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Jefferson County, Missouri: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Jefferson County is 174.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,113 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (500), Industrial wastewater discharge (241), Air permit holder (minor source) (86). 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: 38.254, -90.5694.

How this county ranks in Missouri

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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 Jefferson County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	New cases	83	51.8	1.6xSignificant	78.3 to 88	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	5.9	3.7	1.59xSignificant	4.7 to 7.4	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	48	30.2	1.59xSignificant	44.4 to 51.8	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	25.6	17.9	1.43xSignificant	22.9 to 28.5	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.8	2	1.4x	2 to 3.9	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4.5	3.4	1.32x	3.4 to 5.8	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	14.3	11.3	1.27xSignificant	12.3 to 16.5	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	5.1	4.1	1.24x	3.9 to 6.6	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	5.7	4.6	1.24x	4.5 to 7.1	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	23	18.7	1.23xSignificant	20.5 to 25.8	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	174.3	143.2	1.22xSignificant	167.2 to 181.6	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.8	4.8	1.21x	4.5 to 7.3	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	10.3	8.7	1.18x	8.7 to 12.1	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.2	4.4	1.18x	4 to 6.7	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.4	5.7	1.12x	5 to 7.9	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	15.9	14.5	1.1x	13.8 to 18.3	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	495.9	453.4	1.09xSignificant	484 to 508.1	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	17.4	16.4	1.06x	12.2 to 24.1	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	14.3	13.9	1.03x	12.3 to 16.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.2	6.2	1x	4.9 to 7.8	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.2	18.5	0.98x	15.9 to 20.7	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	12.5	13	0.96x	10.5 to 14.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.1	6.6	0.92x	4.9 to 7.5	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	20.3	23.8	0.85x	17.9 to 22.9	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	4.7	6.6	0.71x	3.6 to 6.1	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	1.9	2.7	0.7x	1.2 to 2.8	2020-2024

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 Jefferson County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,680.4	9,842.6	-2%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75	75.3	-0%	years
Child mortality	46.3	59.8	-23%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5	6.2	-19%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	128.9	96.9	+33%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	49.7	28.6	+74%	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.

Formaldehyde21.47 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
Acetaldehyde2.15 per million
Naphthalene2.03 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 268 good, 4 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 42, peak 150.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,113 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit500
Industrial wastewater discharge241
Air permit holder (minor source)86
Rail grade crossing80
Gas station (mapped facility)66
Small hazardous waste generator36
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)28
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)14
TRI reporting facility12
EPA air quality monitor10
Brownfield property8
Large hazardous waste generator7
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)5
Major air pollution source4
Large greenhouse gas emitter4
Hazardous waste transporter3
Public airport2
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
Heliport2
Superfund (NPL) site2
Coal 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.

Minker/Stout/Romaine Creek, Imperial
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 36.8. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MOD980741912 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Southwest Jefferson County Mining, Jefferson County
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 70.7. NPL Site.
EPA site ID MON000705443 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Holcim (Us) Inc. - Ste. Genevieve Plant, Bloomsdale
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen cyanide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 933,239 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 6362WHLCMS2942U (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Metal Container Corp - Arnold Can Plant, Arnold
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 896,516 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63010MTLCN42TEN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Ameren Missouri Rush Island Energy Center, Festus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 482,361 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63028RSHSL100BI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
River Cement Co (Dba Buzzi Unicem Usa), Festus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Manganese compounds, Zinc compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 123,588 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63028RVRCMSELMA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Metal Container Corporation, Arnold
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $8,750.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017977778 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.9
Superior Industrial Solutions Inc., Arnold
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dichloromethane, Toluene, Cyclohexane, Methanol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 22,502 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 6301WSPRRS323AR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Rush Island, Festus
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000440210 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Rush Island, Festus
Coal power plant.
Record ID 6155 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 7.2
H-J Enterprises Inc, High Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 2,149 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63049HJNTR3010H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
River Cement Co. Dba Buzzi Unicem Usa Selma Plant, Festus
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000440229 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Ardagh Glass Inc, Pevely
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Lead And Lead Compounds, Copper compounds, Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region). 115,563 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63070BLLFS1500F (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Doe Run Co Herculaneum Smelter, Herculaneum
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead And Lead Compounds, Zinc compounds, Cadmium And Cadmium Compounds, Copper And Copper Compounds and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,185 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63048HRCLN881MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Carondelet Foundry Corp, Pevely
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Nickel, Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Copper and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,118 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63110CRNDL2101S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Masterchem Industries (Behr Llc -- St Louis), Imperial
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers, Cobalt compounds, 3-Iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 313 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63052MSTRC3135H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.4
Sinclair & Rush Inc., Arnold
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Mixture. 24,000 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63010SNCLR123MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.4
Sinclair & Rush - Arnold Plant, Arnold
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001131506 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Engineered Coil Co. Dba Drs Marlo Coil, High Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel, Copper, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 87 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63049MRLCL6060H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6
Saint-Gobain Containers Inc, Pevely
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017984519 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.8
Herculaneum Wwtp, Herculaneum
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110009878089 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.8
Superior Industrial Solutions Inc, Arnold
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110057073624 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.6
Pvs Dx Inc., Festus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chlorine. 749 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 63028JNSCHRT417 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.2
H J Enterprise Inc, High Ridge
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110011085609 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.2
Engineered Coil Co Dba Drs Marlo Coil, High Ridge
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000440443 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.1

Correctional facilities

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

No correctional facility with an EPA record is located in this county.

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Jefferson County

Missouri 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.
Missouri vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Missouri health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Missouri 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.
Missouri 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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