IN / county FIPS 18167 / county research

Vigo County, Indiana: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Vigo County is 178.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Melanoma of the skin deaths at 1.8 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 769 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (181), Rail grade crossing (164), Industrial wastewater discharge (155). 4 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: 39.4347, -87.3855.

How this county ranks in Indiana

View on the heat map Scan an address in this county

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 Vigo County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	3.6	2	1.8xSignificant	2.2 to 5.6	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	7.3	4.6	1.59xSignificant	5.3 to 9.9	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	27.7	17.9	1.55xSignificant	23.5 to 32.4	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	5.5	3.7	1.49x	3.7 to 7.8	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	44.6	30.2	1.48xSignificant	39.7 to 50	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	76.3	51.8	1.47xSignificant	69.8 to 83.2	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	6	4.1	1.46xSignificant	4.3 to 8.4	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	6.2	4.8	1.29x	4.4 to 8.6	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	8.5	6.6	1.29x	6.4 to 11	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	23.5	18.7	1.26xSignificant	19.9 to 27.6	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	178.3	143.2	1.25xSignificant	168.2 to 189	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.9	5.7	1.21x	5 to 9.3	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	13.1	11.3	1.16x	10.4 to 16.2	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	9.9	8.7	1.14x	7.6 to 12.6	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	15.7	13.9	1.13x	12.8 to 19.1	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.8	3.4	1.12x	2.4 to 5.7	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	505	453.4	1.11xSignificant	487.3 to 523.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	19.7	18.5	1.06x	16.4 to 23.6	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.6	4.4	1.05x	3.1 to 6.7	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.1	6.2	0.98x	4.2 to 8.6	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.6	2.7	0.96x	1.5 to 4.3	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	22.8	23.8	0.96x	19.1 to 27	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.9	6.6	0.89x	4.2 to 8.2	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	11.2	13	0.86x	8.4 to 14.5	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12.1	14.5	0.83x	9.5 to 15.3	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 Vigo County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	10,892	9,842.6	+11%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	73.7	75.3	-2%	years
Child mortality	59.1	59.8	-1%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	7.4	6.2	+20%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	79.2	96.9	-18%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	25.7	28.6	-10%	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.

Formaldehyde19.04 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.96 per million
Acetaldehyde1.89 per million
Benzene1.12 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 218 good, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 45, peak 108.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

NPDES wastewater discharge permit181
Rail grade crossing164
Industrial wastewater discharge155
Gas station (mapped facility)57
Brownfield property34
Air permit holder (minor source)30
Small hazardous waste generator19
Major air pollution source16
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)16
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)15
TRI reporting facility15
Combined sewer overflow outfall14
Hazardous waste transporter13
Large hazardous waste generator10
Scrapyard (mapped facility)5
Correctional facility (prison or jail)4
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)4
Large greenhouse gas emitter4
Public airport3
EPA air quality monitor2
Gas power plant2
Commercial airport1
Heliport1
Landfill (mapped facility)1
Solar power plant1
Superfund (NPL) site1
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)1

Highest-severity records

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

Elm Street Ground Water Contamination, Terre Haute
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID INN000509938 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Steel Dynamics Heartland, Terre Haute
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001237867 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.9
Gartland Foundry Co Inc, Terre Haute
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $7,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001130204 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.6
Bemis Company Incorporated, Terre Haute
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $32,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000862610 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.2
Federal Correctional Complex Terre Haute, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 21,513 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47802FDRLC42BUR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Steel Dynamics Heartland Llc, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 7,671 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47802CSNLL455WI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Amcor Flexibles N.A., Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ozone, Certain glycol ethers. 649,135 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47804BMSCM1350N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Vp Racing Fuels Inc., Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl tert-butyl ether, Methanol, Lead compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,504 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47805VPRCN41EST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
General Shale Brick Inc. - Plant 67, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Lead, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Manganese compounds. Reports carcinogens. 4,229 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47802BRLBR561EP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Unison Engine Components Terre Haute, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel, Cobalt, Nitric acid. Reports carcinogens. 2,406 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47807TRNDS333SO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Gartland Foundry Co Inc, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1,850 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47802GRTLN330GR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Gartland Foundry Co Inc, Terre Haute
Major air pollution source. Penalties $7,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001130204 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Meridian Brick Llc, Terre Haute
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $5,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110037144998 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Bemis Company Incorporated, Terre Haute
Major air pollution source. Penalties $32,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000862610 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Steel Dynamics Heartland, Terre Haute
Major air pollution source. Penalties $500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001237867 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Brenntag Mid-South Inc., Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Chlorine. Reports carcinogens. 740 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47802LRCHC1400L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Lenex Steel Co, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 451 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4780WLNXST2325S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Wabash Valley Resources Llc, West Terre Haute
Major air pollution source.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002354602 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Great Dane Trailers, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 223 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47807GRTDN4901N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Bemis Company Incorporated, Terre Haute
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $32,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000862610 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Bemis Company Incorporated, Terre Haute
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $32,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000862610 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Steel Dynamics Heartland, Terre Haute
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001237867 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Steel Dynamics Heartland, Terre Haute
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001237867 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Federal Correctional Complex, Terre Haute
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110006864777 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.1
Geon Performance Solutions Llc, Terre Haute
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Antimony, Zinc (fume or dust), Lead, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Reports carcinogens. 114 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 47804BFGDR3100N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.1

Correctional facilities

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

Federal Correctional Complex, Terre Haute
EPA FRS registry ID
110006864777
Water system
IN5284018
Health-based violations
2 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
60
Contaminants cited
Coliform (TCR)
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Vigo County Jail Demo, Terre Haute
EPA FRS registry ID
110011975194
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
U.S. Penitentiary Ms4 (Terre Haute), Terre Haute
EPA FRS registry ID
110070033145
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Federal Correctional Institution, Terre Haute
EPA FRS registry ID
110072144027
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Vigo 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 Vigo 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.

Scan an address in Vigo County View on the heat map All Indiana counties