Environmental Public Health Tracking: Air Emissions Data

Emissions are substances released into the air. Emissions can come from moving vehicles like cars and trucks, or they can come from manufacturing and refining facilities. We don't track emissions from mobile sources. Our air emissions information is only from facilities that stay in one place.

We can come in contact with air emissions by breathing in air that contains the emissions.

We host data on emissions that are associated with a variety of health issues, including cancer. However, the level of exposure and length of time needed to cause cancer are not fully understood. It is likely that for most people environmental factors (like emissions) play a smaller role in cancer than other factors, such as genetics and personal behaviors, but emissions are still an important risk to consider. Scientists estimate between 4% and 19% of cancers are related to environmental factors.

Breathing problems, kidney failure, heart failure, infertility, and birth defects can also result from coming in contact with emissions.

Social determinants of health can be related to the way air emissions affect us. For example, low-income communities and communities of color are more likely to live near a factory that releases air emissions increasing the risk of illness or cancer.

Air quality is also affected by other things happening in our environment. We track ozone and particulate matter, too.

Nationally, the United States federal government is responsible for enforcing air emission laws that keep us safe. The Wisconsin DNR also creates and enforces air emissions rules in our state. You can take steps to protect yourself and your family by learning more about specific pollutants in the air where you live, work, and play. The DNR has more information on air quality.

All air emissions data we track come from the DNR. Under Wis. Admin. Code NR 438.03 (Air Contaminant Emissions Inventory Reporting Requirements), facilities in Wisconsin must report air contaminant emissions when they are above reportable levels. The list of the 37 emissions we track are below, and you can learn more about each of them on our data details page.

Measuring the link between a person's health and air emissions is very complicated. The data we host are based on reports of emissions received by DNR. The numbers we share with you are of the amount of each chemical compound released into the air during the year it was reported. Emissions mix with air and are diffused over time.

Because of wind and weather patterns, it is not possible to use this data to estimate your direct exposure. For that reason, our data can not be used to look for direct links between a person's cancer or illness and the environment. Instead, air emission information is one of the many pieces of information that helps us assess population-level disease risks. The population-level risk doesn't directly apply to a single person. It means that air emissions are one factor we take into account among many others when we consider the health of all people in the area.

The DNR hosts an Air Management Data Viewer which allows you to view all facilities and their permit information.

Visit the air emissions tab on our data details page. Under each type of emission, we linked the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) webpage with more information. To learn more about the Wisconsin Air Toxics Rule (NR 445), visit the DNR website.

Click the link below to download the data you're looking for:

Census Tract Data (CSV)

County Data (CSV)

State Data (CSV)

Facilities reported

These data come from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and represent the number of facilities in a geographic area that have reached or exceeded an applicable reportable level in Table 1 in Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 438. Note: Facilities from years 2012-2014 that were missing addresses were geocoded using the most recent years of data and the facility identification number (FID). This allowed for facilities and reported emissions to be tied to locations at the county and census tract level more accurately.

Total reportable emissions

These data come from the DNR. Under Wis. Adm. Code § NR 438.03 (Air Contaminant Emissions Inventory Reporting Requirements), facilities in Wisconsin must report air contaminant emissions when an air contaminant is emitted in quantities above the reportable level. The data exclude emissions at less than the reportable levels. State data are greater than summed county or census tract data because of limitations in geocoding. To find out more about reporting levels by pollutant, review Table 1 in Wis. Admin. Code ch. NR 438.

For more information on air emissions, visit DNR’s Air Emissions webpage.

Displayed emissions

1,3-Butadiene (Butadiene - 1,3) (CAS No. 106-99-0)

The reportable level for 1,3-Butadiene is 3.17 pounds per year (0.001585 tons/year). These data represent the sum of 1,3-Butadiene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

2-Ethoxyethanol (CAS No. 110-80-5)

The reportable level for 2-ethoxyethanol (also known as ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, EGEE, or Cellosolve) is 4,336 pounds per year (2.168 tons/year). These data represent the sum of 2-ethoxyethanol emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Acrolein (CAS No. 107-02-8)

The reportable level for acrolein is 75 pounds per year (0.0375 tons/year). These data represent the sum of acrolein emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Acrylonitrile (CAS No. 107-13-1)

The reportable level for acrylonitrile is 13.1 pounds per year (0.00655 tons/year). These data represent the sum of acrylonitrile emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Ammonia (CAS No. 7664-41-7)

The reportable level for ammonia is 4,097 pounds per year (2.0485 tons/year). These data represent the sum of ammonia emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Arsenic (CAS No. 7440-38-2)

The reportable level for arsenic, including elemental and inorganic compounds, is 0.207 pounds per year (0.0001035 tons/year). These data represent the sum of arsenic emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Benzene CAS No. (71-43-2)

The reportable level for benzene is 114 pounds per year (0.057 tons/year). These data represent the sum of benzene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Benzidine (CAS No. 92-87-5)

The reportable level for benzidine is 0.0133 pounds per year (0.00000665 tons/year). These data represent the sum of benzidine emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Beryllium and Beryllium compounds, as Be (CAS No. 7440-41-7)

The reportable level for beryllium, including beryllium compounds, is 0.37 pounds per year (0.000185 tons/year). These data represent the sum of beryllium emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (CAS No. 630-08-0)

The reportable level for carbon monoxide is 10,000 pounds per year (5 tons/year). These data represent the sum of carbon monoxide emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (CAS No. 124-38-9)

The reportable level for carbon dioxide is 200 million pounds per year (100,000 tons/year). These data represent the sum of carbon dioxide emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Cadmium and Cadmium compounds, as Cd (CAS No. 7440-43-9)

The reportable level for cadmium, including cadmium compounds, is 0.494 pounds per year (0.000247 tons/year). These data represent the sum of cadmium emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Chlorine (CAS No. 7782-50-5)

The reportable level for chlorine is 341 pounds per year (0.1705 tons/year). These data represent the sum of chlorine emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Chromium (metal) and compounds other than Chromium (VI) (CAS No. 7440-47-3)

The reportable level for chromium (metal) and compounds other than chromium (VI) is 118 pounds per year (0.059 tons/year). The reportable level for chromium (VI) is 0.074 pounds per year (0.000037 tons/year). These data represent the sum of chromium emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Ethanolamine (CAS No. 141-43-5)

The reportable level for ethanolamine is 1,763 pounds per year (0.8815 tons/year). These data represent the sum of ethanol emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Ethyl Benzene (CAS No. 100-41-4)

The reportable level for ethyl benzene is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of ethyl benzene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Ethylene Oxide (CAS No. 75-21-8)

The reportable level for ethylene oxide is 10.1 pounds per year (0.00505 tons/year). These data represent the sum of ethylene oxide emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Formaldehyde (CAS No. 50-00-0)

The reportable level for formaldehyde is 68.3 pounds per year (0.03415 tons/year). These data represent the sum of formaldehyde emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Greenhouse gases (GHG)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines greenhouse gases (GHG) as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Of the EPA GHG pollutants, Table 1 of Wis. Adm. Code ch. NR 438, includes carbon dioxide (100,000 tons/year), nitrous oxide (3 tons/year) and hydrofluorocarbons (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of the GHG emissions from reporting facilities, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Hydrogen Sulfide (CAS No. 7783-06-4)

The reportable level for hydrogen sulfide is 3,279 pounds per year (1.6395 tons/year). These data represent the sum of hydrogen sulfide emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Lead (all) (CAS No. 7439-92-1)

Lead (all) includes lead and lead compounds. The reportable level for lead and lead compounds is 400 pounds per year (0.2 tons/year). These data represent the sum of lead emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Mercury (Inorganic and other) (CAS No. 7439-97-6)

Mercury (inorganic and other) includes alkyl compounds, aryl compounds, and inorganic forms. The reportable level for alkyl mercury compounds is 2.35 pounds per year (0.001175 tons/year). The reportable level for aryl mercury compounds is 23.5 pounds per year (0.01175 tons/year). The reportable level for inorganic mercury compounds is 5.88 pounds per year (0.00294 tons/year). These data represent the sum of mercury emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Methylene Chloride (CAS No. 75-09-2)

The reportable level for methylene chloride (also known as dichloromethane) is 1,890 pounds per year (0.945 tons/year). These data represent the sum of methylene chloride emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) (CAS No. 10024-97-2)

The reportable level for nitrous oxide (N2O) is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of N2O emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

The reportable level for nitrogen oxides is 10,000 pounds per year (5 tons/year). These data represent the sum of nitrogen oxides emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Naphthalene (CAS No. 91-20-3)

The reportable level for naphthalene is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of naphthalene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Nitric Acid (CAS No. 7697-37-2)

The reportable level for nitric acid is 1,213 pounds per year (0.6065 tons/year). These data represent the sum of nitric acid emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Primary Particulate Matter (PM)

The reportable level for particulate matter is 10,000 pounds per year (5 tons/year). These data represent the sum of particulate matter emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Primary Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), including filterable and condensable components

The reportable level for primary PM10 is 10,000 pounds per year (5 tons/year). These data represent the sum of coarse particulate matter emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Perchloroethylene (PERC) (CAS No. 127-18-4)

The reportable level for perchloroethylene (also known as tetrachloroethylene) is 151 pounds per year (0.0755 tons/year). These data represent the sum of perchloroethylene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Phenol (CAS No. 108-95-2)

The reportable level for phenol is 4,528 pounds per year (2.264 tons/year). These data represent the sum of phenol emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Phosphoric Acid (CAS No. 7664-38-2)

The reportable level for phosphoric acid is 235 pounds per year (0.1175 tons/year). These data represent the sum of phosphoric acid emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) [Reactive Organic Gases]

The reportable level for VOC [Reactive Organic Gases] is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of VOC [Reactive Organic Gases] emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) (CAS No. 7446-09-5)

The reportable level for Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is 10,000 pounds per year (5 tons/year). These data represent the sum of sulfur dioxide emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Stoddard solvent (mineral spirits) (CAS No. 8052-41-3)

The reportable level for Stoddard solvent (also known as mineral spirits) is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of Stoddard solvent emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Styrene (Monomer) (CAS No. 100-42-5)

The reportable level for styrene (monomer) is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of styrene (monomer) emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Sulfuric Acid (CAS No. 7664-93-9)

The reportable level for sulfuric acid is 235 pounds per year (0.1175 tons/year). These data represent the sum of sulfuric acid emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-2,3,7,8 (TCDD) (CAS No. 1746-01-6)

The reportable level for TCDD (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) is 0.00005 pounds per year (0.000000025 tons/year). These data represent the sum of TCDD emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Toluene (CAS No. 108-88-3)

The reportable level for toluene (also known as toluol) is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of toluene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Trichloroethylene (CAS No. 79-01-6)

The reportable level for trichloroethylene (also known as trichloroethene) is 444 pounds per year (0.222 tons/year). These data represent the sum of trichloroethylene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Triethanolamine (CAS No. 102-71-6)

The reportable level for triethanolamine is 1,176 pounds per year (0.588 tons/year). These data represent the sum of triethanolamine emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Vinyl Chloride (CAS No. 75-01-4)

The reportable level for vinyl chloride is 101 pounds per year (0.0505 tons/year). These data represent the sum of vinyl chloride emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.

Xylene (CAS No. 1330-20-7)

The reportable level for xylene, including mixtures and isomers, xylol, and dimethyl benzene, is 6,000 pounds per year (3 tons/year). These data represent the sum of xylene emissions from all facilities that exceeded the reportable level, within the chosen year and geographic boundary.