc
13.7M lbs
9 Hecla Ltd Lucky Friday Mine Unit
13.6M lbs
10 Asarco LLC Mission Complex
12.9M lbs
11 Nevada Gold Mines LLC - Goldstrike Mines Inc
10.9M lbs
12 Nevada Gold Mines LLC - Turquoise Ridge
10.7M lbs
13 Kennecott Utah Copper Smelter & Refinery
10.3M lbs
14 Pinto Valley Mine
10.2M lbs
15 Nyrstar Clarksville Inc
9.6M lbs
16 Ecobat Resources Indiana LLC
8.8M lbs
17 Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax Mine
8.6M lbs
18 Buick Resource Recycling Facility LLC
8.3M lbs
19 Buick Mine/mill
8.3M lbs
20 Brushy Creek Mine/mill
8.2M lbs
21 Chemical Waste Management
7.8M lbs
22 Nevada Gold Mines LLC - Carlin South Area
7.5M lbs
23 Clean Harbors Grassy Mountain LLC
6.9M lbs
24 Ecobat Resources California Inc.
6.8M lbs
25 Chino Mines Co Mine Concentrator-Sxew Plants
6.1M lbs
26 Enersys Delaware Inc.
5.7M lbs
27 Freeport-McMoran Sierrita Inc
5.5M lbs
28 Freeport-McMoran Miami Inc
5.1M lbs
29 Wharf Resources
4.8M lbs
30 Gopher Resource LLC
4.7M lbs
31 Fletcher Mine/mill
4.7M lbs
32 Climax Molybdenum Co Henderson Mill
4.6M lbs
33 Sweetwater Mine/mill
4.5M lbs
34 Freeport-McMoran Safford Inc
4.2M lbs
35 Envirofocus Technologies
4.0M lbs
36 Asarco LLC Ray Mine Operations
3.6M lbs
37 Marigold Mining Co
3.3M lbs
38 Ecobat Resources New York LLC
3.3M lbs
39 Garfield Facility LLC
3.1M lbs
40 Doe Run Co Herculaneum Smelter
3.1M lbs
41 Procter & Gamble Mgf St Louis
2.8M lbs
42 U.S. Silver - Idaho Inc
2.5M lbs
43 Clean Earth of North Jersey Inc
2.4M lbs
44 Freeport-McMoran Tyrone Inc.
2.2M lbs
45 Clean Harbors Buttonwillow LLC
2.1M lbs
46 Oceanagold Haile Gold Mine
2.1M lbs
47 Wayne Disposal Inc
2.0M lbs
48 Fort Knox Mine
1.9M lbs
49 Clean Harbors el Dorado LLC
1.7M lbs
50 Pend Oreille Mine
1.7M lbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lead and Lead Compounds in the EPA TRI? ▼
Lead and Lead Compounds (EPA TRI Category Code: N420) is a chemical tracked by the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. It is not marked as a carcinogen in the TRI classification set. It is classified as a persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT) in the TRI extract. 3,582 facilities in the United States report releasing this chemical to the EPA.
How much Lead and Lead Compounds is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
U.S. facilities have reported a total of 1385.2M lbs of Lead and Lead Compounds releases to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory across 3,582 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 Lead and Lead Compounds? ▼
Lead and Lead Compounds is not marked as a carcinogen in the TRI classification set. It is also listed as a persistent bioaccumulative toxicant (PBT), which uses lower TRI reporting thresholds. 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 Lead and Lead Compounds? ▼
Red Dog Operations in AK reports the largest disclosed release of Lead and Lead Compounds in this dataset, at 540.8M lbs. Most reporting facilities for this chemical fall under metal mining. Release data is self-reported annually to the EPA under the TRI program. View the full list of 3,582 facilities on this page.
Why is Lead and Lead Compounds listed under code N420 instead of a CAS number? ▼
N420 is an EPA TRI Category Code, not a CAS Registry Number. EPA assigns category codes (N-prefix and K-prefix) to chemical groups that share reporting requirements, for example, "Lead and Lead Compounds" covers many distinct compounds aggregated for TRI reporting. Individual constituents may have their own CAS Registry Numbers (e.g., elemental Lead is CAS 7439-92-1), but the group is reported under the single TRI Category Code.

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

Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxicant (PBT): This chemical is classified as a PBT by the EPA. PBT chemicals are toxic, persist in the environment, and bioaccumulate in food chains. Because of these properties, even relatively small releases can pose a significant threat to human health and the environment over time.

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

Browse all → | Rankings →
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.