KY / county FIPS 21111 / county research
Jefferson County, Kentucky: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Jefferson County is 162.6 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 and Liver & bile duct deaths at 1.2 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 3,384 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,174), Industrial wastewater discharge (1,027), Rail grade crossing (286). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county. 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: 38.1879, -85.6558.
How this county ranks in Kentucky
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 | Measure | County rate | U.S. rate | Times U.S. | 95% interval | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 71.8 | 51.8 | 1.39xSignificant | 69.4 to 74.2 | 2019-2023 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | Deaths | 2.5 | 1.9 | 1.32x | 1.5 to 3.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 39.6 | 30.2 | 1.31xSignificant | 37.8 to 41.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 22.8 | 17.9 | 1.27xSignificant | 21.4 to 24.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 7.9 | 6.6 | 1.2xSignificant | 7.1 to 8.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 17.1 | 14.5 | 1.18xSignificant | 15.9 to 18.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 5.4 | 4.6 | 1.17xSignificant | 4.8 to 6.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 4.3 | 3.7 | 1.16xSignificant | 3.8 to 5 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | New cases | 7.6 | 6.6 | 1.15xSignificant | 6.8 to 8.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.15x | 3.3 to 4.5 | 2020-2024 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 5.5 | 4.8 | 1.15x | 4.8 to 6.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 6.5 | 5.7 | 1.14xSignificant | 5.8 to 7.3 | 2020-2024 |
| All cancer | New cases | 516 | 453.4 | 1.14xSignificant | 509.4 to 522.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 9.9 | 8.7 | 1.14xSignificant | 9.1 to 10.9 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 162.6 | 143.2 | 1.14xSignificant | 159 to 166.3 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 15.5 | 13.9 | 1.12xSignificant | 14.4 to 16.7 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 12.3 | 11.3 | 1.09xSignificant | 11.4 to 13.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 25.8 | 23.8 | 1.08xSignificant | 24.3 to 27.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 6.6 | 6.2 | 1.06x | 5.9 to 7.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 19.6 | 18.5 | 1.06x | 18.3 to 21 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | Deaths | 2.1 | 2 | 1.05x | 1.7 to 2.6 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | New cases | 19.6 | 18.7 | 1.05x | 18.4 to 20.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | New cases | 16.4 | 16.4 | 1x | 13.5 to 19.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 4.3 | 4.4 | 0.98x | 3.7 to 4.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | Deaths | 4 | 4.1 | 0.98x | 3.4 to 4.6 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.96x | 2.1 to 3.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Thyroid | Deaths | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8x | 0.2 to 0.6 | 2020-2024 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 9.8 | 13 | 0.75x | 8.8 to 10.8 | 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.
| Measure | County | U.S. median | Difference | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premature death | 12,651.6 | 9,842.6 | +29% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 73.3 | 75.3 | -3% | years |
| Child mortality | 75.4 | 59.8 | +26% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 6.2 | 6.2 | -1% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 131.7 | 96.9 | +36% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 70.6 | 28.6 | +147% | 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.
- Formaldehyde22.08 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
- Acetaldehyde2.33 per million
- Naphthalene1.64 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 365 days: 188 good, 10 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 49, peak 153.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
3,384 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,174
- Industrial wastewater discharge1,027
- Rail grade crossing286
- Gas station (mapped facility)191
- Combined sewer overflow outfall124
- Brownfield property97
- Small hazardous waste generator77
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)77
- TRI reporting facility63
- Air permit holder (minor source)59
- Large hazardous waste generator50
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)45
- Major air pollution source31
- Large greenhouse gas emitter18
- Dry cleaner (mapped facility)17
- Hazardous waste transporter15
- Heliport9
- EPA air quality monitor5
- Gas power plant3
- Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
- Wastewater plant (mapped facility)3
- Commercial airport2
- Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
- Landfill (mapped facility)2
- Public airport1
- Coal power plant1
- Hydroelectric plant1
- Superfund (NPL) site1
Highest-severity records
The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.
- Severity 10
American Synthetic Rubber, Louisville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $90,750.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000378546 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Distler Farm, Jefferson County
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 34.6. NPL Site.
EPA site ID KYD980601975 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 9.7
Louisville Gas & Electric Co. - Mill Creek Station, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Zinc compounds, Vanadium compounds, Barium And Barium Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,655,996 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40272LSVLL14660 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.5
Chemours Co, Louisville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000378494 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 9.4
Chemours Louisville Plant, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 2,2-Dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Dichlorofluoromethane (HCFC-21) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,137,770 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216DPNTL4200C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.3
Ford Motor Co Kentucky Truck Plant, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,875,919 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40222FRDMT3001C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.3
American Synthetic Rubber Co, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Cyclohexane, Styrene, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,741,701 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216MRCNS4500C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9
Clariant Corp Crittenden Drive Facility, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitric acid, Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Molybdenum trioxide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 780,729 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40213NTDCT4900C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Carrier Vibrating Equipment, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Manganese, Copper, Chromium(III) perfluorooctanoate and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 3,525 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4021WCRRRV34FER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Bakelite Synthetics, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Formaldehyde, Phenol, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 307,783 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216BRDNN6200C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Louisville Packaging, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 2,2-Dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22), 2-Chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), 1-Chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124a) and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 306,780 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40214LRDNC7753N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Ford Louisville Assembly, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Certain glycol ethers, Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 300,061 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40213FRDMTFERNV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.6
Zeon Chemicals Lp, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Ethyl acrylate, Butyl acrylate, Certain glycol ethers and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 241,078 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40211ZNCHM4100B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Dupont Louisville Plant, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Vinyl fluoride, Hydrogen fluoride. Reports carcinogens. 112,939 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4021WDPNTL425CA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Republic Conduit Manufacturing, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Zinc compounds, sec-Butyl alcohol, Nitric acid and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 95,310 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40258RPBLC731LG (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Clariant Corp 12th Street Facility, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitric acid, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), n-Hexane, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 87,452 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40210NTDCT1227S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Eurofins Mwg Operon Llc, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Acetonitrile, Dichloromethane. Reports carcinogens. 79,990 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4029WRFNSM1271P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Eckart Effect Pigments, Louisville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $6,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000378314 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.2
Ford Motor Company - Ford Louisville Assembly Plant, Louisville
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001374094 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.2
Rohm & Haas - Louisville Plant, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl methacrylate, Toluene, Ethyl acrylate, Methanol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 73,492 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216RHMND4300C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.2
Carbide Industries Llc, Louisville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $40,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001387151 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.1
Altuglas Louisville Plant, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl methacrylate, Ethyl acrylate. Reports carcinogens. 46,053 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216LFTCH4350C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8
Mill Creek, Louisville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $750,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000378733 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.9
Superior Industrial Solutions Inc., Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Methanol, Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 28,174 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40216SPRRS4211B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Cardinal Aluminum Co Plant 3, Louisville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid, Certain glycol ethers, Nickel And Nickel Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 23,239 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 40219CRDNL4005O (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Correctional facilities
Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.
Pca Corrections, Llc Dba Synchrony Louisville Pharmacy, Louisville
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110070862708
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Pca Corrections, Llc Dba Synchrony Louisville Pharmacy, Louisville
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110072234933
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Discovery / public records
Records to request for Jefferson County
Kentucky 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 Jefferson County, and their findings.
Kentucky vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Kentucky health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Kentucky 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.
Kentucky 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.