MI / county FIPS 26121 / county research

Muskegon County, Michigan: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Muskegon County is 167.9 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 600 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (105), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (87), Gas station (mapped facility) (81). One correctional facility operates in the county. 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: 43.296, -86.2106.

How this county ranks in Michigan

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 Muskegon County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Esophagus	Deaths	5.9	3.7	1.59xSignificant	4.6 to 7.5	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	43	30.2	1.42xSignificant	39.3 to 46.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	6.2	4.6	1.35xSignificant	4.8 to 7.8	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	5.5	4.1	1.34x	4.1 to 7.1	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	6.4	4.8	1.33xSignificant	5 to 8.2	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	22.3	18.7	1.19xSignificant	19.6 to 25.3	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	167.9	143.2	1.17xSignificant	160.3 to 175.7	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	60.4	51.8	1.17xSignificant	56 to 65.1	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	13.1	11.3	1.16x	11.1 to 15.4	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.1	4.4	1.16x	3.8 to 6.7	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.8	3.4	1.12x	2.7 to 5.1	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	3	2.7	1.11x	2 to 4.3	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.1	5.7	1.07x	4.7 to 7.8	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	14.2	13.9	1.02x	12.1 to 16.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.7	6.6	1.02x	5.3 to 8.4	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	17.1	17.9	0.96x	14.7 to 19.9	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	1.8	2	0.9x	1 to 2.9	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	394.6	453.4	0.87x	382.7 to 406.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.3	8.7	0.84x	5.8 to 9	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	15.3	18.5	0.83x	13 to 17.9	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.3	6.6	0.8x	4 to 6.9	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	16.2	23.8	0.68x	13.8 to 19	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	9.2	14.5	0.63x	7.4 to 11.3	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	3.9	6.2	0.63x	2.7 to 5.3	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	6.7	13	0.52x	5.2 to 8.6	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 Muskegon County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,657.8	9,842.6	-2%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75.1	75.3	-0%	years
Child mortality	51.9	59.8	-13%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	6.7	6.2	+8%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	104.2	96.9	+7%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	36.2	28.6	+27%	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.

Formaldehyde13.07 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.98 per million
Acetaldehyde1.23 per million
Benzene1.03 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 243 days: 203 good, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 140.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

Rail grade crossing105
NPDES wastewater discharge permit87
Gas station (mapped facility)81
Air permit holder (minor source)62
Brownfield property61
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)37
Small hazardous waste generator35
TRI reporting facility33
Industrial wastewater discharge26
Large hazardous waste generator18
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)14
Landfill (mapped facility)9
Superfund (NPL) site7
Major air pollution source6
Hazardous waste transporter4
Scrapyard (mapped facility)4
Large greenhouse gas emitter3
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)2
EPA air quality monitor1
Public airport1
Commercial airport1
Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
Heliport1
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.

SCA Independent Landfill, Muskegon Heights
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 34.8. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID000724930 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Kaydon Corp., Muskegon
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 34.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID006016703 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Bofors Nobel, Inc., Muskegon
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 53.4. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID006030373 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Peerless Plating Co., Muskegon
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 43.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID006031348 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Thermo-Chem, Inc., Muskegon
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 53.4. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID044567162 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Ott/Story/Cordova Chemical Co., Dalton Township
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 53.4. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID060174240 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Muskegon Chemical Co., Whitehall
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 34.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MID072569510 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Webb Chemical Service Corp, Muskegon Heights
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $20,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000411028 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.2
Sun Chemical Corp, Muskegon
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000410975 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.5
Textron Cwc Division, Muskegon
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000410760 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.2
Honeywell Burdick & Jackson, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dichloromethane, Acetonitrile, Methanol, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 37,165 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49442BXTRH1953S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Webb Chemical Service Corp, Muskegon Heights
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Methyl tert-butyl ether, Toluene, Dichloromethane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 29,097 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49444WBBCH2708J (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
M. Argueso & Co. Inc. (D.B.A Paramelt), Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol. 1,842,192 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49441MRGSC2817M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Kaydon Corp., Muskegon
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000410788 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Mplx Terminals Llc - North Muskegon Mi Terminal, North Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 16,057 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49445NRTHM3005H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Muskegon Composites Inc., Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Diisocyanates, Polychlorinated biphenyls. Reports carcinogens. 8,818 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49441GRGMR1355W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Sun Chemical Corp Muskegon Plant, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: o-Anisidine, 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine dihydrochloride, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Polychlorinated biphenyls and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 7,130 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49443SNCHM4925E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Eagle Alloy Inc., Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Phenol, Nickel, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,787 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49442GLLLY5142E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Cannon-Muskegon, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 4,518 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49441CNNNM2875L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Techline Products, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 4,004 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49441TCHLN950WB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Cwc Textron, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Lead compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds, Chromium and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,959 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49441CWCCS2672H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
American Chemical Solutions Llc, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Toluene, n-Butyl alcohol, Phthalic anhydride. 178,807 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4944WMRCNC246RB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Alloy Resource Corp, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Lead And Lead Compounds and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,369 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4944WLLYRS2281P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Port City Die Cast, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Lead and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,044 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 49442BKRTC2121L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Structural Concepts Corp, Muskegon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds. Reports carcinogens. 551 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4944WSTRCT888EP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6

Correctional facilities

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

Mi Dept Of Corrections - Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility, Muskegon
EPA FRS registry ID
110003664320
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Muskegon County

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