NC / county FIPS 37081 / county research

Guilford County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Guilford County is 146.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,802 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (696), Air permit holder (minor source) (193), Rail grade crossing (183). 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: 36.0755, -79.7902.

How this county ranks in North Carolina

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 Guilford County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	28	23.8	1.18xSignificant	26.2 to 30	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	59.6	51.8	1.15xSignificant	56.9 to 62.3	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.2	2	1.1x	1.7 to 2.8	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	7.2	6.6	1.09x	6.3 to 8.2	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	12.3	11.3	1.09x	11.1 to 13.6	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	32.7	30.2	1.08xSignificant	30.8 to 34.8	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	2.9	2.7	1.07x	2.4 to 3.6	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	484	453.4	1.07xSignificant	476.2 to 491.9	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7	6.6	1.06x	6.2 to 8	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	9.2	8.7	1.06x	8.1 to 10.3	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	18.9	17.9	1.06x	17.4 to 20.5	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.3	4.1	1.05x	3.6 to 5.1	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.5	6.2	1.05x	5.6 to 7.5	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	146.8	143.2	1.03x	142.6 to 151.1	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	18.8	18.7	1.01x	17.3 to 20.4	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	13.9	13.9	1x	12.6 to 15.2	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18	18.5	0.97x	16.5 to 19.6	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.3	3.4	0.97x	2.7 to 4	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	15.5	16.4	0.95x	12.2 to 19.4	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	13.5	14.5	0.93x	12.2 to 14.9	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4	4.4	0.91x	3.3 to 4.7	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.3	4.8	0.9x	3.6 to 5.2	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5	5.7	0.88x	4.3 to 5.9	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	10.6	13	0.82x	9.4 to 11.9	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3	3.7	0.81x	2.4 to 3.6	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	3.7	4.6	0.8x	3.1 to 4.5	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 Guilford County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,266.7	9,842.6	-6%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76.2	75.3	+1%	years
Child mortality	64.4	59.8	+8%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	8.6	6.2	+38%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	97.6	96.9	+1%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	38.2	28.6	+34%	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.

Formaldehyde23.42 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.9 per million
Acetaldehyde2.31 per million
Benzene1.43 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 274 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 41, peak 77.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,802 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit696
Air permit holder (minor source)193
Rail grade crossing183
Gas station (mapped facility)177
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)132
Small hazardous waste generator110
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)66
Large hazardous waste generator56
TRI reporting facility50
Brownfield property42
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)27
Major air pollution source19
Hazardous waste transporter13
Public airport9
Solar power plant7
Scrapyard (mapped facility)6
Oil-fired power plant5
Large greenhouse gas emitter3
Landfill (mapped facility)2
EPA air quality monitor1
Airfield1
Commercial airport1
Crematorium (mapped facility)1
Heliport1
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)1

Highest-severity records

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

Axalta Coating Systems U.S.A., Llc 2, High Point
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $7,346.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000345760 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.6
Sherwin-Williams Co, Greensboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Methanol, n-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 169,342 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27410SHRWN113ST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.5
Solenis Llc, Greensboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Acrylic acid, Acrylamide. Reports carcinogens. 74,407 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27406STCKH2408D (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Kao Specialties Americas Llc, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene glycol, Methanol, 4,4'-Isopropylidenediphenol, Allyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 72,266 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27261HGHPN255BE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Sherwin-Williams Co, Greensboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Methyl isobutyl ketone, Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 67,185 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27403DSTNC1025H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Stockhausen Superabsorber Llc, Greensboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Acrylic acid, Acrylamide, Maleic anhydride. Reports carcinogens. 54,785 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27406VNKST241DY (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Thomas Built Buses Inc, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Methyl methacrylate, Manganese, Antimony and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 52,956 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27263THMSB715WF (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc, High Point
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $9,329.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000345840 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.1
Marsh Furniture Co, High Point
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $8,291.
EPA FRS registry ID 110011733963 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8
Piedmont Chemical Industries I Llc, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol, Dicyclopentadiene, Certain glycol ethers and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 34,647 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27260PDMNT331BU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
V & E Components Inc, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 29,369 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27263VCMPN720FA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Axalta Coating Systems Usa Llc - High Point, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, n-Butyl alcohol, Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 23,974 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27260THLLL1717E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Univar Solutions Usa, Jamestown
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, n-Hexane, Methanol, Methyl isobutyl ketone and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 21,848 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27282CHMCN108OA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Piedmont Chemical Industries I, Llc, High Point
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $66,900.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000496491 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Akzonobel Coatings Inc, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), n-Butyl alcohol, Methanol, Toluene and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 14,039 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27261RLNCN1431P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
The Sherwin-Williams Company - Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $95,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000346741 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.6
City Of Greensboro - T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility, Mc Leansville
Major air pollution source. Penalties $118,316.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001978165 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Concept Plastics Inc., High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 5,474 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27261CNCPT2631E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
High Point Eastside Wwtp, Jamestown
Major air pollution source. Penalties $104,121.
EPA FRS registry ID 110009717011 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.3
Chemol Co Inc, Greensboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Butyl alcohol, Ethylene glycol, Certain glycol ethers, Nickel compounds and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,481 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27406CHMLC2410R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Marsh Furniture Co, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, n-Butyl alcohol, Xylene (mixed isomers). 309,582 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27261MRSHF1001S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Innospec Active Chemicals, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Toluene, Naphthalene, o-Xylene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,417 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27262PRCHM1670E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Morflex Chemical Co Inc, Greensboro
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000346527 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.2
Cascade Die Casting/Atlantic, High Point
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 2,614 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 27260STHRN1800A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
City Of Greensboro - T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility, Mc Leansville
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $118,316.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001978165 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7

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 Guilford 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 Guilford 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.

Scan an address in Guilford County View on the heat map All North Carolina counties