Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max in Middlesex County reached 0.072 ppm in 2024, 3% above the EPA NAAQS of 0.07 ppm.
County · TRI 2024
Middlesex County, New Jersey Pollution
10 top TRI facilities tracked here. PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) fell meaningfully year over year (-33%). PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.
FIPS 34023 · population 860,147
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals
Total TRI releases
Total TRI releases at Middlesex County have more than doubled since 2010 (through 2024).
Top facilities mapped
Where Chemicals Are Released In Middlesex County
Each red dot is one of the top TRI facilities. Size reflects 2024 total releases. County boundary outlined in blue.
Pollutant pathways
Middlesex County 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 more than halved 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 23% 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 fallen 43% 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 have more than doubled 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 33% since 2010.
Top facilities · 2024
Where The Chemical Releases Are Concentrated
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Specialty Ingredients (Parlin Plant)Ashland LLC | Parlin | 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) | 878k lb | +37% |
| Veolia Es Technical Solutions L.L.C.Veolia North America | Middlesex | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 598k lb | -14% |
| Madison Industries | Old Bridge | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 587k lb | -48% |
| Ames Advanced Materials CorpAmes Goldsmith CORP | South Plainfield | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 347k lb | -9% |
| Kobo Products INC.Kobo Products INC | South Plainfield | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 51k lb | +469% |
| Equistar Chemicals LPLyondellbasell Finance Co | Edison | n-HexaneHealth riskPeripheral neurotoxin. Chronic exposure causes numbness and paralysis in the extremities. (ATSDR) | 44k lb | +284% |
| Mauser USA LLC - Woodbridge (Nj)Mauser CORP | Woodbridge | Certain glycol ethersHealth riskReproductive toxicants; some cause testicular damage and developmental harm. (EPA) | 39k lb | +124% |
| Parkway Generation Sewaren Energy CenterArclight Energy Partners | Sewaren | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) | 17k lb | -20% |
| Sewaren TerminalShell Petroleum INC | Sewaren | Xylene (mixed isomers)Health riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; central-nervous-system effects from chronic exposure. (EPA) | 15k lb | +11% |
| Univar Solutions USA - CarteretUnivar Solutions USA INC | Carteret | TolueneHealth riskCentral-nervous-system depressant. Chronic high exposure causes hearing loss and developmental effects. (EPA, ATSDR) | 12k lb | -46% |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In Middlesex County
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Resources | Sayreville | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane |
| Chemical Insecticide Corp. | Edison Township | NPL FINAL | No | (4-Chloro-2-Methylphenoxy)Acetic Acid |
| Chemsol, Inc. | Piscataway | NPL FINAL | No | 1,2-DichloroethaneHealth riskIARC Group 2B possible carcinogen; liver and kidney toxic. EPA MCL 5 µg/L. (IARC, EPA) |
| Cornell Dubilier Electronics Inc. | South Plainfield | NPL FINAL | No | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs)Health 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) |
| Cps/Madison Industries | Old Bridge Township | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane |
| Evor Phillips Leasing | Old Bridge Township | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane |
| Fried Industries | East Brunswick Township | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,1-TrichloroethaneHealth riskMethyl chloroform. CNS depressant; ozone-depleting substance phased out under Montreal Protocol. EPA MCL 200 µg/L. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Global Sanitary Landfill | Madison Park | NPL FINAL | No | 1,2-DichlorobenzeneHealth riskLiver and kidney effects from chronic exposure. EPA MCL 600 µg/L. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Horseshoe Road | Sayreville | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane |
| Jis Landfill | South Brunswick | 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. 8 additional NPL-relevant sites in Middlesex County have entity pages — browse them via the host-county or host-city page rollups.
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity
Who Lives In Middlesex County
All block groups in Middlesex County County, NJ: 860,147 residents. County disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (44). Why we surface this →
8.4%
Low-income
60.0%
People of color
5.9%
Under age 5
15.4%
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.30below the national median
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.58near 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.57near 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.80above 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.68above 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.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.68above 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.95in the highest 10% 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.75above 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.88in 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.91in the highest 10% 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.75above 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.86in the highest 20% nationally
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 44 | well below the reference |
| Ozone | 79 | below the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 82 | below the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 110 | near the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 87 | below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 88 | below the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 75 | below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 127 | moderately above the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 96 | near the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 119 | moderately above the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 97 | near the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 97 | near the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 61 | 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 county'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)
8.4%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
COPD prevalence
4.4%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Coronary heart disease
5.1%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Diabetes (diagnosed)
11.6%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Frequent mental distress
13.8%
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 New Jersey 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.
Browse
All 20 Middlesex County Cities With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked city in this county. Alphabetical.
- Avenel pollution· 3 facilities
- Carteret pollution· 2 facilities
- Helmetta pollution· 0 facilities
- Highland Park pollution· 0 facilities
- Iselin pollution· 0 facilities
- Keasbey pollution· 1 facility
- Kendall Park pollution· 1 facility
- Metuchen pollution· 1 facility
- Middlesex pollution· 1 facility
- Milltown pollution· 0 facilities
- New Brunswick pollution· 1 facility
- Old Bridge pollution· 0 facilities
- Perth Amboy pollution· 4 facilities
- Port Reading pollution· 1 facility
- Sayreville pollution· 6 facilities
- Sewaren pollution· 2 facilities
- South Plainfield pollution· 9 facilities
- South River pollution· 0 facilities
- Spotswood pollution· 0 facilities
- Woodbridge pollution· 1 facility
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.
All sources are federal public-domain datasets under 17 USC §105. We aggregate but do not relabel; the underlying observations remain attributable to EPA.