County · TRI 2024

Ector County, Texas Pollution

10 top TRI facilities tracked here. PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) rose modestly year over year (+6%). PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations are roughly unchanged from 2010.

FIPS 48135 · population 162,300

PM2.5 ANNUAL MEAN (NAAQS 9 ΜG/M³ (ANNUAL)) · 20102024
Bar chart of annual values from 2010 to 2024, in µg/m³. Most recent year (2024): 7 µg/m³.8 µg/m³'10'18'19'20'21'22'23'247 µg/m³
Anomaly engine

Notable Signals

LONG-ARC REGRESSION · LONG-ARC SHIFT

Total TRI releases

Total TRI releases at Ector County have risen 93% since 2010 (through 2024).

Top facilities mapped

Where Chemicals Are Released In Ector County

Each red dot is one of the top TRI facilities. Size reflects 2024 total releases. County boundary outlined in blue.

STYLE10 TRI facilities · Ector County
Pollutant pathways

Ector County 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.

7.29 µg/m³ · +6% YoY · -5% since 2010

PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations are roughly unchanged from 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.

19.10 µg/m³ · +21% YoY · +22% since 2010

PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations are up 22% 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.

20.2 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.

1.22 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.

0.40 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.

228k lb · +25% YoY · +63% since 2010

TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations are up 63% 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.

0 lb · YoY · since 2010

TRI water releases (5.3) volumes here are too small to anchor a multi-year trend; YoY movement is still shown above.

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.

75k lb · -23% YoY · +325% since 2010

TRI land + off-site releases concentrations have more than doubled 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.

4.5M metric tons CO₂e · +22% YoY · +79% since 2010

Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations are up 79% since 2010.

Top facilities · 2024

Where The Chemical Releases Are Concentrated

FacilityCityTop chemicalTotal releasesYoY
Gcc Permian LLC - Odessa Cement PlantGcc Of AmericaOdessaAmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA)80k lb-5%
Championx-Odessa PlantChampionx CORPOdessaAmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA)61k lb+341%
Catalyst Oilfield Services 2016 LLCAes Drilling Fluids Holdings LLCGardendaleEthylene glycolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested. Metabolizes to compounds that cause kidney failure. (EPA)52k lb+45%
Dcp Goldsmith PlantPhillips 66 CoGoldsmithHydrogen sulfideHealth riskAcutely toxic at high concentrations (paralyzes the olfactory nerve, then respiratory failure); chronic low-level exposure causes eye and respiratory irritation. (NIOSH)28k lb-61%
Halliburton Odessa Field CampHalliburton Energy Services INCOdessaMethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA)26k lb+74%
Rextac LLCOrion PacificOdessaPropyleneHealth riskSimple asphyxiant; low direct toxicity at typical exposure levels. (NIOSH)22k lb-16%
Univar Solutions USA INC OdessaUnivar Solutions USA INCOdessaXylene (mixed isomers)Health riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; central-nervous-system effects from chronic exposure. (EPA)12k lb+11%
Coastal Chemical CO. LLCBrenntag North America INCOdessaMethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA)11k lb+20%
Pilot Thomas Logistics LLC - Odessa Andrews HighwayMaxum Enterprises LLCOdessaMethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA)4k lb+16%
James Lake Gas PlantPhillips 66 CoGoldsmithn-HexaneHealth riskPeripheral neurotoxin. Chronic exposure causes numbness and paralysis in the extremities. (ATSDR)2k lb+158%
Superfund / NPL sites

Federal Cleanup Sites In Ector 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.

Methodology →

SiteCityStatusFederal facilityPrimary contaminant
East 67Th Street Ground Water PlumeOdessaNPL FINALNo1,1-DichloroethaneHealth riskSuspected carcinogen (EPA C/likely); CNS depressant. Common at solvent-contaminated sites as a degradation intermediate. (EPA, ATSDR)
Northwest Odessa GroundwaterOdessaNPL FINALNo
Odessa Chromium #1OdessaNPL FINALNoChromiumHealth riskHexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation, causing lung cancer; trivalent chromium is far less toxic. (IARC, EPA)
Sprague Road Ground Water PlumeOdessaNPL FINALNo1,1-DichloroetheneHealth riskVinylidene chloride; IARC Group 3 (inadequate evidence in humans) but liver toxic in animal studies; common TCE/PCE biodegradation product. (IARC, EPA)
Odessa Chromium #2 (Andrews Highway)OdessaDELETEDNoChromiumHealth riskHexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation, causing lung cancer; trivalent chromium is far less toxic. (IARC, EPA)
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity

Who Lives In Ector County

All block groups in Ector County County, TX: 162,300 residents. County disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (32). Why we surface this →

POPULATION SHARE
15.8%

Low-income

POPULATION SHARE
71.0%

People of color

POPULATION SHARE
9.0%

Under age 5

POPULATION SHARE
9.5%

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.16below the national median
  • OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.48near 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.76above 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.28below 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.10below 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.41near 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.59near 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.92in 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.47near 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.50near 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.72above 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.14below 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.89in the highest 20% nationally
EJ disparity scores · population-weighted across county block groups (100 = national reference; higher = greater disparate burden)
IndicatorDisparity scoreReading
PM2.5 (fine particulate)32well below the reference
Ozone170well above the reference burden
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)137moderately above the reference
Diesel particulate59below the reference
Toxic releases (RSEI)19well below the reference
Traffic proximity76below the reference
Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)83below the reference
Superfund site proximity157well above the reference burden
RMP-facility proximity67below the reference
Hazardous-waste site proximity89below the reference
Underground storage tanks120moderately above the reference
NPDES wastewater proximity20well below the reference
Drinking-water non-compliance151well above the reference burden

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)

BRFSS 2023
9.3%
-3% vs Texas mean-8% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

COPD prevalence

BRFSS 2023
5.5%
+9% vs Texas mean+7% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Coronary heart disease

BRFSS 2023
5.3%
+10% vs Texas mean+11% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Diabetes (diagnosed)

BRFSS 2023
12.8%
+11% vs Texas mean+30% vs US mean

CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023

Frequent mental distress

BRFSS 2023
18.0%
+3% vs Texas mean+5% 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 Texas 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 4 Ector County Cities With TRI Data

Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked city in this county. Alphabetical.

Sources.

All sources are federal public-domain datasets under 17 USC §105. We aggregate but do not relabel; the underlying observations remain attributable to EPA.