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Lake County, Indiana: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Lake County is 150.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Bladder deaths at 1.2 times the U.S. rate and Pancreas deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 2,589 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (666), Industrial wastewater discharge (561), Rail grade crossing (401). 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: 41.4407, -87.3728.

How this county ranks in Indiana

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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 Lake County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Bladder	Deaths	5	4.1	1.22xSignificant	4.2 to 5.8	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	12.6	11.3	1.12xSignificant	11.4 to 14	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	57.7	51.8	1.11xSignificant	55.1 to 60.4	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	5.1	4.6	1.11x	4.3 to 5.9	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	20.4	18.7	1.09xSignificant	18.8 to 22	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	6.2	5.7	1.09x	5.4 to 7.2	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	15.1	13.9	1.09x	13.7 to 16.5	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.9	2.7	1.07x	2.3 to 3.5	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	32.1	30.2	1.06x	30.2 to 34.1	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	17.3	16.4	1.05x	13.8 to 21.6	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	150.7	143.2	1.05xSignificant	146.5 to 155.1	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.9	6.6	1.05x	6 to 7.8	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.9	6.6	1.05x	6 to 7.9	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	18.4	17.9	1.03x	16.9 to 20.1	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.9	8.7	1.02x	8 to 10	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	461.1	453.4	1.02xSignificant	453.5 to 468.9	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.4	3.4	1x	2.8 to 4.1	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.4	18.5	0.99x	16.9 to 20	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.6	3.7	0.97x	3 to 4.3	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	11.8	13	0.91x	10.5 to 13.3	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12.9	14.5	0.89x	11.6 to 14.3	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.4	6.2	0.87x	4.5 to 6.3	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	3.7	4.4	0.84x	3 to 4.4	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4	4.8	0.83x	3.3 to 4.7	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	1.5	2	0.75x	1.1 to 2	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	11.9	23.8	0.5x	10.7 to 13.3	2019-2023

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 Lake County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	10,981.2	9,842.6	+12%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	74.4	75.3	-1%	years
Child mortality	67.7	59.8	+13%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	7.9	6.2	+27%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	100	96.9	+3%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	39.4	28.6	+38%	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 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.97 per million
Naphthalene1.67 per million
Acetaldehyde1.45 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 152 good, 15 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 53, peak 219.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,589 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit666
Industrial wastewater discharge561
Rail grade crossing401
Gas station (mapped facility)201
Brownfield property105
Air permit holder (minor source)83
Hazardous waste transporter79
Small hazardous waste generator70
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)59
Major air pollution source58
Combined sewer overflow outfall58
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)51
TRI reporting facility43
Large hazardous waste generator33
Landfill (mapped facility)31
Large greenhouse gas emitter18
Scrapyard (mapped facility)13
EPA air quality monitor10
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)9
Heliport9
Superfund (NPL) site8
Other power plant6
Public airport5
Solar power plant4
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)4
Airfield1
Commercial airport1
Biomass power plant1
Gas 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.

Pollution Control Industries, East Chicago
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $251,171.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000397874 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Cargill Texturizing Solutions, Hammond
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $144,488.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000397963 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Bp Products North America, Inc., Whiting
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $32,257,035.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000398338 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Oil Technology, Inc./U.S. Steel Gary, Gary
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $419,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000398374 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Carmeuse Lime Buffington, Gary
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $142,450.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007362255 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Oil Technology Inc, East Chicago
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $201,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008339333 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Cleveland-Cliffs Llc, East Chicago
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $405,350.
EPA FRS registry ID 110066942526 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Federated Metals Corp Whiting, Hammond
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 51.1. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND005444104 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
American Chemical Service, Inc., Griffith
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 35. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND016360265 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc., East Chicago
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 58.3. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND047030226 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Gary Development Landfill, Gary
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 30. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND077005916 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Lake Sandy Jo (M&M Landfill), Gary
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 38.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND980500524 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
MIDCO I, Gary
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 46.4. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND980615421 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
MIDCO II, Gary
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 30.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND980679559 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Ninth Avenue Dump, Gary
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 40.3. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND980794432 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Bp Products Na Whiting Business Unit, Whiting
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 14,738,123 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46394MCLCX2815I (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 10
Uss Gary Works, Gary
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Zinc compounds, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Vanadium compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 73,041,933 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46402SSGRYONENO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 10
Tradebe Treatment & Recycling Llc, East Chicago
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Vinylidene chloride, 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloro-2-fluoroethane (HCFC-121a), 1-Bromopropane, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 126,935 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46312PLLTN4343K (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.9
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., East Chicago
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $240,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000397883 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.6
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Llc, East Chicago
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,800,641 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46312NLNDS3210W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.3
Kemira Water Solutions Inc, East Chicago
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110035800871 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.1
Indiana Harbor Coke Co Lp, East Chicago
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 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, Lead compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 914,348 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46312NDNHR3210W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Cargill Texturizing Solutions, Hammond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Propylene oxide, Lead And Lead Compounds and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 603,388 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46320MRCNM1100I (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
Linde Inc, East Chicago
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Zinc compounds, Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Nickel compounds. Reports carcinogens. 380,457 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46312PRXRNFOOTO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.8
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Llc, East Chicago
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Zinc compounds, n-Hexane, Hydrogen sulfide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 361,385 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46312LTVST3001D (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.8

Correctional facilities

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

No correctional facility with an EPA record is located in this county.

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Lake County

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