Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max in Utah statewide reached 0.071 ppm in 2024, 1% above the EPA NAAQS of 0.07 ppm.
State · TRI 2024
Utah Pollution
191 TRI facilities, 560 public water systems, and 24 Superfund / NPL sites across 22 counties. Statewide TRI releases fell modestly year over year (-13%). Toxic releases concentrations are up 41% since 2010.
FIPS 49 · population 3,271,616 · 29 counties total
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals At The State Level
TRI air releases
TRI air releases at Utah have more than halved 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
Utah 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 41% 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 45% 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 13% 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) concentrations are roughly unchanged from 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 are up 47% 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 23% since 2010.
| County | Population | Facilities | Total releases | YoY | Top chemical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake CountyFIPS 49035 | 1,180,643 | 58 | 215.0M lb | -18% | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Tooele CountyFIPS 49045 | 74,032 | 12 | 20.8M lb | +49% | Copper And Copper CompoundsHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) |
| Duchesne CountyFIPS 49013 | 19,779 | 5 | 4.3M lb | +133% | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) |
| Millard CountyFIPS 49027 | 13,027 | 3 | 2.2M lb | +15% | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) |
| Emery CountyFIPS 49015 | 9,898 | 2 | 1.6M lb | -1% | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) |
| Box Elder CountyFIPS 49003 | 58,291 | 14 | 1.0M lb | +4% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| Utah CountyFIPS 49049 | 666,021 | 25 | 866k lb | -16% | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) |
| Uintah CountyFIPS 49047 | 35,951 | 5 | 694k lb | +4% | Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7))Health riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) |
| Davis CountyFIPS 49011 | 363,032 | 16 | 616k lb | -17% | Xylene (mixed isomers)Health riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; central-nervous-system effects from chronic exposure. (EPA) |
| Weber CountyFIPS 49057 | 262,960 | 13 | 581k lb | -13% | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) |
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennecott Utah Copper Mine Concentrators & Power PlantRio Tinto America INC | Bingham Canyon | Lead And Lead CompoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 192.7M lb | -21% |
| Kennecott Utah Copper Smelter & RefineryRio Tinto America INC | Magna | Copper And Copper CompoundsHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) | 21.2M lb | +17% |
| Clean Harbors Grassy Mountain LLCClean Harbors INC | Grantsville | Copper And Copper CompoundsHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) | 11.4M lb | +92% |
| Clean Harbors Aragonite LLCClean Harbors INC | Grantsville | Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region)Health riskHexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation, causing lung cancer; trivalent chromium is far less toxic. (IARC, EPA) | 6.6M lb | +140% |
| Altamont Gas Plant-Kinder MorganKinder Morgan | Altamont | MethanolHealth riskAcutely toxic if ingested or inhaled. Metabolizes to formaldehyde and formic acid, causing blindness and metabolic acidosis. (EPA) | 4.2M lb | +428% |
| Energysolutions LLCEnergysolutions LLC | Clive | Asbestos (friable)Health riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. (IARC, EPA) | 2.7M lb | +10% |
| Materion Natural Resources INC MillMaterion CORP | Delta | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) | 1.6M lb | +24% |
| Pacificorp Hunter PlantBerkshire Hathaway INC | Castle Dale | Barium And Barium CompoundsHealth riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 1.4M lb | +6% |
| Mcwane Ductile-UtahMcwane INC | Provo | Zinc compoundsHealth riskGenerally low acute toxicity. Chronic high-dose exposure disrupts copper absorption and immune function. (ATSDR) | 748k lb | -24% |
| Bonanza Power PlantDeseret Power | Vernal | Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7))Health riskSoluble barium compounds are toxic if ingested, affecting the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Insoluble forms (e.g. barium sulfate) are far less toxic. (EPA) | 682k 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Utah State-owned | UTAH18057 | 57,080 | 2 | UNRESOLVED |
| Cedar City Waterworks Municipal | UTAH11002 | 39,670 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| Bountiful City Water System Municipal | UTAH06015 | 37,500 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| Pleasant View Culinary Water Municipal | UTAH29014 | 9,250 | 2 | UNRESOLVED |
| Roosevelt City Water System Municipal | UTAH07004 | 8,000 | 2 | UNRESOLVED |
| Enoch City Water System Municipal | UTAH11004 | 6,500 | 3 | UNRESOLVED |
| Fruit Heights City Water System Municipal | UTAH06017 | 6,075 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Blanding City Municipal | UTAH19001 | 3,760 | 4 | UNRESOLVED |
| Mountain Green Mutual Water Company Private | UTAH15046 | 3,500 | 1 | UNRESOLVED |
| West Haven Ssd Municipal | UTAH29120 | 3,360 | 3 | UNRESOLVED |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In Utah
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 South 1600 East Pce Plume | Salt Lake City | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | — |
| Bountiful/Woods Cross 5Th S. Pce Plume | West Bountiful | NPL FINAL | No | 1,2,4-TrimethylbenzeneHealth riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; high exposure causes nervous-system effects. (ATSDR) |
| Five Points Pce Plume | Bountiful | NPL FINAL | No | TetrachloroetheneHealth riskPCE / 'perc'. IARC Group 2A probable carcinogen; central-nervous-system effects; common dry-cleaning solvent and DNAPL plume contaminant. EPA MCL 5 µg/L. (IARC, EPA) |
| Hill Air Force Base | Hill Afb | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | 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) |
| Jacobs Smelter | Stockton | 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) |
| Monticello Mill Tailings (Usdoe) | Monticello | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | UraniumHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen; chemical kidney toxicity exceeds the radiological risk at most environmental levels. EPA MCL 30 µg/L total uranium. (IARC, EPA) |
| Ogden Defense Depot (Dla) | Ogden | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | LeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) |
| Portland Cement (Kiln Dust 2 & 3) | Salt Lake City | 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) |
| Tooele Army Depot (North Area) | Tooele | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | 2,4-Dinitrotoluene |
| Us Magnesium | Tooele County | NPL FINAL | No | — |
Showing the top 10 sites by status priority. 14 additional NPL-relevant sites in Utah 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 Utah block groups: 3,271,616 residents. Statewide disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits well below the reference (36). 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.
8.5%
Low-income
23.2%
People of color
8.0%
Under age 5
11.4%
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.31below the national median
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.84in the highest 20% nationally
- 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.55near 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.50near 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.87in 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.57near 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.49near 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.64above 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.56near 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.66above 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.98in 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.86in the highest 20% nationally
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 36 | well below the reference |
| Ozone | 86 | below the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 54 | below the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 47 | well below the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 62 | below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 48 | well below the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 32 | well below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 48 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 51 | below the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 43 | well below the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 51 | below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 69 | below the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 13 | 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 22 Utah Counties With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked county. Alphabetical.
- Beaver County pollution· 1 facility
- Box Elder County pollution· 14 facilities
- Cache County pollution· 10 facilities
- Carbon County pollution· 4 facilities
- Davis County pollution· 16 facilities
- Duchesne County pollution· 5 facilities
- Emery County pollution· 2 facilities
- Iron County pollution· 4 facilities
- Juab County pollution· 5 facilities
- Millard County pollution· 3 facilities
- Morgan County pollution· 2 facilities
- Salt Lake County pollution· 58 facilities
- San Juan County pollution· 2 facilities
- Sanpete County pollution· 1 facility
- Sevier County pollution· 1 facility
- Summit County pollution· 2 facilities
- Tooele County pollution· 12 facilities
- Uintah County pollution· 5 facilities
- Utah County pollution· 25 facilities
- Wasatch County pollution· 1 facility
- Washington County pollution· 5 facilities
- Weber County pollution· 13 facilities
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.