State · TRI 2024
South Carolina Pollution
484 TRI facilities, 557 public water systems, and 34 Superfund / NPL sites across 45 counties. Statewide TRI releases held roughly steady year over year (-3%). Toxic releases concentrations have fallen 43% since 2010.
FIPS 45 · population 5,118,425 · 46 counties total
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
South Carolina 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 45% 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 44% 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 25% 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 fallen 37% 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 49% 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 have fallen 27% 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 have fallen 37% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley CountyFIPS 45015 | 231,419 | 22 | 6.5M lb | +9% | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) |
| Lancaster CountyFIPS 45057 | 97,611 | 9 | 4.9M lb | -7% | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) |
| Georgetown CountyFIPS 45043 | 63,594 | 6 | 3.6M lb | +4% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Richland CountyFIPS 45079 | 416,161 | 25 | 3.4M lb | +3% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| York CountyFIPS 45091 | 282,987 | 24 | 2.2M lb | -33% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Orangeburg CountyFIPS 45075 | 84,159 | 12 | 1.5M lb | -4% | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) |
| Marlboro CountyFIPS 45069 | 26,585 | 5 | 1.3M lb | +6% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Florence CountyFIPS 45041 | 137,015 | 14 | 1.2M lb | -24% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Greenville CountyFIPS 45045 | 528,251 | 58 | 1.1M lb | +28% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| Darlington CountyFIPS 45031 | 63,025 | 6 | 929k lb | +24% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanagold Haile Gold Mine | Kershaw | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) | 4.6M lb | -8% |
| Nucor Steel-BerkeleyNucor CORP | Huger | Manganese And Manganese CompoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) | 2.9M lb | +11% |
| International Paper Georgetown MillInternational Paper Co | Georgetown | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 2.7M lb | +11% |
| Sylvamo Eastover MillSylvamo North America LLC | Eastover | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 1.9M lb | +2% |
| Cross Generating StationSouth Carolina Public Service Authority | Pineville | Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size)Health riskAcid mists are an IARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation (laryngeal cancer) and corrosive on contact. (IARC) | 1.6M lb | +41% |
| New-Indy Catawba LLCNew-Indy Containerboard LLC | Catawba | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 1.6M lb | -36% |
| Domtar Paper CODomtar CORP | Bennettsville | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 1.2M lb | -2% |
| Si Group INCSi Group INC | Orangeburg | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) | 978k lb | -14% |
| Westrock Cp LLCSmurfit Westrock US Holding Co | Florence | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 965k lb | -12% |
| Milliken Chemical Allen PlantMilliken & Co | Blacksburg | 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) | 813k lb | +42% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia City Of (Sc4010001) Municipal | SC4010001 | 319,500 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Bjw&Sa (0720003) Municipal | SC0720003 | 145,634 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Aiken City Of (Sc0210001) Municipal | SC0210001 | 45,090 | 7 | UNRESOLVED |
| York County East Wd (Sc4620002) Municipal | SC4620002 | 30,225 | 5 | UNRESOLVED |
| York County West Wd (Sc4620003) Private | SC4620003 | 18,273 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| Bucksport Water Company (Sc2620003) Private | SC2620003 | 17,123 | 8 | UNRESOLVED |
| Gilbert-Summit Wd (3220001) Municipal | SC3220001 | 10,400 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Pickens Wtp (Sc3910001) Municipal | SC3910001 | 10,263 | 6 | UNRESOLVED |
| Mccormick Co W&Sa (Sc3520002) Municipal | SC3520002 | 8,500 | 16 | UNRESOLVED |
| Wcwsa (Sc4510007) Private | SC4510007 | 7,099 | 9 | UNRESOLVED |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In South Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua-Tech Environmental Inc (Groce Labs) | Greer | NPL FINAL | No | 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane |
| Barite Hill/Nevada Goldfields | Mccormick | NPL FINAL | No | AluminumHealth riskInhaled aluminum fumes can cause lung scarring (aluminosis); high cumulative exposure has been linked to neurological effects. (NIOSH) |
| Beaunit Corp. (Circular Knit & Dyeing Plant) | Fountain Inn | NPL FINAL | No | 2-Methylnaphthalene |
| Brewer Gold Mine | Jefferson | NPL FINAL | No | AluminumHealth riskInhaled aluminum fumes can cause lung scarring (aluminosis); high cumulative exposure has been linked to neurological effects. (NIOSH) |
| Burlington Industries Cheraw | Cheraw | NPL FINAL | No | — |
| Carolawn, Inc. | Fort Lawn | 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) |
| Clearwater Finishing | Clearwater | NPL FINAL | No | — |
| Elmore Waste Disposal | Greer | 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) |
| Galey And Lord Plant | Society Hill | NPL FINAL | No | — |
| Helena Chemical Co. Landfill | Fairfax | NPL FINAL | No | AldrinHealth riskMetabolizes to dieldrin in the body. EPA classifies as 'probable human carcinogen'; banned in the US in 1987. (EPA, ATSDR) |
Showing the top 10 sites by status priority. 24 additional NPL-relevant sites in South Carolina 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 South Carolina block groups: 5,118,425 residents. Statewide disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (48). 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.
14.4%
Low-income
37.0%
People of color
5.9%
Under age 5
18.2%
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.13below 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.18below 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.34below 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.34below 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.46near 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.75above 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.56near 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.42near 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.69above 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.74above 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.77above the national median
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 48 | well below the reference |
| Ozone | 24 | well below the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 30 | well below the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 47 | well below the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 83 | below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 41 | well below the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 46 | well below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 37 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 55 | below the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 46 | well below the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 73 | below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 69 | below the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 9 | 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 45 South Carolina Counties With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked county. Alphabetical.
- Abbeville County pollution· 5 facilities
- Aiken County pollution· 13 facilities
- Allendale County pollution· 3 facilities
- Anderson County pollution· 19 facilities
- Bamberg County pollution· 1 facility
- Barnwell County pollution· 4 facilities
- Beaufort County pollution· 4 facilities
- Berkeley County pollution· 22 facilities
- Calhoun County pollution· 6 facilities
- Charleston County pollution· 24 facilities
- Cherokee County pollution· 12 facilities
- Chester County pollution· 13 facilities
- Chesterfield County pollution· 6 facilities
- Clarendon County pollution· 1 facility
- Colleton County pollution· 2 facilities
- Darlington County pollution· 6 facilities
- Dillon County pollution· 3 facilities
- Dorchester County pollution· 14 facilities
- Edgefield County pollution· 1 facility
- Fairfield County pollution· 6 facilities
- Florence County pollution· 14 facilities
- Georgetown County pollution· 6 facilities
- Greenville County pollution· 58 facilities
- Greenwood County pollution· 11 facilities
- Hampton County pollution· 3 facilities
- Horry County pollution· 12 facilities
- Jasper County pollution· 3 facilities
- Kershaw County pollution· 7 facilities
- Lancaster County pollution· 9 facilities
- Laurens County pollution· 10 facilities
- Lee County pollution· 1 facility
- Lexington County pollution· 18 facilities
- Marion County pollution· 1 facility
- Marlboro County pollution· 5 facilities
- Newberry County pollution· 12 facilities
- Oconee County pollution· 12 facilities
- Orangeburg County pollution· 12 facilities
- Pickens County pollution· 8 facilities
- Richland County pollution· 25 facilities
- Saluda County pollution· 2 facilities
- Spartanburg County pollution· 50 facilities
- Sumter County pollution· 12 facilities
- Union County pollution· 2 facilities
- Williamsburg County pollution· 2 facilities
- York County pollution· 24 facilities
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.