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Polk County, Florida: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Polk County is 148.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 3,157 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,278), Industrial wastewater discharge (610), Rail grade crossing (350). 4 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: 28.0026, -81.7382.
How this county ranks in Florida
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 32.2 | 23.8 | 1.35xSignificant | 30.6 to 33.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | Deaths | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.32x | 1.5 to 3.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | New cases | 19.9 | 16.4 | 1.21xSignificant | 16.7 to 23.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 61.3 | 51.8 | 1.18xSignificant | 59.3 to 63.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 21.7 | 18.5 | 1.17xSignificant | 20.4 to 23.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 16.7 | 14.5 | 1.15xSignificant | 15.6 to 18 | 2019-2023 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 34.6 | 30.2 | 1.15xSignificant | 33.1 to 36.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 7 | 6.2 | 1.13x | 6.2 to 7.9 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | New cases | 501.2 | 453.4 | 1.11xSignificant | 494.9 to 507.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 7.1 | 6.6 | 1.08x | 6.4 to 7.8 | 2020-2024 |
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 9.3 | 8.7 | 1.07x | 8.5 to 10.2 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 5.1 | 4.8 | 1.06x | 4.5 to 5.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 4.8 | 4.6 | 1.04x | 4.2 to 5.4 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 148.1 | 143.2 | 1.03xSignificant | 144.9 to 151.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 4.5 | 4.4 | 1.02x | 3.9 to 5.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | Deaths | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1x | 3.6 to 4.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 17.8 | 17.9 | 0.99x | 16.6 to 19 | 2019-2023 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 12.9 | 13 | 0.99x | 11.8 to 14.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Bladder | New cases | 18.2 | 18.7 | 0.97x | 17.1 to 19.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 13.3 | 13.9 | 0.96x | 12.3 to 14.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Stomach | New cases | 6.3 | 6.6 | 0.95x | 5.6 to 7.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | Deaths | 1.9 | 2 | 0.95x | 1.6 to 2.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 3.2 | 3.4 | 0.94x | 2.7 to 3.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 3.4 | 3.7 | 0.92x | 2.9 to 3.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 5.2 | 5.7 | 0.91x | 4.6 to 5.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 10 | 11.3 | 0.88x | 9.2 to 10.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.85x | 1.9 to 2.8 | 2020-2024 |
| Thyroid | Deaths | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8x | 0.3 to 0.6 | 2020-2024 |
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 | 9,798.1 | 9,842.6 | -0% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 76.1 | 75.3 | +1% | years |
| Child mortality | 63.4 | 59.8 | +6% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 7.5 | 6.2 | +21% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 88.2 | 96.9 | -9% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 30 | 28.6 | +5% | 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.
- Formaldehyde21.95 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.87 per million
- Acetaldehyde1.9 per million
- Benzene0.8 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 355 days: 339 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 34, peak 100.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
3,157 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,278
- Industrial wastewater discharge610
- Rail grade crossing350
- Gas station (mapped facility)172
- Small hazardous waste generator164
- Air permit holder (minor source)161
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)70
- TRI reporting facility67
- Brownfield property64
- Major air pollution source38
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)32
- Large hazardous waste generator25
- Public airport17
- Heliport17
- Large greenhouse gas emitter14
- Wastewater plant (mapped facility)12
- Solar power plant11
- Gas power plant10
- Scrapyard (mapped facility)10
- Hazardous waste transporter8
- Airfield6
- Commercial airport4
- Correctional facility (prison or jail)4
- Landfill (mapped facility)4
- Other power plant3
- EPA air quality monitor2
- Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
- Oil-fired power plant1
- 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.
- Severity 10
Mosaic Fertilizer, Llc -Bartow, Bartow
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $16,950.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008318588 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc, Mulberry
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $17,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110056968866 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Landia Chemical Company, Lakeland
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID FLD042110841 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 9.8
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc, Mulberry
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110056968884 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 9.7
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-New Wales Plant, Mulberry
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Ammonia, Lead And Lead Compounds, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 6,455,213 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33860MCFRTHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9
American Environmental Container Corp, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 635,563 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33801SNJNF2302L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.9
Polk Power Station, Mulberry
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Naphthalene. Reports carcinogens. 593,750 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33860TMPLC9995S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.8
Cd Mcintosh Jr Power Plant, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 418,096 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33805CDMCN3030E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.8
Duke Energy Florida Llc - Hines Energy Complex, Bartow
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Mercury And Mercury Compounds. Reports carcinogens. 394,201 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33830PRGRS77CUN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.5
Hines Energy Complex, Bartow
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,300.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000753319 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.5
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-South Pierce Plant, Mulberry
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Vanadium compounds. Reports carcinogens. 165,243 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33860GRCCHSTATE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Westlake Epoxy Inc, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers, Nonylphenol, n-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 130,791 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33801SHRXP2525S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Tampa Electric Co - Polk Power, Mulberry
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000365113 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.2
Keymark Corp Of Florida, Lakeland
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000364917 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8
Aoc Llc, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Ethylene glycol, Phthalic anhydride, Methyl methacrylate and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 36,202 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33805LPHRS4620N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc-Bartow, Bartow
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrogen fluoride, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Lead And Lead Compounds and 4 more. 2,946,537 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33830WRGRCHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Ineos Composites Us Llc, Bartow
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate, Cobalt compounds. Reports carcinogens. 30,870 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33830RSTCHSOUTH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Industrial Composite Systems Dba Industrial Plastic Systems, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 29,303 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33811NDLPL4225D (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
South Atlantic Galvanizing, Mulberry
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region). Reports carcinogens. 24,433 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3386WSTHTL394CU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.7
Nucor Steel Florida Inc., Frostproof
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds, Mercury And Mercury Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 16,781 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3384WNCRST22NUC (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.7
Polyglass Usa Inc, Winter Haven
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Naphthalene. Reports carcinogens. 16,071 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3388WPLYGL1231A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.7
Nucor Steel Florida, Inc., Frostproof
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,300.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070511623 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.6
Givaudan Flavors Corp, Lakeland
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Thiols, C8-20, γ-ω-perfluoro, telomers with acrylamide, 1-Propanesulfonic acid, 2-methyl-, 2-[[1-oxo-3-[(γ-ω-perfluoro-C4-16-alkyl)thio]propyl]amino] derivs., sodium salts. Reports PFAS. 10,888 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 33801TSTMK4705U (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.5
Mosaic Fertilizer, Llc -Bartow, Bartow
Major air pollution source. Penalties $16,950.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008318588 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.5
Mosaic Fertilizer Llc, Mulberry
Major air pollution source. Penalties $17,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110056968866 (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.
Avon Park Correctional Institute, Avon Park
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110009138156
- Wastewater permit
- Yes, 8 quarters in noncompliance
Polk Correctional Institution, Polk City
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110006844264
- Water system
- FL6531426
- Health-based violations
- 2 all time, 0 in 5 years
- All violations
- 56
- Contaminants cited
- Coliform (TCR)
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Demilly Correctional Institution, Polk City
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110042430054
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Polk Central County Jail, Bartow
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110045967619
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Discovery / public records
Records to request for Polk County
Florida 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 Polk County, and their findings.
Florida vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Florida health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Florida 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.
Florida 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.