Kentucky reported 411 facilities releasing 46.5M lbs of toxic chemicals in the most recent EPA Toxic Release Inventory dataset, ranking #21 nationally out of 50 states. The dominant release pathway is air, accounting for 31.7% of the state total. Kentucky’s leading TRI industry is Chemicals, contributing 29.3% of all state releases. Use the map below to explore facilities by location, or filter by air, water, or land discharges.
Kentucky’s Toxic Release Profile
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Releases | 46.5M lbs |
| Reporting Facilities | 411 |
| National Rank | #21 of 50 states |
| Air Releases | 14.7M lbs (31.7%) |
| Water Releases | 7.2M lbs (15.4%) |
| Land Releases | 8.4M lbs (18%) |
Top Industries in Kentucky
| Industry | Total Releases | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Chemicals | 13.6M lbs | 29.3% |
| Electric Utilities | 11.9M lbs | 25.6% |
| Primary Metals | 10M lbs | 21.4% |
| Food | 3.4M lbs | 7.3% |
| Paper | 2.5M lbs | 5.4% |
| Transportation Equipment | 1.4M lbs | 3% |
| Fabricated Metals | 911K lbs | 2% |
| Plastics and Rubber | 774K lbs | 1.7% |
| Other | 667K lbs | 1.4% |
| Hazardous Waste | 475K lbs | 1% |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product | 241K lbs | 0.5% |
| Petroleum | 240K lbs | 0.5% |
| Electrical Equipment | 104K lbs | 0.2% |
| Furniture | 90K lbs | 0.2% |
| Beverages | 51K lbs | 0.1% |
| Machinery | 43K lbs | 0.1% |
| Tobacco | 21K lbs | 0% |
| Coal Mining | 19K lbs | 0% |
| Chemical Wholesalers | 15K lbs | 0% |
| Petroleum Bulk Terminals | 14K lbs | 0% |
| Printing | 9K lbs | 0% |
| Wood Products | 5K lbs | 0% |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 11 lbs | 0% |
| Computers and Electronic Products | 3 lbs | 0% |
Top Facilities in Kentucky
| Facility | City | Industry | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARIANT CORP 12TH STREET FACILITY | LOUISVILLE | Chemicals | 8.8M lbs |
| NORTH AMERICAN STAINLESS | GHENT | Primary Metals | 6.3M lbs |
| KENTUCKY UTILITIES CO GHENT STATION | GHENT | Electric Utilities | 2.6M lbs |
| PERDUE CROMWELL PROCESSING PLANT | BEAVER DAM | Food | 1.9M lbs |
| SPURLOCK POWER STATION | MAYSVILLE | Electric Utilities | 1.9M lbs |
About the Data
Data sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Facilities in covered industry sectors that manufacture, process, or use listed chemicals above threshold quantities must report annually. The map uses the most recent available EPA TRI dataset. Release volumes reflect regulatory reporting quantities and are not direct measures of health hazard or human exposure. For the full national picture and all-state rankings, visit the US Toxic Release Inventory Map.
Explore Neighboring States
- Illinois Toxic Release Map
- Indiana Toxic Release Map
- Missouri Toxic Release Map
- Ohio Toxic Release Map
- Tennessee Toxic Release Map
- Virginia Toxic Release Map
- West Virginia Toxic Release Map
For the complete national dataset and all-state rankings, visit the US Toxic Release Inventory Map.
