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Imperial County, California: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Imperial County is 118 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Stomach deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Liver & bile duct deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,028 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (326), Small hazardous waste generator (172), Rail grade crossing (123). 10 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 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: 33.0258, -115.3541.

How this county ranks in California

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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 Imperial County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Liver & bile duct	New cases	14.9	8.7	1.71xSignificant	12.5 to 17.6	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	4.3	2.7	1.59xSignificant	3 to 5.8	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	9.4	6.6	1.42xSignificant	7.5 to 11.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	8.9	6.6	1.35xSignificant	7.1 to 11.1	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	22.6	17.9	1.26xSignificant	19.6 to 25.9	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4.2	3.4	1.24x	3 to 5.7	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	19.4	16.4	1.18x	13.9 to 26.4	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	7.2	6.2	1.16x	5.5 to 9.2	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	13.7	13	1.05x	11.3 to 16.4	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	6	5.7	1.05x	4.5 to 7.8	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	12.1	14.5	0.83x	9.9 to 14.6	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	118	143.2	0.82x	111.1 to 125.3	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	15	18.5	0.81x	12.6 to 17.8	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	363.6	453.4	0.8x	351.2 to 376.3	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	3.5	4.4	0.8x	2.3 to 4.9	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	10.3	13.9	0.74x	8.3 to 12.6	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	3	4.1	0.73x	2 to 4.4	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	3.5	4.8	0.73x	2.4 to 4.9	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	12.9	18.7	0.69x	10.7 to 15.5	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	7.3	11.3	0.65x	5.7 to 9.2	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	18.3	30.2	0.61x	15.7 to 21.3	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	30.4	51.8	0.59x	26.9 to 34.2	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	2.1	3.7	0.57x	1.3 to 3.3	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	2.6	4.6	0.57x	1.7 to 3.9	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	6.8	23.8	0.29x	5.2 to 8.7	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 Imperial County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	8,703.3	9,842.6	-12%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76.2	75.3	+1%	years
Child mortality	36	59.8	-40%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	3.6	6.2	-43%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	61.1	96.9	-37%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	21.2	28.6	-26%	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.

Formaldehyde19.19 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million
Acetaldehyde1.25 per million
Benzene0.99 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 101 good, 44 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 64, peak 426.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,028 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit326
Small hazardous waste generator172
Rail grade crossing123
Industrial wastewater discharge78
Gas station (mapped facility)71
Large hazardous waste generator45
Solar power plant33
Air permit holder (minor source)31
Hazardous waste transporter20
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)18
Geothermal plant18
Major air pollution source12
Correctional facility (prison or jail)10
Hydroelectric plant8
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)8
Commercial airport6
Brownfield property6
Large greenhouse gas emitter6
EPA air quality monitor5
Scrapyard (mapped facility)5
TRI reporting facility5
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)5
Heliport4
Gas power plant4
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Public airport2
Biomass power plant2
Wind power plant1
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.

Spreckels Sugar Co Inc, Brawley
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000479090 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.1
Stoker Company, Imperial
Proposed Superfund site. Hazard Ranking System score 70.9. Proposed NPL Site.
EPA site ID CAD066635442 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 8
El Centro Generating Station, El Centro
Major air pollution source. Penalties $118,110.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002672484 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
U.S. Marine Corps Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range, Niland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead And Lead Compounds, Aluminum (fume or dust), Lead compounds and 1 more. 609,023 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 92257SMRNCNAVYS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Spreckels Sugar Co Inc., Brawley
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Lead And Lead Compounds. 579,126 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 92227HLLYS395WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
El Centro Generating Station, El Centro
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $118,110.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002672484 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Naval Air Facility El Centro, El Centro
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000781556 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Us Navy Naval Air Facility El Centro, El Centro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 139,000 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 9224WSNVLR165TH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Mesquite Mine, Brawley
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Mercury compounds, Mercury And Mercury Compounds, Hydrogen cyanide, Propylene and 2 more. 97,788 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 92227NWMNT6502E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Calexico-Ethel Street, Calexico
EPA air quality monitor.
Record ID 060250005 (U.S. EPA AirData)
Severity 6.6
El Centro Generating Station, El Centro
Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $118,110.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002672484 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range - Airplane Training, Niland
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110012701987 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Spreckels Sugar Co Inc, Brawley
Major air pollution source.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000479090 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Santa Fe Pacific Minerals Mesquite Mine, Brawley
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110009532684 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.8
Calipatria Wwtp, Calipatria
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $9,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002043217 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.8
El Centro Generating Station, El Centro
Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $118,110.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002672484 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.5
Spreckels Sugar Co Inc, Brawley
Large greenhouse gas emitter.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000479090 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.3
Calexico Waste Water Plant, Calexico
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $10,365.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000730825 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.3
Calexico Waste Water Plant, Calexico
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $10,365.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000730825 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.3
Brawley Wastewater Treatment Plant, Brawley
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $51,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110030476465 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5
Imperial County, Imperial
Commercial airport. O.
Record ID IPL (FAA / U.S. DOT)
Severity 5
Brawley-220 Main Street, Brawley
EPA air quality monitor.
Record ID 060250007 (U.S. EPA AirData)
Severity 4.7
United States Gypsum Co, Ocotillo
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008274394 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.6
El Centro Wwtp, El Centro
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000759402 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.5
Imperial Wwtp, Imperial
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $6,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001175996 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.5

Correctional facilities

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

Centinela State Prison, Imperial
EPA FRS registry ID
110001174595
Water system
CA1310801
Health-based violations
16 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
18
Contaminants cited
Surface Water Treatment Rule, TTHM
Wastewater permit
Yes, 8 quarters in noncompliance
EPA detailed facility report
Calipatria State Prison, Calipatria
EPA FRS registry ID
110001151262
Water system
CA1310800
Health-based violations
4 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
5
Contaminants cited
Coliform (TCR), Surface Water Treatment Rule
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Calipatria State Prison, Imperial
EPA FRS registry ID
110069994508
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Imperial Regional Detention Facility, Calexico
EPA FRS registry ID
110070582282
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Management & Training Corporation Dba Imperial Regional Detention Facility, Calexico
EPA FRS registry ID
110071379309
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Juvenile Detention Facility/Bldg #39, El Centro
EPA FRS registry ID
110071387736
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Ab900 New Medium Security Detention Facility, El Centro
EPA FRS registry ID
x2a72410f732bf2456ed9f4d055381062
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Centinela State Prison Hcfip, Imperial
EPA FRS registry ID
x4c2008dc3432ed8f97508737c3fd5454
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Solar Panel Plant Centinela State Prison, Imperial
EPA FRS registry ID
x66f46aa9b7d77a74599ee0b8a87630c2
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Solar Panel Plant Calipatria State Prison, Calipatria
EPA FRS registry ID
x908ddc71ace1df195ef41e9f57fc0422
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Imperial County

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