EPA TRI Chemical
Toluene
CAS Number: 108-88-3
- Total releases
- 90.8M lbs
- Number of facilities
- 2,648
- Carcinogen
- No
- PBT substance
- No
According to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory, Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) is disclosed by 2,648 Form R facilities totaling 90.8M lbs of reported releases. TRI pounds are self-reported disclosure totals, not a measured public-health risk score.
Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) 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 INTERTAPE POLYMER GROUP in MI at 3.9M 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
Toluene: how the 90.8M lbs splits
90.8M lbs across all reported pathways
- Air Releases70.1M lbs77.2%
- Off-site Transfers16.3M lbs17.9%
- Land Disposal4.4M lbs4.8%
- Water Discharges62.4K lbs0.1%
Toluene's 90.8M lbs Form-R total is AIR, with air releases making up 77.2% of the bar. Next segment: off-site transfers at 17.9%.
Trend & Where It's Reported
Between 2019 and 2023, cumulative annual Toluene releases across all reporting facilities increased by 6% (18.5M lbs → 19.7M lbs). Year-to-year swings reflect facility openings/closures and reporting changes as much as underlying activity.
Reporting for Toluene is dispersed: Texas accounts for 15.0% of the reported total (415 facilities). Next: North Carolina.
- Texas 13.7M lbs
- North Carolina 8.0M lbs
- Michigan 7.1M lbs
- Indiana 5.4M lbs
- Pennsylvania 4.5M lbs
Reporting for Toluene is concentrated by industry: Chemicals facilities account for 25.9% of the reported total (804 facilities). Next: Petroleum.
- Chemicals 23.6M lbs
- Petroleum 13.8M lbs
- Paper 10.5M lbs
- Plastics and Rubber 7.3M lbs
- Printing 5.0M lbs
Which facilities release the most of this chemical?
Facilities with the largest reported releases of Toluene. Up to 50 shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Toluene in the EPA TRI? ▼
How much Toluene is disclosed in U.S. TRI filings? ▼
How does EPA TRI classify Toluene? ▼
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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.