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Pima County, Arizona: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Pima County is 130.6 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Liver & bile duct deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 3,527 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Industrial wastewater discharge (1,781), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (499), Brownfield property (320). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county, at least one with health-based drinking water violations on record. EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 20 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: 31.9682, -111.7809.

How this county ranks in Arizona

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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 Pima County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	36.2	23.8	1.52xSignificant	34.8 to 37.7	2019-2023
Thyroid	Deaths	0.6	0.5	1.2x	0.4 to 0.8	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.4	6.6	1.12xSignificant	6.8 to 8.1	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.1	2	1.05x	1.7 to 2.4	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.4	3.4	1x	3 to 3.8	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5.6	5.7	0.98x	5.1 to 6.2	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	17.5	17.9	0.98x	16.5 to 18.6	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.6	3.7	0.97x	3.2 to 4.1	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.4	8.7	0.97x	7.8 to 9.1	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	13.3	13.9	0.96x	12.5 to 14.2	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.9	6.2	0.95x	5.3 to 6.5	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	3.9	4.1	0.95x	3.5 to 4.4	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	10.7	11.3	0.95x	10 to 11.4	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.5	4.8	0.94x	4.1 to 5.1	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	17.5	18.7	0.94x	16.6 to 18.5	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	12	13	0.92x	11.1 to 13	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	130.6	143.2	0.91x	128 to 133.2	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4	4.4	0.91x	3.6 to 4.6	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	4.1	4.6	0.89x	3.6 to 4.6	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.8	6.6	0.88x	5.2 to 6.4	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	398.1	453.4	0.88x	393.3 to 402.9	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.3	2.7	0.85x	2 to 2.8	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	12.1	14.5	0.83x	11.3 to 13	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	13.2	16.4	0.8x	10.8 to 15.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	22.8	30.2	0.75x	21.8 to 23.9	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	13.9	18.5	0.75x	13.1 to 14.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	37.3	51.8	0.72x	36 to 38.7	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.

Mortality measures for Pima County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,749.8	9,842.6	-1%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76.5	75.3	+2%	years
Child mortality	56.9	59.8	-5%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.3	6.2	-15%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	110.3	96.9	+14%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	42.5	28.6	+49%	deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 20 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

Formaldehyde14.82 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.65 per million
Naphthalene1.03 per million
Benzene0.92 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 123 good, 8 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 54, peak 357.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

3,527 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

Industrial wastewater discharge1,781
NPDES wastewater discharge permit499
Brownfield property320
Gas station (mapped facility)287
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)135
Small hazardous waste generator105
Rail grade crossing92
Air permit holder (minor source)35
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)34
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)30
Scrapyard (mapped facility)29
TRI reporting facility28
Large hazardous waste generator23
Solar power plant22
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)20
EPA air quality monitor19
Major air pollution source15
Hazardous waste transporter9
Heliport8
Landfill (mapped facility)8
Public airport7
Gas power plant5
Commercial airport4
Large greenhouse gas emitter4
Airfield2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Battery storage plant2
Crematorium (mapped facility)1
Superfund (NPL) 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.

Tucson International Airport Area, Tucson
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 57.8. NPL Site.
EPA site ID AZD980737530 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Asarco Llc Mission Complex, Sahuarita
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead And Lead Compounds, Chromium, Manganese, Nickel and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 15,340,665 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85629SRCNC4201W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 10
Asarco Llc Mission Mine Complex, Sahuarita
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000471864 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.9
Freeport-Mcmoran Sierrita Inc, Green Valley
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead And Lead Compounds, Manganese, Chromium, Cobalt and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,615,165 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85614CYPRS6200W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.9
Fluidra, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Nickel, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 139,645 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85713NTRFB3050S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Silver Bell Mining Llc, Marana
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110010063563 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.2
Calportland - Rillito Cement Plant, Marana
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110038167550 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8
U.S. Dod Usaf Davis-Monthan Afb, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Naphthalene. Reports carcinogens. 35,480 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85707SDDSFINTER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Silver Bell Mining Llc, Marana
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Copper And Copper Compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds, Mercury compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 28,484 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85653SLVRB25000 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Swan Rd. Asphalt Plant, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Polycyclic aromatic compounds. Reports carcinogens. 25,052 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 8575WSWNRD931SS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Federal Correctional Complex - Tucson, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 13,490 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 8575WFCCTC93SWI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Flsmidth Krebs Inc., Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylbenzene. Reports carcinogens. 11,498 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 8574WFLSMD555WG (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Calportland Co Rillito Plant, Rillito
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Lead compounds, Mercury compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 8,241 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85654RZNPR11115 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Tangerine Rd. Asphalt Plant, Marana
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Polycyclic aromatic compounds. Reports carcinogens. 7,124 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 8565WTNGRN9499W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Freeport-Mcmoran Sierrita, Inc., Green Valley
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000471837 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.1
Samuel Advanced Fabrication A Div Of Samuel Son & Co., Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Manganese, Nickel, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 453 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 8570WCDNDS622ST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Asarco Llc Mission Mine Complex, Sahuarita
Major air pollution source.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000471864 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Johns Manville, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt. Reports carcinogens. 373 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85740MNVLL6455N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Learjet Inc, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 31,958 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85706LRJTC1255E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Calportland - Rillito Cement Plant, Marana
Major air pollution source.
EPA FRS registry ID 110038167550 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
S.R. Smith, Tucson
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008061471 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Asarco Llc Mission Mine Complex, Sahuarita
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000471864 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Vulcan Materials Co Black Angus, Tucson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Propylene, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Ethylene glycol and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 62 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 85747VLCNM65SLD (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.9
Flsmidth Krebs Inc., Tucson
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070273339 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.9
Us Dod Usaf Davis - Monthan Afb, Tucson
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110041964096 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.8

Correctional facilities

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

Federal Correctional Inst, Tucson
EPA FRS registry ID
110002566278
Water system
AZ0410187
Health-based violations
6 all time, 3 in 5 years
All violations
234
Contaminants cited
Arsenic, Coliform (TCR), Fluoride, Groundwater Rule, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Adoc-Correction Training, Tucson
EPA FRS registry ID
110013115672
Water system
AZ0420557
Health-based violations
2 all time, 1 in 5 years
All violations
343
Contaminants cited
Chromium, Groundwater Rule
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Pima County

Arizona 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 Pima County, and their findings.
Arizona vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Arizona health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Arizona 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.
Arizona 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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