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DeKalb County, Alabama: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in DeKalb County is 155.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.2 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 594 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Industrial wastewater discharge (231), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (179), Rail grade crossing (58). EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 30 in a million, driven mainly by formaldehyde.

Rates are age-adjusted per 100,000 people. A cancer signal is marked significant when the lower bound of its 95 percent confidence interval is above the U.S. rate. Facility counts use active federal records located inside the county boundary. Approximate county center: 34.5306, -85.7226.

How this county ranks in Alabama

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Cancer deaths and new cases versus the United States

Source: NCI and CDC State Cancer Profiles, both sexes, all ages. Sorted by the ratio of the county rate to the U.S. rate.

Cancer rates for DeKalb County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Brain & nervous systemDeaths6.24.41.41x4.1 to 92020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases8.16.21.31x5.5 to 11.52019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases11.18.71.28x8.3 to 14.82019-2023
BladderDeaths5.24.11.27x3.2 to 7.92020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths37.630.21.25xSignificant32.4 to 43.62020-2024
Liver & bile ductDeaths7.76.61.17x5.4 to 10.82020-2024
EsophagusNew cases5.14.61.11x3.2 to 7.82019-2023
All cancerDeaths155.5143.21.09xSignificant144.2 to 167.52020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases55.751.81.08x49.2 to 62.92019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases18.417.91.03x14.5 to 232019-2023
EsophagusDeaths3.83.71.03x2.3 to 6.22020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.94.81.02x3 to 7.52020-2024
BladderNew cases17.818.70.95x14.1 to 22.12019-2023
StomachNew cases5.86.60.88x3.8 to 8.62019-2023
All cancerNew cases379.5453.40.84x361.5 to 398.32019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases1518.50.81x11.4 to 19.32019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths4.55.70.79x2.6 to 7.12020-2024
PancreasDeaths8.611.30.76x6.2 to 11.72020-2024
Melanoma of the skinNew cases18.123.80.76x14.3 to 22.62019-2023
PancreasNew cases10.513.90.76x7.8 to 13.92019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases8.714.50.6x6 to 12.22019-2023
ThyroidNew cases6130.46x3.6 to 9.22019-2023

Mortality measures versus the U.S. county median

Source: County Health Rankings, built from CDC National Vital Statistics System death records. The comparison value is the median of all U.S. counties.

Mortality measures for DeKalb County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death11,969.49,842.6+22%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy72.475.3-4%years
Child mortality61.159.8+2%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality7.56.2+20%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths99.696.9+3%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths22.728.6-20%deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 30 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

  • Formaldehyde23.36 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.85 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.21 per million
  • Benzene0.82 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 282 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 41, peak 93.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

594 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

  • Industrial wastewater discharge231
  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit179
  • Rail grade crossing58
  • Gas station (mapped facility)24
  • Air permit holder (minor source)22
  • Small hazardous waste generator15
  • TRI reporting facility12
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)12
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)9
  • Brownfield property9
  • Major air pollution source7
  • Large hazardous waste generator4
  • Public airport3
  • EPA air quality monitor2
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)2
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter1
  • Hazardous waste transporter1
  • Heliport1
  • Landfill (mapped facility)1
  • Biomass power plant1

Highest-severity records

The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.

  1. Nucor Corp Vulcraft Div, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Manganese, Nickel and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 153,504 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35967VLCRFVALLE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.5

  2. Moriroku Technology North American Inc. - Rainsville, Rainsville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene, Chloroform. Reports carcinogens. 134,119 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35986RNSVL189RT (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.4

  3. Bluescope Buildings N.A. Inc, Rainsville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Manganese, Chromium, Nickel and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 84,900 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35986VRCPR300CH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.3

  4. Jcg Foods Of Alabama Llc, Collinsville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide, Peracetic acid. 1,760,239 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35961CGLSNPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.8

  5. Appleton Group Llc, Rainsville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Diisocyanates, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 4,955 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35986GSLCT1369M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.3

  6. Siemens Energy Inc, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 3,295 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35967WSTNG700EN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.2

  7. The Heil Company, Fort Payne

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $26,120.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000589499 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7

  8. Plasman, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Cyclohexane, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 1 more. 121,052 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 3596WPLSMN43AIR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.9

  9. Jcg Foods Of Alabama, Collinsville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055492710 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.9

  10. The Heil Co, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Manganese. 47,829 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35967THHLC45THS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.6

  11. Valley Joist, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Copper, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 525 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 3596WVLLYJ235JR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.6

  12. Moriroku Technology North American Inc. - Rainsville, Rainsville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110025332129 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  13. Valley Joist, Fort Payne

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Copper, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 141 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 35967VLLYJVALLE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.2

  14. Nucor Corporation Vulcraft Division, Fort Payne

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000368325 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  15. Crossville Pellets, Llc, Crossville

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039017845 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  16. Plasman Corp Llc, Fort Payne

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070068249 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  17. Bluescope Buildings North America Inc, Rainsville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000368405 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  18. Siemens Energy, Incorporated, Fort Payne

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000368343 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.6

  19. The Heil Company, Fort Payne

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $26,120.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000589499 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  20. Crossville Pellets, Llc, Crossville

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039017845 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  21. Emerson Industrial Automation, Rainsville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015583411 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.4

  22. The Heil Company, Fort Payne

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $26,120.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000589499 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  23. The Heil Company, Fort Payne

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $26,120.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000589499 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  24. Plasman Corp Llc Fort Payne Plant, Fort Payne

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $35,160.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110043730442 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  25. Valley Joist, Fort Payne

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070931984 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.9

Correctional facilities

Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.

No correctional facility with an EPA record is located in this county.

Discovery / public records

Records to request for DeKalb County

  • Alabama state cancer registry

    Cancer incidence counts by census tract or ZIP code, by cancer type and year (de-identified). Any cancer cluster inquiries or investigations in DeKalb County, and their findings.

  • Alabama vital statistics office

    Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.

  • Alabama health department, environmental epidemiology

    Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.

  • Alabama environmental agency and the U.S. EPA regional office

    Compliance history, inspection reports, notices of violation, penalties and enforcement actions for each facility above, cited by EPA FRS registry ID.

  • Alabama drinking water program

    Violation notices, sampling results and sanitary surveys for the public water systems serving the county, including any system serving a correctional facility.

  • Department of corrections or county sheriff

    Water testing, grievances and environmental health inspections for the correctional facilities listed above.

Each Envyrofax address report includes a printable records request worksheet with the custodian and the exact request wording per finding.

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