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Etowah County, Alabama: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Etowah County is 182.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Bladder deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 738 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (263), Industrial wastewater discharge (215), Rail grade crossing (121). 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: 34.021, -86.0433.
How this county ranks in Alabama
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 | Measure | County rate | U.S. rate | Times U.S. | 95% interval | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladder | Deaths | 6.4 | 4.1 | 1.56xSignificant | 4.6 to 8.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 43.8 | 30.2 | 1.45xSignificant | 39.2 to 49 | 2020-2024 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 6.3 | 4.4 | 1.43x | 4.4 to 8.6 | 2020-2024 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 9.4 | 6.6 | 1.42xSignificant | 7.3 to 12 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 8.1 | 5.7 | 1.42xSignificant | 6 to 10.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 66.8 | 51.8 | 1.29xSignificant | 61 to 73.1 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 182.5 | 143.2 | 1.27xSignificant | 172.5 to 192.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 10.9 | 8.7 | 1.25x | 8.7 to 13.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 21.7 | 17.9 | 1.21xSignificant | 18.2 to 25.7 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 7.4 | 6.2 | 1.19x | 5.3 to 10 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 4.4 | 3.7 | 1.19x | 3 to 6.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 5.3 | 4.6 | 1.15x | 3.7 to 7.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 3.1 | 2.7 | 1.15x | 2 to 4.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 12.2 | 11.3 | 1.08x | 9.7 to 15.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | New cases | 7.1 | 6.6 | 1.08x | 5.2 to 9.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 25.3 | 23.8 | 1.06x | 21.4 to 29.7 | 2019-2023 |
| Bladder | New cases | 19.8 | 18.7 | 1.06x | 16.6 to 23.5 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | New cases | 477.3 | 453.4 | 1.05xSignificant | 460.6 to 494.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 4.7 | 4.8 | 0.98x | 3.2 to 6.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 3.3 | 3.4 | 0.97x | 2.1 to 5 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 13.4 | 13.9 | 0.96x | 10.9 to 16.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 13.8 | 14.5 | 0.95x | 11.1 to 17.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 14.7 | 18.5 | 0.79x | 11.8 to 18 | 2019-2023 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 7.1 | 13 | 0.55x | 5 to 9.9 | 2019-2023 |
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.
| Measure | County | U.S. median | Difference | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premature death | 14,706.3 | 9,842.6 | +49% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 70.2 | 75.3 | -7% | years |
| Child mortality | 76.4 | 59.8 | +28% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 6 | 6.2 | -3% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 99 | 96.9 | +2% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 25.9 | 28.6 | -9% | 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.
- Formaldehyde25.46 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.9 per million
- Acetaldehyde2.57 per million
- Benzene1 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 363 days: 223 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 45, peak 87.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
738 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit263
- Industrial wastewater discharge215
- Rail grade crossing121
- Gas station (mapped facility)30
- Small hazardous waste generator29
- Air permit holder (minor source)26
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)11
- TRI reporting facility10
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)9
- Major air pollution source5
- Brownfield property4
- Large hazardous waste generator4
- Hazardous waste transporter3
- Large greenhouse gas emitter2
- EPA air quality monitor1
- Public airport1
- Commercial airport1
- Heliport1
- Landfill (mapped facility)1
- Gas 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.
- Severity 8.4
Giant Reource Recovery-Attalla Inc, Attalla
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $259,362.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368263 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.3
Koch Foods Of Gadsden, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide, Peracetic acid. 7,003,011 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35903TYSNF501PA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8
Tennessee Aluminum Processors Inc, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Zinc compounds, Copper compounds, Copper And Copper Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 32,179 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35903CLPLM205SP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.8
Koch Foods Of Gadsden, Gadsden
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,800.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368209 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.7
Fehrer Automotive N.A. Llc, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Diisocyanates, Toluene-2,6-diisocyanate, Diethanolamine, Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate. Reports carcinogens. 14,003 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3590WFHRRT433BR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 6.7
Keystone Foods Llc - Alabama Div, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid. 62,080 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3590WKYSTN2281S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 6
Giant Reource Recovery-Attalla Inc, Attalla
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $259,362.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368263 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 6
Giant Reource Recovery-Attalla Inc, Attalla
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $259,362.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368263 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 6
Techtrix, Inc, Gadsden
Large hazardous waste generator.
EPA FRS registry ID 110057638347 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 5.9
Keystone Foods Llc - Alabama Div, Gadsden
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110041623455 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 5.9
Stamped Products Inc, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 66 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35903MCNCX201IN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 5.8
Clean Earth Of Alabama, Glencoe
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $54,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017862393 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 5.8
Clean Earth Of Alabama, Glencoe
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $54,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017862393 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 5.6
Fehrer Automotive North America Llc, Gadsden
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070557809 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 5.5
GADSDEN C. COLLEGE, Gadsden
EPA air quality monitor.
Record ID 010550010 (U.S. EPA AirData)
- Severity 5.5
Giant Resource Recovery-Attalla Inc., Attalla
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene. 1,712 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35954MMCHMRT3BO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 4.9
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg Llc - Rainbow City Plant, Rainbow City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead And Lead Compounds, Lead compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 2 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3590WSHRMN246ST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 4.8
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, Gadsden
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds. 199 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35999GDYRT922EA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 4.7
Kronospan Llc - Ohatchee Log Yard, Ohatchee
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3627WKRNSPHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 4.6
Tennessee Aluminum Processors Inc, Gadsden
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368174 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 4.5
Techtrix, Inc, Gadsden
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110057638347 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 4.5
Emco Incorporated, Gadsden
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000368192 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 4.3
Osborn Transportation, Rainbow City
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110003390704 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 4.3
Gibbs Salvage, Ridgeville
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110006789207 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 4.3
Kelley And Spurlock Auto Parts Inc, Attalla
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110009040322 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
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 Etowah 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 Etowah 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.