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Caldwell County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Caldwell County is 186.4 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Esophagus deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 383 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (137), Rail grade crossing (66), Air permit holder (minor source) (59). 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: 35.9394, -81.5597.

How this county ranks in North Carolina

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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 Caldwell County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Lung & bronchusDeaths49.630.21.64xSignificant44.2 to 55.62020-2024
Melanoma of the skinDeaths3.121.55x1.8 to 5.12020-2024
Melanoma of the skinNew cases36.523.81.53xSignificant31.4 to 42.32019-2023
EsophagusDeaths5.63.71.51xSignificant3.8 to 82020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths7.24.81.5xSignificant5.1 to 9.92020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases73.551.81.42xSignificant66.9 to 80.72019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases24.817.91.39xSignificant20.8 to 29.62019-2023
All cancerDeaths186.4143.21.3xSignificant175.4 to 1982020-2024
Liver & bile ductDeaths8.36.61.26x6.2 to 11.12020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases23.118.51.25xSignificant19 to 27.82019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases10.88.71.24x8.3 to 13.92019-2023
All cancerNew cases529453.41.17xSignificant509.8 to 548.72019-2023
PancreasNew cases16.113.91.16x12.9 to 19.82019-2023
BladderNew cases20.918.71.12x17.4 to 252019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths3.83.41.12x2.4 to 5.72020-2024
PancreasDeaths12.611.31.12x9.9 to 15.92020-2024
EsophagusNew cases5.14.61.11x3.4 to 7.62019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths6.35.71.11x4.3 to 8.92020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases15.814.51.09x12.6 to 19.72019-2023
BladderDeaths4.14.11x2.6 to 6.32020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases5.86.20.94x3.9 to 8.42019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths3.44.40.77x2 to 5.52020-2024
StomachNew cases4.86.60.73x3.2 to 6.92019-2023
ThyroidNew cases9.3130.72x6.6 to 12.92019-2023

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 Caldwell County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death12,862.89,842.6+31%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy72.475.3-4%years
Child mortality67.859.8+13%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality6.46.2+2%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths107.196.9+10%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths45.728.6+60%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.

  • Formaldehyde20.04 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.86 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.06 per million
  • Benzene1.14 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 245 days: 238 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 36, peak 77.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit137
  • Rail grade crossing66
  • Air permit holder (minor source)59
  • Gas station (mapped facility)35
  • Small hazardous waste generator19
  • Brownfield property12
  • Major air pollution source10
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)9
  • Large hazardous waste generator8
  • TRI reporting facility7
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)7
  • Hazardous waste transporter3
  • Public airport2
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)2
  • EPA air quality monitor1
  • Commercial airport1
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter1
  • Landfill (mapped facility)1
  • Hydroelectric plant1
  • Oil-fired power plant1
  • Solar 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.

  1. Teijin Automotive Technologies North Carolina Composites Ll, Lenoir

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Zinc compounds. Reports carcinogens. 106,357 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28645BTLRP601HI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.4

  2. Rpm Wood Finishes Group Inc, Hudson

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Butyl alcohol, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 68,618 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28638CHMCLPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.2

  3. Shurtape Technologies Llc-Hudson Opp Plant, Hudson

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 809,007 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28638SHRTP220PL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.5

  4. Neptco Inc, Lenoir

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 46,927 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28645NPTCNHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.6

  5. Fairfield Chair Company Plant #2, Lenoir

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013285863 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  6. Shurtape Technologies Inc - Plant 24, Hudson

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000350922 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  7. Fairfield Chair Company Plant #2, Lenoir

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013285863 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  8. Fairfield Chair Company Plant #2, Lenoir

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013285863 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  9. Rpm Industrial Coatings Group, Inc., Hudson

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110072171959 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  10. Csp Innovations North Carolina Composites Llc, Lenoir

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000351002 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.9

  11. Neptco Incorporated, Lenoir

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000351020 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  12. Rpm Wood Finishes Group Inc, Hudson

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000350913 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  13. Gunpowder Creek Wwtp, Lenoir

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110028271297 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  14. Lower Creek Wwtp, Lenoir

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110030451730 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  15. Brenntag Midsouth Inc, Lenoir

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Methanol, Certain glycol ethers. 1,619 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28645MRLNC1333V (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.5

  16. M&G Equity Llc, Marlin Company ** Inactive **, Lenoir

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110012706964 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  17. Baton Elementary School, Granite Falls

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $379.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110025981481 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  18. A1 Scrap Metal - Granite Falls, Granite Falls

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110057194780 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  19. Rpm Industrial Coatings Group, Inc., Hudson

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110072171959 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  20. Kings Creek Elementary School, Lenoir

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009844632 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  21. Lenoir City - Small Ms4, Lenoir

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110022906435 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  22. Granite Falls Walmart, Granite Falls

    Oil-fired power plant.

    Record ID 56549 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

    Severity 4

  23. Lenoir Mirror Co, Lenoir

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009719199 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  24. Bemis Manufacturing, Lenoir

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071663421 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  25. Tapaha Dynamics Llc, Lenoir

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110028259480 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

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 Caldwell County

  • North Carolina 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 Caldwell County, and their findings.

  • North Carolina vital statistics office

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

  • North Carolina health department, environmental epidemiology

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

  • North Carolina 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.

  • North Carolina 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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