By News staff
BOSTON (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency says the overall release of toxic chemicals to the environment decreased in New England in 2011, an improvement over the previous year.
The EPA's latest Toxic Release Inventory shows that approximately 18.96 million pounds of chemicals were released in the six New England states in 2011, the most recent reporting year. That's a reduction of about 1.7 million pounds from 2010.
The inventory is a key part of EPA's efforts to provide greater access to environmental information.
The report includes data on toxic chemical disposals and releases into the air, land and water. It also includes information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country.