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Woodbury County, Iowa: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Woodbury County is 162.8 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 1.4 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 540 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (125), Air permit holder (minor source) (89), Brownfield property (57). 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: 42.3891, -96.0414.

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 Woodbury County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	43.2	30.2	1.43xSignificant	38.1 to 48.7	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	6.5	4.6	1.41x	4.6 to 8.9	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	5	3.7	1.35x	3.4 to 7.1	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	25.2	18.7	1.35xSignificant	21.3 to 29.6	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	23.2	17.9	1.3xSignificant	19.4 to 27.5	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	65.3	51.8	1.26xSignificant	59 to 72	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	17.5	14.5	1.21x	14.2 to 21.2	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.2	4.4	1.18x	3.5 to 7.5	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4	3.4	1.18x	2.6 to 6	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	520.7	453.4	1.15xSignificant	502.3 to 539.6	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.7	4.1	1.15x	3.1 to 6.9	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.5	5.7	1.14x	4.6 to 8.9	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	162.8	143.2	1.14xSignificant	152.7 to 173.5	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	14.6	13	1.12x	11.5 to 18.3	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	26.5	23.8	1.11x	22.4 to 31.2	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.2	4.8	1.08x	3.5 to 7.5	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	20	18.5	1.08x	16.4 to 24.1	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	14.5	13.9	1.04x	11.6 to 18	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.2	6.2	1x	4.3 to 8.6	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.6	8.7	0.99x	6.5 to 11.2	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	10.6	11.3	0.94x	8.2 to 13.6	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.1	6.6	0.92x	4.3 to 8.5	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	5.5	6.6	0.83x	3.8 to 7.7	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 Woodbury County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,159.1	9,842.6	-7%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75.5	75.3	+0%	years
Child mortality	61.4	59.8	+3%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	6.1	6.2	-1%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	66.7	96.9	-31%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	12.7	28.6	-56%	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.

Formaldehyde15.11 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.92 per million
Acetaldehyde1.29 per million
Benzene0.88 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 284 days: 226 good, 3 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 122.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

Rail grade crossing125
Air permit holder (minor source)89
Brownfield property57
Gas station (mapped facility)51
NPDES wastewater discharge permit48
Industrial wastewater discharge40
Small hazardous waste generator30
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)28
TRI reporting facility23
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)11
Major air pollution source7
Large greenhouse gas emitter5
Scrapyard (mapped facility)4
Large hazardous waste generator3
EPA air quality monitor2
Public airport2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
Hazardous waste transporter2
Heliport2
Landfill (mapped facility)2
Coal power plant2
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)2
Commercial airport1

Highest-severity records

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

Cf Industries Nitrogen Llc-Port Neal Nitrogen Complex, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Methanol, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,526,474 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51054TRRNTPORTN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 10
Cargill Inc, Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 3,200,283 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51102CRGLL980CL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.5
Midamerican Energy Co George Neal North, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Barium And Barium Compounds, Vanadium compounds, Ammonia, Lead And Lead Compounds and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 608,893 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51101GRGNL11512 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
Midamerican Energy-George Neal South, Salix
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Barium And Barium Compounds, Ammonia, Vanadium compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 412,048 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51101GRGNL2761P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.8
Cf Industries Nitrogen, Llc - Port Neal Complex, Sergeant Bluff
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414089 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.7
Ag Processing Inc, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Methanol. 1,325,568 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51054GPRCSBOX20 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
The Andersons Inc - Sioux City, Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Manganese compounds, Zinc compounds. 801,179 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51101NTRFL514SO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Gelita, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 527,438 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51059KNDKNPORTN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Cargill Sioux City, Sioux City
Major air pollution source. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017419257 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.3
Ag Processing, Inc - Sergeant Bluff, Sergeant Bluff
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414061 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.2
The Andersons Inc. - Sergeant Bluff, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds, Lead and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,025 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51054NTRFL2717P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Us Dod Usaf Sioux City Ang Range, Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 2,003 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51111SRFRC185AI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Valmont Coatings Inc Dba Siouxland Galvanizing Corp., Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1,431 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51102SXLND2301B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Gelita Usa, Inc., Sergeant Bluff
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110005746773 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Midamerican Energy Co - George Neal South, Salix
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414114 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.7
Cargill, Inc, Sioux City
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414141 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.7
George Neal South, Salix
Coal power plant.
Record ID 7343 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6.7
Siouxland Galvanizing, Sioux City
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414169 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.6
George Neal North, Sergeant Bluff
Coal power plant.
Record ID 1091 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6.5
Wilson Trailer Co, Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Chromium, Copper, Nickel and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 292 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51106WLSNT4400S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.4
The Andersons - Sioux City Facility, Sioux City
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000414123 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.4
George Neal North, Sergeant Bluff
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001323318 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Cargill Sioux City, Sioux City
Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017419257 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Sioux City Foundry Co, Sioux City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Lead and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 81 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5110WSXCTY81DIV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6
Sioux City Brick & Tile Co Sergeant Bluff Plant, Sergeant Bluff
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Manganese, Barium. 5,590 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 51054BLLBR504FS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.9

Correctional facilities

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

Correctionville City Of Stp, Correctionville
EPA FRS registry ID
110010036291
Water system
IA9721076
Health-based violations
1 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
3
Contaminants cited
Nitrate
Wastewater permit
Yes, 5 quarters in noncompliance
EPA detailed facility report
Salem Lutheran Church Correctionville
EPA FRS registry ID
110054044976
Water system
IA9721883
Health-based violations
3 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
18
Contaminants cited
Nitrate
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Woodbury 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 Woodbury 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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