The EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory tracks chemicals released to land, air and water by industries across the country.

According to the report, between 2008 and 2009, pollution in Richmond County dropped by about a million pounds.

The area is home to some of the state’s biggest polluters including PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer and DSM Chemicals which leak thousands of pounds of toxic ammonia, nitrates and other chemicals into the environment each year.

According to the EPA Richmond County’s toxic output has declined steadily since 2006 following a national trend.

Tonya Bonitatibus of environmental group Savannah Riverkeepers says one reason is decreased demand.

"We all know that the economy has kind of tanked in the last couple of years and because of that the less you produce the less you pollute."

Bonitatibus says another reason for the decline is that many industries are using better technologies to reduce pollution

Tags: air pollution, EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water pollution, DSM Chemicals, Toxics Release Inventory, Savannah Riverkeeper, Tonya Bonitatibus, PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer