IDEM's most recent report of the state’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) shows an overall increase of 18% in total on-site releases to air, land and water in Indiana in 2010.

Data collected from 870 Indiana businesses indicate the amount of toxic releases in water increased by about 12.4 million pounds in 2010 compared to 2009. Air releases increased by 1.9 million pounds, while land releases saw a rise of 1.85 million pounds.

Other data indicated an increase of 16% in the release of carcinogens and a 21% in the releases of persistent bioaccumlative toxics (PBTs) – chemicals that build up in the environment over time.

On-site releases of mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 6% - consistent with a five-year trend of reduced on-site mercury releases.

56% of Indiana’s total reported on-site releases from the 2010 analysis were related to manufacturing. That represents an increase of about 7% from 2009’s figures. Electric utilities made up approximately 43% of the total onsite releases in 2010.

In a press release, IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly said “Many Indiana business and industries actively work to find innovative ways to prevent pollution, improve efficiency, set and meet measurable goals, and successfully reduce toxics and associated wastes. Although RY 2010 data show an overall increase in TRI releases for the year, TRI data in recent years indicate that overall releases continue to trend downward, despite economic fluctuations.”

IDEM's website list programs that include issuing environmental permits to ensure facilities are complying with the most up-to-date regulations and collecting air samples, water samples and fish-tissue samples to monitor changes in environmental quality.

TRI data are collected annually from industries that manufacture or process more than 25,000 pounds of a TRI listed chemical or otherwise use more than 10,000 pounds of a TRI listed chemical during the year.

IDEM provides summary information about Indiana's TRI data on its website at www.idem.IN.gov/4586.htm