EPA TRI Chemical
Nitric Acid
CAS Number: 7697-37-2
- Total releases
- 67.5M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 2,001
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Nitric Acid (CAS 7697-37-2) is disclosed by 2,001 Form R facilities totaling 67.5M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Nitric Acid (CAS 7697-37-2) 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 ADVANCION CORP in LA at 19.0M 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.
MIXED pathway mix
Nitric Acid: how the 67.5M lbs splits
67.5M lbs across all reported pathways
- Land Disposal38.4M lbs57.0%
- Off-site Transfers19.1M lbs28.4%
- Air Releases8.7M lbs12.8%
- Water Discharges1.2M lbs1.8%
Nitric Acid's 67.5M lbs Form-R total is MIXED, with land disposal making up 57.0% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 28.4%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Nitric Acid releases across all reporting facilities decreased by 24% (15.2M lbs → 11.5M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Nitric Acid is concentrated: Louisiana accounts for 32.4% of the reported total (20 facilities). Next: Ohio.
- Louisiana 21.8M lbs
- Ohio 15.7M lbs
- Texas 6.4M lbs
- Nevada 3.3M lbs
- California 1.8M lbs
Reporting for Nitric Acid is concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 42.1% of the reported total (333 facilities). Next: Hazardous Waste.
- Chemicals 28.4M lbs
- Hazardous Waste 19.2M lbs
- Food 6.0M lbs
- Fabricated Metals 5.3M lbs
- Primary Metals 4.3M lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Nitric Acid. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nitric Acid in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Nitric Acid is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Nitric Acid? ▼
Which facilities disclose the most Nitric Acid? ▼
What is the CAS number for Nitric Acid? ▼
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.