Government Database Shows Pollution Declining in U.S.

Pollution is down in the United States. An annual inventory of pollutants collected from industries, utilities and other enterprises shows a 12 percent drop in air pollutants in 2012 and a 19 percent decline in water, air and land pollutants since 2003.

U.S. air pollution is declining, according to an annual inventory of toxic releases issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Data from 2012, the latest available, show an 8 percent decline in hazardous air pollutants released by more than 21,000 facilities required by law to report this information each year.

The almost 30-year-old Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) also collects data on emissions on land and in water, showing an overarching 12 percent decline in all classes of harmful pollutants since 2011. The EPA reports a downward trend in pollutant releases on a larger timescale, with toxic releases down 19 percent since 2003.

The law requires companies — manufacturers, utilities, mines, factories — to report the data, and it requires EPA to make the data available to the public.

"People deserve to know what toxic chemicals are being used and released in their backyards, and what companies are doing to prevent pollution,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

Any citizen can access the TRI database to check up on the level of pollutants being reported in their communities.

The 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act came into law in response to public concern raised by deadly chemical releases that occurred at that time. Public awareness about the state of the environment remains high, as residents of Salt Lake City demonstrated in a January rally for cleaner air, seen above.

The TRI also reports on positive actions being taken to reduce pollutant releases. In 2012, about 15 percent of the reporting facilities described more than 10,000 specific activities they have undertaken to reduce pollutant releases.