City · TRI 2024

Granite City, Illinois Pollution

10 TRI facilities inside the city limits and 2 public water systems serving residents. In-city TRI releases fell sharply year over year (-74%). Toxic releases concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

FIPS 1730926 · population 27,026 · Madison County

IN-CITY TRI RELEASES · 20102024
Bar chart of annual values from 2010 to 2024, in lb. Most recent year (2024): 410k.7.8M'10'12'14'16'18'20'22'24410k
Anomaly engine

Notable Signals

LONG-ARC IMPROVEMENT · LONG-ARC SHIFT

Total TRI releases

Total TRI releases at Granite City have more than three-quarters since 2010 (through 2024).

Pollutant pathways

Granite City Pollutant Multi-Year Trends

CRITERIA AIRSINCE 2010

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.

8.06 µg/m³ · -16% YoY · -54% since 2010

PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

CRITERIA AIRSINCE 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.

18.14 µg/m³ · -11% YoY · -48% since 2010

PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations have fallen 48% since 2010.

CRITERIA AIRSINCE 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.

0.068 ppm · -12% YoY · -15% since 2010

Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour)) concentrations have fallen 15% since 2010.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

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.

31.7 per million · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

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.

1.59 µg/m³ · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

HAZARDOUS AIR2020 VINTAGE

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.

0.15 µg/m³ · 2020 vintage

Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.

TRI AIRSINCE 2010

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.

156k lb · -20% YoY · -73% since 2010

TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

TRI WATERSINCE 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.

170k lb · -17% YoY · -73% since 2010

TRI water releases (5.3) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

TRI LANDSINCE 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.

84k lb · -93% YoY · -99% since 2010

TRI land + off-site releases concentrations have more than halved since 2010.

GHGSINCE 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.

53.9M metric tons CO₂e · +11% YoY · +345% since 2010

Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations have more than doubled since 2010.

Top facilities · TRI 2024

Largest Emitters Inside The City

FacilityTop chemicalTotal releasesYoY
U.S. Steel Granite City WorksUS Steel CORPNitrate 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)190k lb-86%
Precoat MetalsAzz INCCertain glycol ethersHealth riskReproductive toxicants; some cause testicular damage and developmental harm. (EPA)96k lb+1%
Gateway Energy & Coke COSuncoke Energy INCHydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size)Health riskAerosolized HCl is a corrosive respiratory irritant; chronic exposure damages teeth and respiratory tissue. (NIOSH)87k lb-12%
Amsted Rail CO INCAmsted Industries INCZinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR)25k lb-45%
Heidtman Steel Products INC.Heidtman Steel Products INCManganeseHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR)6k lb+585%
Mayco Manufacturing LLCMayco Holdings LLCLead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR)3k lb+2047%
Midwest Metal CoatingsAzz INCCertain glycol ethersHealth riskReproductive toxicants; some cause testicular damage and developmental harm. (EPA)2k lb+32%
Granite City Pickling & Warehousing INC.Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size)Health riskAerosolized HCl is a corrosive respiratory irritant; chronic exposure damages teeth and respiratory tissue. (NIOSH)255 lb-58%
Custom Steel Processing INC.ManganeseHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR)60 lb
Prairie Farms Dairy INCPrairie Farms Dairy INCPeracetic acidHealth riskStrong respiratory and eye irritant; corrosive at high concentrations. (NIOSH)54 lb+8%
Drinking water · SDWIS

Water Systems Serving Granite City

No health-based SDWIS violations recorded across utilities serving this city in the past 5 years.

SDWIS · 5-YR WINDOW
2

Utilities serving

SDWIS · 5-YR WINDOW
8,578

Population served

SDWIS · 5-YR WINDOW
0

Health-based · 5yr

SDWIS · 5-YR WINDOW
0

Unresolved

Every public water system serving this city is in compliance with no recorded health-based SDWIS violations in the past 5 years. The 2 systems on record are not individually tabulated here; click through any utility to see its full record.

A public water systemis the regulated entity, not the city. EPA's SDWIS definition covers anything serving 25+ people for 60+ days a year or with 15+ service connections — that includes municipal utilities (City of Stockton), water districts, mobile home parks operating their own wells, schools, and small private subdivisions. Each system is independently monitored. Some systems serve multiple cities; some cities are served by many systems.

Superfund / NPL sites

Federal Cleanup Sites In Granite City

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.

Methodology →

SiteStatusFederal facilityPrimary contaminant
Jennison-Wright CorporationNPL FINALNo2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin (Tcdd) Toxicity Equivalents (Teq)
Nl Industries/Taracorp Lead SmelterNPL FINALNoLeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR)
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity

Who Lives In Granite City

Granite City, Illinois (Census place block groups): 27,026 residents. City disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits below the reference (89). Why we surface this →

POPULATION SHARE
18.6%

Low-income

POPULATION SHARE
21.6%

People of color

POPULATION SHARE
5.9%

Under age 5

POPULATION SHARE
17.1%

Over age 64

NATIONAL PERCENTILE · vs all US block groups (population-weighted; ranked against the national EJScreen indicator distribution)

  • 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.75above the national median
  • OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.74above the national median
  • 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.60above 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.71above 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.82in 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.51near 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.80above 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.98in the highest 5% 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.96in the highest 5% nationally
  • 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.83in the highest 20% nationally
  • 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.89in the highest 20% nationally
  • 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.95in the highest 5% 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.76above the national median
EJ disparity scores · population-weighted across city block groups (100 = national reference; higher = greater disparate burden)
IndicatorDisparity scoreReading
PM2.5 (fine particulate)89below the reference
Ozone87below the reference
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)69below the reference
Diesel particulate79below the reference
Toxic releases (RSEI)93near the reference
Traffic proximity60below the reference
Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)87below the reference
Superfund site proximity111moderately above the reference
RMP-facility proximity107near the reference
Hazardous-waste site proximity95near the reference
Underground storage tanks70below the reference
NPDES wastewater proximity106near the reference
Drinking-water non-compliance0well below the reference

Source: Census ACS 2018-2022 (5-year) + USEPA-clone EJ blockgroup stats (raw indicators + EJ disparity mirror).

Health context

Co-Located Health Indicators

Modeled adult-prevalence estimates published by CDC PLACES, paired with this city's pollution and demographic context. Comparisons are ecological, not causal — pollution and disease prevalence covary at the area level, but the data does not attribute any individual's diagnosis to local exposure. How this section works →

Adult asthma (current)

BRFSS 2023
11.2%
+14% vs Illinois mean+13% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

COPD prevalence

BRFSS 2023
9.1%
+40% vs Illinois mean+42% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Coronary heart disease

BRFSS 2023
7.2%
+19% vs Illinois mean+11% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Diabetes (diagnosed)

BRFSS 2023
12.8%
+7% vs Illinois mean+4% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Frequent mental distress

BRFSS 2023
19.1%
+24% vs Illinois mean+21% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

PLACES uses BRFSS-modeled small-area estimates, not individual records. Crude prevalence shown above is the local rate as published; comparators are age-adjusted vs the Illinois mean and the US mean — both population-weighted across counties — so geographies with different age structures stay apples-to-apples. Sources: CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023.

Sources.