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Santa Cruz County, California: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Santa Cruz County is 119 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Brain & nervous system deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 717 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Small hazardous waste generator (224), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (215), Rail grade crossing (128). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county. EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 70 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: 37.0684, -122.0321.

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 Santa Cruz County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinNew cases50.323.82.11xSignificant46.8 to 53.92019-2023
Melanoma of the skinDeaths2.721.35x1.9 to 3.62020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases21.716.41.32x15.7 to 29.32019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths5.64.41.27xSignificant4.5 to 6.92020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases22.318.51.21xSignificant20 to 24.72019-2023
BladderNew cases22.218.71.19xSignificant20 to 24.72019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases9.28.71.06x7.8 to 10.82019-2023
All cancerNew cases471.9453.41.04xSignificant461.2 to 482.82019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.84.81x3.8 to 62020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases66.20.97x4.8 to 7.42019-2023
ThyroidNew cases12.1130.93x10.3 to 14.22019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths6.16.60.92x5 to 7.42020-2024
PancreasNew cases12.713.90.91x11.1 to 14.62019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases1314.50.9x11.2 to 152019-2023
PancreasDeaths10.111.30.89x8.7 to 11.82020-2024
EsophagusDeaths3.33.70.89x2.5 to 4.32020-2024
EsophagusNew cases44.60.87x3.1 to 5.12019-2023
BladderDeaths3.54.10.85x2.7 to 4.62020-2024
StomachNew cases5.56.60.83x4.4 to 6.82019-2023
All cancerDeaths119143.20.83x113.8 to 124.42020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths2.83.40.82x2 to 3.72020-2024
StomachDeaths2.22.70.81x1.5 to 3.12020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths4.55.70.79x3.5 to 5.62020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases1417.90.78x12.2 to 162019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths1830.20.6x16 to 20.12020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases30.651.80.59x28.1 to 33.42019-2023

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 Santa Cruz County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death5,482.29,842.6-44%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy81.875.3+9%years
Child mortality27.559.8-54%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality3.66.2-43%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths78.596.9-19%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths29.428.6+3%deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 70 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

  • Formaldehyde33.37 per million
  • Naphthalene11.3 per million
  • Pahpom6.36 per million
  • Acetaldehyde5.04 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 320 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 35, peak 71.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • Small hazardous waste generator224
  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit215
  • Rail grade crossing128
  • Industrial wastewater discharge51
  • Large hazardous waste generator46
  • Hazardous waste transporter21
  • Air permit holder (minor source)4
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter4
  • Heliport4
  • Major air pollution source3
  • Public airport3
  • EPA air quality monitor2
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
  • Biomass power plant2
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)2
  • Commercial airport1
  • Brownfield property1
  • Gas power plant1
  • Solar power plant1
  • Superfund (NPL) site1
  • TRI reporting facility1

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. Watkins-Johnson Co. (Stewart Division Plant), Scotts Valley

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 28.9. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID CAD980893234 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Felton Quarry, Felton

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Polycyclic aromatic compounds. Reports carcinogens. 145 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 9501WFLTNQ18FEL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.2

  3. Bayside Oil Ii Inc, Santa Cruz

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002662789 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  4. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Santa Cruz

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013900458 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  5. Scotts Valley Wwtp, Scotts Valley

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $3,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002761388 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  6. Threshold Enterprises Ltd, Scotts Valley

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110058155687 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  7. Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Plant, Santa Cruz

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013848453 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  8. Granite Rock Co Santa Cruz Con, Santa Cruz

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 9506WGRNTR33CRA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  9. Bayside Oil Ii Inc, Santa Cruz

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002662789 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  10. Buena Vista Drive Sanitary Landfill, Watsonville

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110017973291 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  11. Bayside Oil Ii Inc, Santa Cruz

    Hazardous waste transporter.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002662789 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  12. Scotts Valley Wwtp, Scotts Valley

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $3,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002761388 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  13. Watsonville Wwtf, Watsonville

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013819706 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  14. Cvs Pharmacy No 9331, Santa Cruz

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055423055 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  15. Granite Rock Co Santa Cruz Con, Santa Cruz

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070087838 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  16. Kaiser Permanente Scotts Valley Medical Office Building, Scotts Valley

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070425902 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  17. Buena Vista Drive Sanitary Landfill, Watsonville

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110017973291 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  18. City Of Santa Cruz Sanitary Landfill, Santa Cruz

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110012694209 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  19. Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Plant, Santa Cruz

    Small hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013848453 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  20. Ameresco Santa Cruz Energy, Watsonville

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110033644126 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  21. University Of California Sant, Santa Cruz

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009530392 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  22. Buena Vista Drive Sanitary Landfill, Watsonville

    Large greenhouse gas emitter.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110017973291 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  23. Santa Cruz, Live Oak

    EPA air quality monitor.

    Record ID 060870007 (U.S. EPA AirData)

    Severity 3.2

  24. Univ Of Calif Santa Cruz Cogeneration, Santa Cruz

    Gas power plant.

    Record ID 50064 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

    Severity 3

  25. Pogonip Farm And Garden, Santa Cruz

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071987220 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

Correctional facilities

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

  • Santa Cruz Co - Gen Serv Jail, Santa Cruz

    EPA FRS registry ID
    110064278375
    Wastewater permit
    None on record

    EPA detailed facility report

  • Naphcare California Llc At Santa Cruz County Jail, Santa Cruz

    EPA FRS registry ID
    110072240701
    Wastewater permit
    None on record

    EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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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