TRI land + off-site releases
TRI land + off-site releases at Massachusetts have risen 58% since 2010 (through 2024).
State · TRI 2024
Massachusetts Pollution
287 TRI facilities, 559 public water systems, and 41 Superfund / NPL sites across 13 counties. Statewide TRI releases rose meaningfully year over year (+16%). Toxic releases concentrations have fallen 11% since 2010.
FIPS 25 · population 7,029,917 · 14 counties total
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals At The State Level
TRI air releases
TRI air releases at Massachusetts have more than three-quarters 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
Massachusetts 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 more than halved 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 46% 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 have fallen 16% since 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 more than halved 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) volumes here are too small to anchor a multi-year trend; YoY movement is still shown above.
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 58% 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 have fallen 26% since 2010.
| County | Population | Facilities | Total releases | YoY | Top chemical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex CountyFIPS 25017 | 1,623,109 | 61 | 1.8M lb | +41% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Hampden CountyFIPS 25013 | 464,575 | 30 | 1.2M lb | +11% | 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) |
| Norfolk CountyFIPS 25021 | 722,112 | 28 | 588k lb | +111% | CopperHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) |
| Bristol CountyFIPS 25005 | 576,699 | 38 | 432k lb | +16% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| Worcester CountyFIPS 25027 | 858,898 | 56 | 204k lb | -20% | 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) |
| Franklin CountyFIPS 25011 | 70,980 | 5 | 95k lb | +3% | Ozone |
| Essex CountyFIPS 25009 | 806,103 | 30 | 60k lb | -85% | TolueneHealth riskCentral-nervous-system depressant. Chronic high exposure causes hearing loss and developmental effects. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Plymouth CountyFIPS 25023 | 529,548 | 12 | 38k lb | -41% | CopperHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) |
| Hampshire CountyFIPS 25015 | 153,931 | 5 | 35k lb | -6% | N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidoneHealth riskReproductive and developmental toxicant; absorbed through skin. (EPA) |
| Berkshire CountyFIPS 25003 | 128,763 | 7 | 32k lb | +4% | FormaldehydeHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Linked to nasopharyngeal cancer; irritates the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract at low concentrations. (IARC, EPA) |
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solutia INCEastman Chemical Co | Springfield | 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) | 573k lb | +16% |
| Thermo Fisher ScientificThermo Fisher Scientific INC | Chelmsford | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 431k lb | +23% |
| Callaway Golf Ball Operations INCCallaway Golf Co | Chicopee | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 398k lb | +10% |
| Thermo Fisher ScientificThermo Fisher Scientific INC | Bedford | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 376k lb | +9668% |
| Wollaston AlloysConsolidated Precision Products CORP | Braintree | CopperHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) | 348k lb | +188% |
| Acushnet CO Ball Plant IIAcushnet Holdings CORP | North Dartmouth | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 176k lb | +92% |
| Skyworks Solutions INCSkyworks Solutions INC | Woburn | N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidoneHealth riskReproductive and developmental toxicant; absorbed through skin. (EPA) | 161k lb | -6% |
| Chemgenes CorpChemgenes CORP | Wilmington | Chloroform | 152k lb | -9% |
| Clean Harbors Of Braintree INC.Clean Harbors INC | Braintree | Polychlorinated biphenylsHealth 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) | 138k lb | +109% |
| Ideal Tape COAmerican Biltrite INC | Lowell | TolueneHealth riskCentral-nervous-system depressant. Chronic high exposure causes hearing loss and developmental effects. (EPA, ATSDR) | 103k 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Water And Sewer Commission (Mwra) Municipal | MA3035000 | 675,647 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| Springfield Water And Sewer Commission Municipal | MA1281000 | 167,954 | 12 | UNRESOLVED |
| Medford Water Dept. (Mwra) Municipal | MA3176000 | 61,700 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Billerica Water Works Municipal | MA3031000 | 42,119 | 7 | UNRESOLVED |
| Amherst Dpw Water Division Municipal | MA1008000 | 39,263 | 3 | UNRESOLVED |
| Andover Water Dept Municipal | MA3009000 | 36,569 | 3 | UNRESOLVED |
| Abington/Rockland Joint Wtr. Works Municipal | MA4001000 | 33,647 | 2 | UNRESOLVED |
| Tewksbury Water Department Municipal | MA3295000 | 31,342 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Melrose Water Division (Mwra) Municipal | MA3178000 | 29,357 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| Agawam Water Department Municipal | MA1005000 | 28,692 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In Massachusetts
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Tack Corp. | Fairhaven | NPL FINAL | No | 1,2-Dihydroacenaphthylene |
| Baird & Mcguire | Holbrook | 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) |
| Bjat Llc | Franklin Town | NPL FINAL | No | — |
| Blackburn & Union Privileges | Walpole | NPL FINAL | No | 2-Methylnaphthalene |
| Charles George Reclamation Trust Landfill | Tyngsborough | NPL FINAL | No | 2-Butanone (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) |
| Creese & Cook Tannery (Former) | Danvers | 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) |
| Fort Devens | Devens | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | 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) |
| Groveland Wells | Groveland | NPL FINAL | No | TrichloroetheneHealth riskTCE. IARC Group 1 carcinogen — kidney cancer; suspected liver cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. EPA MCL 5 µg/L; common DNAPL groundwater plume contaminant. (IARC, EPA, ATSDR) |
| Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base | Bedford | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | Chloroethene (Vinyl Chloride)Health riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen — angiosarcoma of the liver. Final TCE/PCE biodegradation product; commonly found in groundwater plumes. EPA MCL 2 µg/L. (IARC, EPA) |
| Haverhill Municipal Landfill | Haverhill | NPL FINAL | No | — |
Showing the top 10 sites by status priority. 31 additional NPL-relevant sites in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts block groups: 7,029,917 residents. Statewide disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (13). 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.
9.9%
Low-income
31.1%
People of color
5.2%
Under age 5
17.1%
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.10below the national median
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.31below 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.62above 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.54near 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.78above the national median
- 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.94in the highest 10% nationally
- 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.78above 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.78above the national median
- 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.57near 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.91in the highest 10% 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.73above 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.73above the national median
- 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.90in the highest 10% nationally
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 13 | well below the reference |
| Ozone | 31 | well below the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 66 | below the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 55 | below the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 65 | below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 86 | below the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 72 | below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 43 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 48 | well below the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 81 | below the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 64 | below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 47 | well below the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 40 | 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 13 Massachusetts Counties With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked county. Alphabetical.
- Barnstable County pollution· 6 facilities
- Berkshire County pollution· 7 facilities
- Bristol County pollution· 38 facilities
- Essex County pollution· 30 facilities
- Franklin County pollution· 5 facilities
- Hampden County pollution· 30 facilities
- Hampshire County pollution· 5 facilities
- Middlesex County pollution· 61 facilities
- Nantucket County pollution· 1 facility
- Norfolk County pollution· 28 facilities
- Plymouth County pollution· 12 facilities
- Suffolk County pollution· 8 facilities
- Worcester County pollution· 56 facilities
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.