Abt Report: Toxic Air Emissions Decline, Overall Toxic Chemicals Releases Increase in 2011 Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined eight percent between 2010 and 2011, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant emissions, according to the annual National Analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with support from Abt Associates. However, total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row.   The TRI program interprets the data and provides communities with valuable information on toxic chemicals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities. The report contains detailed information on the disposal or release of more than 650 chemicals used to make pharmaceuticals, clothing, automobiles, and other products. Nearly 21,000 facilities reported data for 2011.   Abt Associates has been supporting the EPA in the analysis and design of the annual National Analysis for several years and supporting the TRI program in general for more than 20 years.   Despite the decrease in total toxic air emissions, the 2011 TRI data show that 4.09 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were disposed of or released into the air, water or land – an eight percent increase since 2010. This mainly was due to additional in land disposal at metal mines and changes in the chemical composition of the material being mined.