Toxic Waste (Superfund & TRI Sites)
Environmental Risk Factor
Toxic waste sites include Superfund sites designated under CERCLA for federal cleanup of the most contaminated locations in America, and Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities that report annual releases of hazardous chemicals to the environment. Living near these sites is associated with elevated health risks from soil, water, and air contamination. The United States has over 1,300 active Superfund sites on the National Priorities List. Additionally, thousands of TRI facilities legally release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals annually. Communities of color and low-income populations are disproportionately located near these hazardous sites.
How It's Measured
We count the number of Superfund National Priorities List sites and TRI reporting facilities within a defined radius of each location. Superfund sites are ranked using the EPA Hazard Ranking System, which considers waste characteristics, potential for release, and proximity to populations. TRI data comes from mandatory annual reports by facilities that manufacture, process, or use listed toxic chemicals above threshold quantities. We also consider the status of cleanup activities and types of contaminants present.
Health Effects
- ⚠️Increased cancer rates in communities near toxic sites
- ⚠️Birth defects and developmental disorders
- ⚠️Neurological damage from heavy metal exposure
- ⚠️Liver, kidney, and immune system damage
- ⚠️Respiratory illness from airborne contaminants
- ⚠️Skin disorders from contaminated soil or water contact
Data Sources
- 📊EPA Superfund National Priorities List database
- 📊EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program
- 📊ATSDR health assessments for Superfund sites
- 📊State environmental agency cleanup databases
How to Protect Yourself
- ✓Search your address at EPA NEPAssist and Envirofacts databases
- ✓Review Superfund site cleanup progress on the EPA website
- ✓Test soil in your yard if near former industrial areas
- ✓Attend public meetings about nearby contamination cleanup
- ✓Avoid direct contact with soil near known contamination sites
- ✓Check TRI Explorer for facilities releasing chemicals in your area