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Polk County, Iowa: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Polk County is 157.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate and Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 2,197 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Air permit holder (minor source) (1,204), Gas station (mapped facility) (209), Rail grade crossing (209). 3 correctional facilities operate in the county. 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: 41.6723, -93.5815.

How this county ranks in Iowa

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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 Polk County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Esophagus	Deaths	5	3.7	1.35xSignificant	4.1 to 5.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	5.9	4.6	1.28xSignificant	5 to 6.9	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	30.5	23.8	1.28xSignificant	28.4 to 32.7	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4.3	3.4	1.26xSignificant	3.5 to 5.1	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	37.8	30.2	1.25xSignificant	35.4 to 40.2	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	18	14.5	1.24xSignificant	16.4 to 19.7	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	7	5.7	1.23xSignificant	6 to 8.1	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	63.3	51.8	1.22xSignificant	60.3 to 66.5	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	21.2	17.9	1.18xSignificant	19.5 to 23.1	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.3	2	1.15x	1.8 to 3	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	21.2	18.5	1.15xSignificant	19.4 to 23.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.5	4.8	1.15x	4.6 to 6.5	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	20.8	18.7	1.11xSignificant	19 to 22.7	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	12.5	11.3	1.11x	11.2 to 14	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	501.4	453.4	1.11xSignificant	492.8 to 510.2	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	157.7	143.2	1.1xSignificant	152.9 to 162.7	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	4.5	4.1	1.1x	3.7 to 5.4	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	15	13.9	1.08x	13.5 to 16.6	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.6	6.2	1.06x	5.6 to 7.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	9	8.7	1.03x	7.9 to 10.3	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.8	6.6	1.03x	5.9 to 7.9	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.3	4.4	0.98x	3.6 to 5.2	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	12.5	13	0.96x	11.2 to 14	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	15.5	16.4	0.95x	12.3 to 19.3	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.3	6.6	0.8x	4.5 to 6.3	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	1.6	2.7	0.59x	1.2 to 2.2	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.

Mortality measures for Polk County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	7,653.3	9,842.6	-22%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	77.2	75.3	+3%	years
Child mortality	53.7	59.8	-10%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.7	6.2	-8%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	76.9	96.9	-21%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	26.1	28.6	-9%	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.

Formaldehyde16.99 per million
Ethylene Oxide6.33 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.95 per million
Acetaldehyde1.58 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 224 good, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 44, peak 136.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,197 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

Air permit holder (minor source)1,204
Gas station (mapped facility)209
Rail grade crossing209
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)125
Small hazardous waste generator120
NPDES wastewater discharge permit62
Industrial wastewater discharge59
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)35
TRI reporting facility32
Brownfield property20
Major air pollution source19
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)16
Large hazardous waste generator15
Hazardous waste transporter14
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)13
Scrapyard (mapped facility)11
Large greenhouse gas emitter9
EPA air quality monitor4
Heliport4
Gas power plant4
Correctional facility (prison or jail)3
Superfund (NPL) site3
Commercial airport2
Biomass power plant2
Public airport1
Coal power plant1
Oil-fired power plant1

Highest-severity records

The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.

Railroad Avenue Groundwater Contamination, Des Moines
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IA0001610963 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Des Moines TCE, Des Moines
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 42.3. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IAD980687933 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Lot 46 Valley Gardens TCE, Des Moines
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IAN000705485 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Adm Soybean Processing, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Lead compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,762,648 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50316RCHRD1940E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.4
Camp Dodge, Johnston
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $20,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110036386470 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.2
John Deere Des Moines Works, Ankeny
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, Manganese and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 204,662 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50021JHNDRHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.6
Cb&I Storage Tank Solutions Llc., Clive
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Zinc (fume or dust), Xylene (mixed isomers), Manganese compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 59,050 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50322PTTDS9600H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
U.S. Army Iowa Army National Guard Camp Dodge Installation, Johnston
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). Reports carcinogens. 34,051 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50131SRMYW715NW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Adm Des Moines, Des Moines
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $20,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110067425799 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.9
Central Iowa Ready Mix, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 11,387 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5002WCNTRL4NE22 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Barton Solvents Inc Des Moines, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, tert-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 11,007 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50313BRTNS1970N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Liberty Ready Mix - Grimes, Grimes
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 7,056 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5011WLBRTY52BEI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Central Iowa Ready Mix, Grimes
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 6,720 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5011WCNTRL11SE3 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Liberty Ready Mix, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 6,602 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5031WLBRTY323DI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene. Reports carcinogens. 6,420 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50313FRSTNSECON (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Quality Manufacturing Corp - Urbandale, Urbandale
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Cobalt and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,535 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5032WQLTYM43URB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Liberty Ready Mix Plant 3, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 5,481 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50316MRCNC1626E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Central Iowa Ready Mix West Des Moines, West Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 3,993 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50265MRCNC265S1 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Helena Industries Llc, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dicamba, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Ammonia, 2,4-Dichlorophenol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 853 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50317HLNCH3525V (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Safety Kleen Systems Inc, Des Moines
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $127,708.
EPA FRS registry ID 110005980527 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.6
Camp Dodge, Johnston
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $20,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110036386470 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Quality Manufacturing Corp, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 290 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 50305MRDTH5701S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.4
Lemar-Des Moines, Des Moines
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Copper and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 249 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5031WLMRND27NE6 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Katecho Inc, Des Moines
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $17,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110033625423 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Archer Daniels Midland Des Moines, Des Moines
Coal power plant.
Record ID 10861 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6

Correctional facilities

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

Polk County Government Jail Annex, Des Moines
EPA FRS registry ID
110005775580
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Polk County Sheriff'S Office - Jail, Des Moines
EPA FRS registry ID
110028006823
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Iowa Correctional Institute For Women, Mitchellville
EPA FRS registry ID
110064213480
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Polk County

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