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LaPorte County, Indiana: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in LaPorte County is 155 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 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 930 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (285), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (212), Industrial wastewater discharge (148). 5 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: 41.5043, -86.7274.

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 LaPorte County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	New cases	72.9	51.8	1.41xSignificant	67 to 79.2	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	6.3	4.6	1.37x	4.6 to 8.4	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	40.1	30.2	1.33xSignificant	35.8 to 44.8	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	24.7	18.7	1.32xSignificant	21.2 to 28.6	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	5.3	4.1	1.29x	3.8 to 7.2	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	21	17.9	1.17x	17.6 to 24.8	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.9	3.4	1.15x	2.6 to 5.6	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	155	143.2	1.08xSignificant	146.3 to 164.2	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	4	3.7	1.08x	2.7 to 5.8	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	475.3	453.4	1.05xSignificant	459.3 to 491.7	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	19.1	18.5	1.03x	15.9 to 22.8	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	11.6	11.3	1.03x	9.3 to 14.3	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.9	8.7	1.02x	6.8 to 11.4	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	14.2	13.9	1.02x	11.6 to 17.2	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.6	6.6	1x	4.8 to 8.8	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.4	6.6	0.97x	4.7 to 8.6	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.2	4.4	0.95x	2.8 to 6	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.8	6.2	0.94x	4.1 to 8.1	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	5.3	5.7	0.93x	3.7 to 7.5	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	11.9	13	0.92x	9.2 to 15.1	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12.8	14.5	0.88x	10.2 to 15.9	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	3.9	4.8	0.81x	2.6 to 5.6	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	11.5	23.8	0.48x	9.1 to 14.5	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 LaPorte County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	11,091.5	9,842.6	+13%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	74.3	75.3	-1%	years
Child mortality	67	59.8	+12%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	8	6.2	+28%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	102.4	96.9	+6%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	46.1	28.6	+61%	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.

Formaldehyde15.38 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.97 per million
Acetaldehyde1.38 per million
Benzene1.09 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 230 good, 12 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 43, peak 153.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

Rail grade crossing285
NPDES wastewater discharge permit212
Industrial wastewater discharge148
Gas station (mapped facility)60
Brownfield property35
Air permit holder (minor source)31
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)26
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)25
TRI reporting facility21
Small hazardous waste generator17
Major air pollution source13
Hazardous waste transporter10
Large hazardous waste generator9
Combined sewer overflow outfall6
Correctional facility (prison or jail)5
EPA air quality monitor3
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)3
Heliport3
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Public airport2
Commercial airport2
Large greenhouse gas emitter2
Scrapyard (mapped facility)2
Superfund (NPL) site2
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)2
Airfield1
Coal 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.

Northern Indiana Public Service Company Llc - Michigan City Generating Station, Michigan City
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $5,250.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000592154 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Cam-Or Inc., Westville
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 58.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND005480462 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Fisher-Calo, La Porte
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 52.1. NPL Site.
EPA site ID IND074315896 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Weil Mclain A United Dominion Company, Michigan City
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $36,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110028097814 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.4
Precoat Metals, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 222,639 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46345RLLCT2NDAN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.6
Nipsco Michigan City Generating Station, Michigan City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 57,469 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46360NRTHRWABAS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Precoat Metals, La Porte
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $28,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000592136 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.6
Northern Indiana Public Service Company Llc - Michigan City Generating Station, Michigan City
Major air pollution source. Penalties $5,250.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000592154 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Weil Mclain A United Dominion Company, Michigan City
Major air pollution source. Penalties $36,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110028097814 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Howmet Castings & Services Inc., La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Aluminum (fume or dust), Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,266 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46350HWMTC1110E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Aero Metals Inc, Laporte
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001368886 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.2
Monosol - Laporte Plant, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol. 225,548 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4635WMNSLL169GE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Northern Indiana Public Service Company Llc - Michigan City Generating Station, Michigan City
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $5,250.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000592154 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Weil Mclain A United Dominion Company, Michigan City
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $36,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110028097814 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
American Renolit Corp, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Phenol, Barium And Barium Compounds, Zinc compounds, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)). 120,092 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46350SLVYN1207E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
New York Blower Co, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Manganese, Copper, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,292 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46350NWYRK171FA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Hearthside Food Solutions Llc, Michigan City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia. 70,988 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46360HRTHS52WUS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Accurate Castings Inc, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Copper, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 562 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46350CCRTC118KO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
Aero Metals Inc, La Porte
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Chromium, Nickel, Manganese. Reports carcinogens. 553 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46350RMTLSPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
Phm Brands Llc, Michigan City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane. 45,929 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 46360VTMNS1700E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
Northern Indiana Public Service Company Llc - Michigan City Generating Station, Michigan City
Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $5,250.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000592154 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Weiss Prestaining Inc, Laporte
Major air pollution source.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001677668 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Michigan City, Michigan City
Coal power plant.
Record ID 997 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6.5
Bldg Materials Mfg Corp, Michigan City
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008057823 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.1
American Renolit Corporation, La Porte
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000863343 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6

Correctional facilities

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

Westville Correctional Facility, Westville
EPA FRS registry ID
110002042726
Water system
IN5246001
Health-based violations
3 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
34
Contaminants cited
Coliform (TCR), Lead and Copper Rule
Wastewater permit
Yes, 1 quarters in noncompliance
EPA detailed facility report
Indiana State Prison, Michigan City
EPA FRS registry ID
110041401373
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Westville Correctional Facil--Pen Prods, Westville
EPA FRS registry ID
110046382099
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Idoc Indiana State Prison Ms4 (Michigan City), Michigan City
EPA FRS registry ID
110070033071
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Westville Correctional Facility, Westville
EPA FRS registry ID
110071510070
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for LaPorte 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 LaPorte 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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