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Will County, Illinois: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Will County is 146.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Stomach deaths at 1.2 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 3,465 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,003), Air permit holder (minor source) (752), Industrial wastewater discharge (697). 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 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: 41.4672, -87.889.

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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 Will County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Thyroid	Deaths	0.8	0.5	1.6x	0.5 to 1.1	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	Deaths	2.8	1.9	1.47x	1.7 to 4.4	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	3.3	2.7	1.22xSignificant	2.8 to 4	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	21.9	18.7	1.17xSignificant	20.4 to 23.4	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	7.7	6.6	1.17xSignificant	6.8 to 8.7	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	15.1	13	1.16xSignificant	13.9 to 16.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	7.1	6.2	1.15xSignificant	6.3 to 8	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	5.2	4.6	1.13x	4.5 to 5.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	33.4	30.2	1.11xSignificant	31.5 to 35.3	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.3	5.7	1.11x	5.5 to 7.2	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.8	4.4	1.09x	4.1 to 5.5	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	56.4	51.8	1.09xSignificant	54 to 58.9	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	12.3	11.3	1.09x	11.2 to 13.4	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	4	3.7	1.08x	3.4 to 4.7	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	15.6	14.5	1.08x	14.3 to 16.9	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	483.5	453.4	1.07xSignificant	476.5 to 490.5	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	17.3	16.4	1.05x	14.3 to 20.8	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	14.5	13.9	1.04x	13.3 to 15.7	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5	4.8	1.04x	4.3 to 5.8	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	19.2	18.5	1.04x	17.8 to 20.7	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	146.7	143.2	1.02x	142.8 to 150.6	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	23.8	23.8	1x	22.2 to 25.4	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.5	6.6	0.98x	5.7 to 7.4	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.3	3.4	0.97x	2.8 to 4	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	3.9	4.1	0.95x	3.3 to 4.6	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	16.9	17.9	0.94x	15.6 to 18.2	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.7	8.7	0.89x	6.8 to 8.6	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	1.5	2	0.75x	1.2 to 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 Will County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	6,358.3	9,842.6	-35%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	78.5	75.3	+4%	years
Child mortality	42.9	59.8	-28%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.4	6.2	-13%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	57.6	96.9	-41%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	22.2	28.6	-22%	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.

Formaldehyde15.93 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.97 per million
Naphthalene1.58 per million
Acetaldehyde1.46 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 225 good, 5 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 44, peak 156.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

3,465 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,003
Air permit holder (minor source)752
Industrial wastewater discharge697
Rail grade crossing238
Gas station (mapped facility)202
Small hazardous waste generator162
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)71
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)59
Large hazardous waste generator54
TRI reporting facility54
Major air pollution source43
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)22
Large greenhouse gas emitter21
Hazardous waste transporter13
Brownfield property9
Combined sewer overflow outfall8
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)8
Gas power plant7
Heliport6
Landfill (mapped facility)6
Public airport5
Solar power plant5
Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
Superfund (NPL) site3
EPA air quality monitor2
Commercial airport2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Biomass power plant2
Airfield1
Battery storage plant1
Coal power plant1
Hydroelectric plant1
Nuclear power plant1
Other 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.

Stepan Company, Elwood
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $409,685.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000432504 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Load-Assembly-Packing Area), Joliet
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 35.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IL0210090049 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (Manufacturing Area), Joliet
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 32.1. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IL7213820460 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Amoco Chemicals (Joliet Landfill), Joliet
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 39.4. NPL Site.
EPA site ID ILD002994259 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Exxonmobil Oil Corp Joliet Refinery, Channahon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 6,550,952 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60434MBLJLINTER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.7
Crane Composites Inc., Channahon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate, Perfluorooctanoic acid, Cobalt compounds and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 61,611 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60436KMLTX4050C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.7
Laraway Refuse-Derived Fuel (Rdf), Joliet
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000833554 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.5
Laraway Recycling & Disposal Facility, Joliet
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Barium, Manganese, Zinc compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,882,517 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60436LRWYR21233 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.5
Stepan Co Millsdale Road, Elwood
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Methanol, Phthalic anhydride, Maleic anhydride and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,781,161 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60421STPNCRURAL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.3
Ecolab Inc, Joliet
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $846,618.
EPA FRS registry ID 110067387839 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.2
Citgo Petroleum Corp Lemont Refinery, Lemont
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Hydrogen sulfide, Ammonia, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,023,310 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60439NCLCR135TH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Ineos Styrolution America Llc, Channahon
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008458597 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.9
Ineos Joliet Llc, Channahon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Bromomethane, Bromine, Acrylic acid and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 529,379 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60434MCCHM12MIL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
Ineos Styrolution America Llc, Channahon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Ethylbenzene, Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), Cumene and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 247,152 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60410MBLCHI55AR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.6
South Holland Metal Finishing, Monee
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Zinc compounds, Nitric acid and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 1,246 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60449STHHL26100 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Hendrickson Bumper & Trim, Crest Hill
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110018324516 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.4
Toyal America Inc, Lockport
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Aluminum (fume or dust), 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Cumene and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 55,044 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60434LCNTYROUTE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Exxonmobil Oil Corporation, Channahon
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $59,473.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000595339 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8
Seating Concepts, Rockdale
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 17,732 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60436STNGC125CN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Flint Hills Resources Joliet, Llc, Channahon
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $85,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110038932411 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Interstate Chemical Co Inc, Channahon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Formic acid, 2-Methoxyethanol, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,046 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60410CLMNC23247 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Azz Galvanizing Services-Joliet, Joliet
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 11,914 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60434GLVNZ625MI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Stepan Company, Elwood
Major air pollution source. Penalties $409,685.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000432504 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Verdant Specialty Solutions Us Llc, University Park
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Epichlorohydrin, Chloroacetic acid, N-Hydroxyethylethylenediamine and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 7,340 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60466MCNTY1000G (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Exxonmobil Oil Corp Lockport Terminal, Lockport
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, n-Hexane, Xylene (mixed isomers), Benzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,632 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 60441MBLLL12909 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4

Correctional facilities

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

Stateville Correctional Center, Joliet
EPA FRS registry ID
110018324687
Water system
IL1977910
Health-based violations
14 all time, 2 in 5 years
All violations
86
Contaminants cited
Coliform (TCR), Combined Radium (-226 and -228), Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Lead and Copper Rule
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Il Dept Of Corrections, Joliet
EPA FRS registry ID
110055059136
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Will County

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