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Washington County, Maine: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Washington County is 201.4 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.9 times the U.S. rate and Esophagus deaths at 1.8 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 361 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Brownfield property (79), Rail grade crossing (73), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (73). One correctional facility operates 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 10 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: 45.0422, -67.5499.

How this county ranks in Maine

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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 Washington County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
EsophagusNew cases8.84.61.91xSignificant5.7 to 13.62019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths6.43.41.88xSignificant3.6 to 11.12020-2024
EsophagusDeaths6.73.71.81xSignificant3.9 to 11.22020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases10.66.21.71x5.9 to 17.62019-2023
BladderDeaths6.84.11.66x4 to 11.32020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths49.730.21.65xSignificant41.5 to 59.52020-2024
ThyroidNew cases21.3131.64xSignificant14.4 to 30.42019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths7.84.81.63x4.8 to 12.52020-2024
BladderNew cases29.418.71.57xSignificant23 to 37.32019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases35.423.81.49xSignificant27.4 to 45.32019-2023
All cancerDeaths201.4143.21.41xSignificant183.7 to 220.62020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases72.551.81.4xSignificant62.5 to 842019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases23.817.91.33x17.6 to 31.82019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases23.518.51.27x17.7 to 31.12019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases118.71.26x7.2 to 16.52019-2023
All cancerNew cases557.3453.41.23xSignificant526.2 to 590.12019-2023
StomachNew cases7.56.61.14x4.5 to 12.42019-2023
PancreasDeaths12.811.31.13x8.7 to 18.62020-2024
PancreasNew cases13.513.90.97x9.4 to 19.22019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths6.26.60.94x3.4 to 10.82020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases12.614.50.87x8.5 to 18.42019-2023

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 Washington County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death13,436.79,842.6+37%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy72.375.3-4%years
Child mortality53.159.8-11%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortalityn/a6.2n/adeaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths171.496.9+77%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths75.528.6+164%deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 10 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

  • Formaldehyde7.79 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride3.06 per million
  • Acetaldehyde0.81 per million
  • Benzene0.66 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 364 days: 333 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 34, peak 100.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • Brownfield property79
  • Rail grade crossing73
  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit73
  • Industrial wastewater discharge66
  • Air permit holder (minor source)18
  • Small hazardous waste generator11
  • Public airport8
  • Major air pollution source5
  • Large hazardous waste generator5
  • EPA air quality monitor4
  • Commercial airport3
  • Combined sewer overflow outfall3
  • Heliport3
  • Biomass power plant2
  • Wind power plant2
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)2
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
  • Hazardous waste transporter1
  • Superfund (NPL) site1
  • TRI reporting facility1

Highest-severity records

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

  1. Eastern Surplus, Meddybemps

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID MED981073711 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Woodland Pulp Mill, Baileyville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013359178 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 9.7

  3. Woodland Pulp Llc, Baileyville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Acetaldehyde and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,989,055 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 04694GRGPCMILLA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.5

  4. Downeast Power, Cherryfield

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110010406471 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  5. Woodland Pulp Mill, Baileyville

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013359178 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  6. Woodland Pulp Mill, Baileyville

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013359178 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  7. Jasper Wyman & Son C & D Corp, Deblois

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia. 1,500 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 0462WJSPRWBX61R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.4

  8. Woodland Pulp Mill, Baileyville

    Small hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013359178 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  9. Sand Cove North, Beals

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110059796859 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  10. Naval Computer & Telecom Station, Cutler

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000601714 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  11. Eastport Wwtf, Eastport

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009026008 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  12. Jasper Wyman & Son C & D Corp, Deblois

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039496328 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  13. Jasper Wyman & Son Manufacturing Facility, Cherryfield

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $73,490.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007273501 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  14. Danforth Wwtf, Danforth

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009913139 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  15. Downeast Power, Cherryfield

    Hazardous waste transporter.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110010406471 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  16. Machias Wwtf, Machias

    Combined sewer overflow outfall. No Violation Identified.

    NPDES permit ME0100323:001 (U.S. EPA NPDES)

    Severity 4

  17. Machias Wwtf, Machias

    Combined sewer overflow outfall. No Violation Identified.

    NPDES permit ME0100323:002 (U.S. EPA NPDES)

    Severity 4

  18. Machias Wwtf, Machias

    Combined sewer overflow outfall. No Violation Identified.

    NPDES permit ME0100323:003 (U.S. EPA NPDES)

    Severity 4

  19. Naval Computer & Telecom Station, Cutler

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000601714 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  20. Naval Computer & Telecom Station, Cutler

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000601714 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  21. Downeast Correctional Facility, Machiasport

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013131690 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  22. Down East Community Hospital, Machias

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039665127 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  23. Passamaquoddy Wastewater Treatment Facility, Princeton

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110040175734 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  24. Machias Wastewater Treatment Facility, Machias

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002046438 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  25. Jasper Wyman & Son Manufacturing Facility, Cherryfield

    Air permit holder (minor source). Penalties $73,490.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007273501 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

Correctional facilities

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

  • Downeast Correctional Facility, Machiasport

    EPA FRS registry ID
    110013131690
    Water system
    ME0098560
    Health-based violations
    6 all time, 0 in 5 years
    All violations
    21
    Contaminants cited
    Coliform (TCR)
    Wastewater permit
    Yes

    EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Washington County

  • Maine 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 Washington County, and their findings.

  • Maine vital statistics office

    Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.

  • Maine health department, environmental epidemiology

    Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.

  • Maine 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.

  • Maine 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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