Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max in Colorado statewide reached 0.073 ppm in 2024, 4% above the EPA NAAQS of 0.07 ppm.
State · TRI 2024
Colorado Pollution
226 TRI facilities, 1,113 public water systems, and 24 Superfund / NPL sites across 30 counties. Statewide TRI releases rose meaningfully year over year (+15%). Toxic releases concentrations are up 21% since 2010.
FIPS 08 · population 5,773,714 · 64 counties total
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals At The State Level
TRI water releases
TRI water releases at Colorado have risen 64% since 2010 (through 2024).
Where the burden sits
County-Level TRI Choropleth
A color-shaded map of pollution data. Darker counties report more pounds of toxic chemicals released to the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).
Shaded by total reported releases for 2024. Counties without a published page render as “no TRI data”. Red dots mark this state's top emitters.
Statewide pollutant pathways
Colorado Pollutant Multi-Year Trends
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have fallen 25% since 2010.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations have fallen 11% since 2010.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour))Health riskGround-level ozone (smog) forms when vehicle and industrial emissions react in sunlight. Inflames the airways, triggers asthma attacks, and worsens heart and lung disease.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour)) concentrations are roughly unchanged from 2010.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual))Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.
Lifetime cancer risk all pollutants (100 in a million (EPA elevated threshold))Health riskEPA-modeled added cancer cases per million residents from a lifetime of breathing local air toxics. EPA flags 100-in-a-million as elevated.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Formaldehyde ambient mean (0.077 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic emitted by refineries, wood products, and combustion. EPA classifies it as a known human carcinogen — long-term inhalation raises cancer risk.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Benzene ambient mean (0.13 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic from gasoline, refineries, and tobacco smoke. A known human carcinogen — chronic exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as released into the air — fugitive leaks plus smokestack emissions. Higher pounds means more inhaled exposure for nearby residents.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations have fallen 22% since 2010.
TRI water releases (5.3)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as discharged to surface waters (rivers, lakes, the ocean). Affects fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.
TRI water releases (5.3) concentrations are up 64% since 2010.
TRI land + off-site releasesHealth riskToxic chemicals released to land on-site or transferred off-site for disposal — landfills, deep-well injection, and similar. Risks groundwater contamination over time.
TRI land + off-site releases concentrations are up 25% since 2010.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023)Health riskGreenhouse gases reported by large industrial emitters under EPA's GHGRP, in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Drives climate warming and the heat-related health effects that follow.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations are up 19% since 2010.
| County | Population | Facilities | Total releases | YoY | Top chemical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teller CountyFIPS 08119 | 24,758 | 1 | 7.9M lb | +39% | Lead compoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Clear Creek CountyFIPS 08019 | 9,403 | 1 | 4.4M lb | +31% | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) |
| Lake CountyFIPS 08065 | 7,403 | 1 | 3.1M lb | +8% | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| El Paso CountyFIPS 08041 | 730,323 | 21 | 2.0M lb | +205% | Asbestos (friable)Health riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. (IARC, EPA) |
| Grand CountyFIPS 08049 | 15,724 | 2 | 1.7M lb | +23% | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Adams CountyFIPS 08001 | 520,149 | 40 | 1.7M lb | -10% | Aluminum oxide (fibrous forms)Health riskFibrous forms can damage the lungs similar to other particulate dusts. (NIOSH) |
| Pueblo CountyFIPS 08101 | 168,135 | 11 | 1.5M lb | -30% | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) |
| Weld CountyFIPS 08123 | 331,466 | 49 | 1.3M lb | +9% | Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)Health riskDrinking-water nitrate causes methemoglobinemia ('blue-baby syndrome') in infants; EPA MCL is 10 mg/L as N. (EPA) |
| Moffat CountyFIPS 08081 | 13,232 | 3 | 1.2M lb | -10% | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) |
| Morgan CountyFIPS 08087 | 29,045 | 6 | 1.2M lb | -29% | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) |
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining CONewmont Mining CORP | Victor | Lead compoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 7.9M lb | +39% |
| Climax Molybdenum Co-Henderson MineFreeport-Mcmoran INC | Empire | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) | 4.4M lb | +31% |
| Climax Molybdenum Co-Climax MineFreeport-Mcmoran INC | Climax | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 3.1M lb | +8% |
| Climax Molybdenum CO Henderson MillFreeport-Mcmoran INC | Parshall | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 1.7M lb | +23% |
| Colorado Springs Utilities Martin Drake Power PlantColorado Springs Utilities | Colorado Springs | Asbestos (friable)Health riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. (IARC, EPA) | 1.3M lb | +2679% |
| Clean Harbors Deer Trail Llc.Clean Harbors INC | Deer Trail | Aluminum oxide (fibrous forms)Health riskFibrous forms can damage the lungs similar to other particulate dusts. (NIOSH) | 1.1M lb | -24% |
| Public Service CO Of Colorado Comanche StationXcel Energy | Pueblo | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 1.1M lb | -35% |
| Public Service CO Of Colorado Hayden StationXcel Energy | Hayden | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 773k lb | -22% |
| Public Service CO Of Colorado Pawnee StationXcel Energy | Brush | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 745k lb | -22% |
| Tri-State Generation & Transmission-Craig Station | Craig | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 628k lb | -11% |
Water utilities to watch
Largest Water Systems With Unresolved Health-Based Violations
Sorted to surface utilities serving the most people that still have an active health-based SDWIS violation on the record. Systems in compliance with no unresolved issues fall to the bottom of the ranking.
| Water system | PWSID | Population served | Health-based · 5yr | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broomfield City And County Of Municipal | CO0107155 | 106,153 | 5 | UNRESOLVED |
| Brighton City Of Municipal | CO0101025 | 56,304 | 6 | UNRESOLVED |
| Pueblo West Md Municipal | CO0151650 | 30,000 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Breckenridge Town Of Municipal | CO0159020 | 28,315 | 6 | UNRESOLVED |
| Mt Werner Wd Municipal | CO0154524 | 19,000 | 10 | UNRESOLVED |
| Estes Park Town Of Municipal | CO0135257 | 16,722 | 3 | UNRESOLVED |
| Ft Lupton City Of Municipal | CO0162291 | 12,099 | 18 | UNRESOLVED |
| Wellington Town Of Municipal | CO0135838 | 11,720 | 10 | UNRESOLVED |
| Rifle City Of Municipal | CO0123676 | 9,489 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Woodland Park City Of Municipal | CO0160900 | 8,500 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In Colorado
Sites on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List, plus deleted sites whose cleanup objectives EPA has finalized. Federal-facility sites (defense, DOE, etc.) are flagged separately. Each link routes to a per-site page.
| Site | City | Status | Federal facility | Primary contaminant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Plant Pjks | Littleton | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | Aroclor 1016Health riskPCBs. IARC Group 1 carcinogen; immune, reproductive, and neurological effects; bioaccumulate in fish and breast milk. Banned in 1979; persist as legacy contamination. (IARC, EPA) |
| Bonita Peak Mining District | Unincorporated | NPL FINAL | No | ArsenicHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation and ingestion. EPA MCL 10 µg/L; chronic exposure causes skin, lung, bladder cancer and cardiovascular disease. (IARC, EPA, ATSDR) |
| Broderick Wood Products | North Washington | NPL FINAL | No | PentachlorophenolHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen; wood preservative; persistent in soil and groundwater. (IARC, EPA) |
| California Gulch | Leadville | NPL FINAL | No | LeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Captain Jack Mill | Ward | NPL FINAL | No | AntimonyHealth riskInhaled antimony trioxide is an IARC Group 2B possible carcinogen; respiratory and cardiovascular effects from long-term exposure. EPA MCL 6 µg/L. (IARC, EPA) |
| Central City, Clear Creek | Idaho Springs | NPL FINAL | No | ArsenicHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation and ingestion. EPA MCL 10 µg/L; chronic exposure causes skin, lung, bladder cancer and cardiovascular disease. (IARC, EPA, ATSDR) |
| Chemical Sales Co. | Commerce City | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1-DichloroethaneHealth riskSuspected carcinogen (EPA C/likely); CNS depressant. Common at solvent-contaminated sites as a degradation intermediate. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Colorado Smelter | Pueblo | NPL FINAL | No | ArsenicHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation and ingestion. EPA MCL 10 µg/L; chronic exposure causes skin, lung, bladder cancer and cardiovascular disease. (IARC, EPA, ATSDR) |
| Denver Radium Site | Denver | NPL FINAL | No | RadiumHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen (Ra-226 and Ra-228); bone-seeking radionuclide; alpha emitter. EPA combined MCL 5 pCi/L for radium-226+228 in drinking water. (IARC, EPA) |
| Eagle Mine | Minturn | NPL FINAL | No | ArsenicHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation and ingestion. EPA MCL 10 µg/L; chronic exposure causes skin, lung, bladder cancer and cardiovascular disease. (IARC, EPA, ATSDR) |
Showing the top 10 sites by status priority. 14 additional NPL-relevant sites in Colorado have entity pages — browse them via the host-county or host-city page rollups.
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity
Statewide Population Characteristics
All Colorado block groups: 5,773,714 residents. Statewide disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (49). Why we surface this →
State-level percentiles are aggregated from block-group EJScreen data. The EJ pattern within the state will be sharper at the county level — drill down for the meaningful spatial detail.
9.6%
Low-income
33.8%
People of color
5.9%
Under age 5
14.8%
Over age 64
- PM2.5 (fine particulate)Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.32below the national median
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.90in the highest 10% nationally
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.53near the national median
- Diesel particulateHealth riskSoot from diesel engines (trucks, trains, ports, construction). EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen and a major driver of childhood asthma near freight corridors.65above the national median
- Toxic releases (RSEI)Health riskEPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators score — weights TRI chemical releases by toxicity, where they go, and how many people are nearby. Higher means greater modeled cancer and chronic-health risk.80in the highest 20% nationally
- Traffic proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to high-volume roads. Living close to heavy traffic raises exposure to PM2.5, NO₂, and diesel exhaust — and the cardiovascular and asthma risks that follow.66above the national median
- Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)Health riskShare of housing built before 1960, when lead-based paint was common. Dust from deteriorating paint is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning, which permanently impairs cognitive development.51near the national median
- Superfund site proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to NPL Superfund sites — the most contaminated waste sites in the country. Nearby groundwater, soil, and air can carry industrial solvents, metals, and other long-lived contaminants.83in the highest 20% nationally
- RMP-facility proximityHealth riskDistance to facilities holding chemicals at quantities large enough to require an EPA Risk Management Plan (refineries, fertilizer plants, etc.). These pose acute exposure risk during accidental releases.67above the national median
- Hazardous-waste site proximityHealth riskDistance to RCRA hazardous-waste handlers (treatment, storage, disposal facilities). Indicates potential exposure to industrial chemicals in air, soil, and groundwater.46near the national median
- Underground storage tanksHealth riskDensity of underground tanks (gasoline, heating oil, industrial fluids). Leaking tanks are a leading source of benzene and other volatile organic compounds in groundwater drinking-water supplies.70above the national median
- NPDES wastewater proximityHealth riskDistance to permitted industrial wastewater dischargers. Closer proximity raises exposure to pollutants released into surface waters used for fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.89in the highest 20% nationally
- Drinking-water non-complianceHealth riskEPA score for public water systems with health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Higher means more residents on systems that recently exceeded safe limits for contaminants like lead, arsenic, or nitrate.79above the national median
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 49 | well below the reference |
| Ozone | 101 | near the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 59 | below the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 60 | below the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 54 | below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 61 | below the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 37 | well below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 45 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 61 | below the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 41 | well below the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 59 | below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 83 | below the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 14 | well below the reference |
Source: Census ACS 2018-2022 (5-year) + USEPA-clone EJ blockgroup stats (raw indicators + EJ disparity mirror). EJ disparity scores via the USEPA-clone GitHub mirror after EPA deprecated the public EJScreen tool in 2025; demographics from Census ACS.
Browse
All 30 Colorado Counties With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked county. Alphabetical.
- Adams County pollution· 40 facilities
- Alamosa County pollution· 1 facility
- Arapahoe County pollution· 4 facilities
- Boulder County pollution· 15 facilities
- Broomfield County pollution· 3 facilities
- Clear Creek County pollution· 1 facility
- Denver County pollution· 14 facilities
- Douglas County pollution· 10 facilities
- Eagle County pollution· 1 facility
- El Paso County pollution· 21 facilities
- Elbert County pollution· 2 facilities
- Fremont County pollution· 2 facilities
- Garfield County pollution· 2 facilities
- Grand County pollution· 2 facilities
- Jefferson County pollution· 12 facilities
- La Plata County pollution· 2 facilities
- Lake County pollution· 1 facility
- Larimer County pollution· 9 facilities
- Logan County pollution· 1 facility
- Mesa County pollution· 7 facilities
- Moffat County pollution· 3 facilities
- Morgan County pollution· 6 facilities
- Prowers County pollution· 1 facility
- Pueblo County pollution· 11 facilities
- Rio Blanco County pollution· 2 facilities
- Routt County pollution· 1 facility
- Summit County pollution· 1 facility
- Teller County pollution· 1 facility
- Weld County pollution· 49 facilities
- Yuma County pollution· 1 facility
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.