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Jefferson County, Alabama: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Jefferson County is 157.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Liver & bile duct deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate and Pancreas deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 5,104 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Industrial wastewater discharge (2,096), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,349), Rail grade crossing (429). EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 40 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: 33.5427, -86.8615.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | Deaths | 2.7 | 1.9 | 1.42x | 1.6 to 4.3 | 2020-2024 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 8.4 | 6.6 | 1.27xSignificant | 7.6 to 9.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 3.3 | 2.7 | 1.22x | 2.7 to 3.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | New cases | 18.7 | 16.4 | 1.14x | 15.5 to 22.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 9.8 | 8.7 | 1.13xSignificant | 8.9 to 10.8 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 12.6 | 11.3 | 1.12xSignificant | 11.5 to 13.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 6.3 | 5.7 | 1.11x | 5.5 to 7.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 33.3 | 30.2 | 1.1xSignificant | 31.6 to 35.2 | 2020-2024 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 157.1 | 143.2 | 1.1xSignificant | 153.2 to 161.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 15.1 | 13.9 | 1.09x | 13.9 to 16.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1.07x | 4 to 5.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.06x | 3 to 4.3 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 18.4 | 17.9 | 1.03x | 17 to 19.8 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1x | 4.1 to 5.5 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | New cases | 6.6 | 6.6 | 1x | 5.8 to 7.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 51.6 | 51.8 | 1x | 49.4 to 53.8 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | New cases | 440.9 | 453.4 | 0.97x | 434.3 to 447.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 5.9 | 6.2 | 0.95x | 5.2 to 6.8 | 2019-2023 |
| Bladder | Deaths | 3.8 | 4.1 | 0.93x | 3.2 to 4.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 3.2 | 3.7 | 0.86x | 2.7 to 3.8 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | New cases | 15.2 | 18.7 | 0.81x | 14 to 16.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | Deaths | 1.6 | 2 | 0.8x | 1.2 to 2.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 3.6 | 4.6 | 0.78x | 3 to 4.2 | 2019-2023 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 11.3 | 14.5 | 0.78x | 10.2 to 12.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 14 | 18.5 | 0.76x | 12.8 to 15.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 9.4 | 13 | 0.72x | 8.3 to 10.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 15.7 | 23.8 | 0.66x | 14.4 to 17 | 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 | 13,163.5 | 9,842.6 | +34% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 72.4 | 75.3 | -4% | years |
| Child mortality | 88.8 | 59.8 | +49% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 9.2 | 6.2 | +48% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 122 | 96.9 | +26% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 50.1 | 28.6 | +75% | deaths per 100,000 |
Air toxics and air quality
EPA AirToxScreen 2020
Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 40 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.
- Formaldehyde27.93 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.89 per million
- Acetaldehyde2.47 per million
- Coke Oven Emissions1.82 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 365 days: 159 good, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 52, peak 117.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
5,104 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- Industrial wastewater discharge2,096
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,349
- Rail grade crossing429
- Air permit holder (minor source)301
- Gas station (mapped facility)299
- Small hazardous waste generator162
- Brownfield property90
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)80
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)70
- TRI reporting facility55
- Major air pollution source43
- Large hazardous waste generator36
- Heliport16
- Scrapyard (mapped facility)14
- Large greenhouse gas emitter13
- Hazardous waste transporter13
- Dry cleaner (mapped facility)11
- EPA air quality monitor7
- Landfill (mapped facility)6
- Wastewater plant (mapped facility)5
- Public airport2
- Commercial airport2
- Other power plant2
- Coal power plant1
- Superfund (NPL) site1
- Proposed Superfund site1
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 10
Interstate Lead Co. (ILCO), Leeds
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 42.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID ALD041906173 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 9.7
American Cast Iron Pipe Co., Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,300,597 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35207MRCNC2930N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.4
United States Steel Corporationfairfield Pipe Mil, Fairfield
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $57,750.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000366318 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 9.3
Miller Steam Plant, Quinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,558,818 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35130LBMPW4250P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Drummond Co Inc Abc Coke Div, Tarrant
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Benzene, Ammonia, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 263,238 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35217BCCKDRAILR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.6
Glasforms Inc, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 253,485 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35217GLSFR3943V (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.6
Us Pipe & Foundry Co Llc, Bessemer
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Zinc compounds, Zinc (fume or dust), Barium And Barium Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 241,995 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35023NTDST2023S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.5
Titan Coatings Inc, Bessemer
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Methanol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 163,347 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35023TTNCT2025E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Precoat Metals, Hueytown
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Xylene (mixed isomers), 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, n-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 120,753 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35023PRCTM3399D (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Abc Coke, Tarrant
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $142,300.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000366817 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.3
Hanna Steel Corp, Fairfield
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Certain glycol ethers, Naphthalene, Chromium and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 80,169 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35064HNNST3812C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Sherwin-Williams Co, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), n-Butyl alcohol, Formaldehyde, Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 73,999 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35215MDLND90CAR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Us Steel Corp-Fairfield Works, Fairfield
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc (fume or dust), Zinc compounds, Manganese, Lead and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 71,637 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35064SSFRFVALLE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Hm Southeast Cement Llc, Leeds
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Ethylene glycol, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 64,108 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35094LHGHP8002N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Sunoco Llc, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Benzene, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 62,471 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35211LLDNR2700I (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Crimson Oak Grove Resources Inc., Bessemer
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Mercury. Reports carcinogens. 59,697 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3502WCRMSN15CNC (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.1
Kamtek Inc., Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Manganese, Lead, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 52,142 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3521WKMTKN1595S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.1
Remuriate Llc, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Chlorine, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 50,811 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3522WRMRTL83TIN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8
Univar Solutions Birmingham, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol, Methyl isobutyl ketone, n-Butyl alcohol. Reports carcinogens. 40,657 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35234SHLND3300B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8
Psc Allworth - Birmingham Facility, Birmingham
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $38,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110025375895 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8
James H Miller Jr, Quinton
Coal power plant.
Record ID 6002 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
- Severity 8
35th Avenue, Birmingham
Proposed Superfund site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. Proposed NPL Site.
EPA site ID ALN000410750 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 7.8
Smi Steel Llc Dba Cmc Steel Alabama, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Mercury And Mercury Compounds, Nickel And Nickel Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 19,167 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35212SMSTLPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.8
James H Miller Jr, Quinton
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110043792651 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.7
Bluestone Coke, Birmingham
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Benzene, Ammonia, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 17,087 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 35207SLSSN35003 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.