Envyrofax
Scan an Address

NC / county FIPS 37161 / county research

Rutherford County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Rutherford County is 173.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Liver & bile duct deaths at 1.7 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 239 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (105), Rail grade crossing (47), Air permit holder (minor source) (33). 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: 35.3969, -81.9178.

How this county ranks in North Carolina

View on the heat mapScan 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 Rutherford County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Liver & bile ductDeaths11.16.61.68xSignificant8.3 to 14.52020-2024
StomachDeaths4.42.71.63x2.7 to 6.92020-2024
Melanoma of the skinNew cases37.823.81.59xSignificant31.9 to 44.62019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths4.83.41.41x3 to 7.42020-2024
Liver & bile ductNew cases12.18.71.39xSignificant9.3 to 15.82019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths41.230.21.36xSignificant35.9 to 47.32020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases24.217.91.35xSignificant19.7 to 29.42019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases68.151.81.31xSignificant61.1 to 75.72019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths5.74.41.3x3.6 to 8.72020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths6.24.81.29x4 to 9.22020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases18.114.51.25x14.2 to 22.82019-2023
StomachNew cases8.16.61.23x5.7 to 11.32019-2023
EsophagusNew cases5.64.61.22x3.6 to 8.42019-2023
All cancerDeaths173.8143.21.21xSignificant162.2 to 186.12020-2024
PancreasDeaths13.211.31.17x10.2 to 16.92020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases7.26.21.16x4.7 to 10.52019-2023
All cancerNew cases511.8453.41.13xSignificant490.8 to 533.52019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths6.35.71.11x4.3 to 9.22020-2024
BladderNew cases20.518.71.1x16.7 to 25.12019-2023
PancreasNew cases14.713.91.06x11.5 to 18.72019-2023
BladderDeaths4.34.11.05x2.7 to 6.82020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases15.618.50.84x12.1 to 19.92019-2023
ThyroidNew cases9.9130.76x6.6 to 14.22019-2023
EsophagusDeaths2.83.70.76x1.6 to 4.92020-2024

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 Rutherford County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death13,777.79,842.6+40%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy71.975.3-5%years
Child mortality59.959.8+0%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality7.96.2+26%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths123.296.9+27%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths52.428.6+83%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.

  • Formaldehyde22.04 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.88 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.26 per million
  • Benzene1.05 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

No EPA air quality monitor reports daily AQI for this county.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit105
  • Rail grade crossing47
  • Air permit holder (minor source)33
  • Small hazardous waste generator12
  • Solar power plant9
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)7
  • Brownfield property6
  • TRI reporting facility6
  • Public airport5
  • Major air pollution source2
  • Large hazardous waste generator2
  • Commercial airport1
  • Hazardous waste transporter1
  • Heliport1
  • Hydroelectric plant1
  • Oil-fired 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. Befesa Zinc Metal Llc, Mooresboro

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $6,500.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055619399 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Duke Energy Carolinas Llc - Rogers Energy Complex, Mooresboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Barium And Barium Compounds, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Vanadium compounds, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,297,698 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28024DKNRGDUKEP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.5

  3. Trelleborg Parking Expansion, Rutherfordton

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000586624 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.7

  4. Rogers Energy Complex, Mooresboro

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $627.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006424404 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.7

  5. Befesa Zinc Metal Llc, Mooresboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds, Lead compounds, Cadmium compounds and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 210,298 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2811WHRSHD484HI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.6

  6. Trelleborg Coated Systems Us Inc, Rutherfordton

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, N,N-Dimethylformamide, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, Zinc compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 93,119 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28139RVSBRRAILR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.3

  7. Aallied Die Casting Of N.C., Rutherfordton

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Copper, Zinc (fume or dust), Lead and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,747 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28139LLDDC18IND (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.7

  8. Befesa Zinc Metal Llc, Mooresboro

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $6,500.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055619399 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7

  9. Danfoss Power Solutions Ii Llc, Forest City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Reports carcinogens. 1,175 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28043RQPCRROUTE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.9

  10. Trelleborg Parking Expansion, Rutherfordton

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000586624 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  11. Trelleborg Parking Expansion, Rutherfordton

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000586624 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  12. Trelleborg Parking Expansion, Rutherfordton

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000586624 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  13. Rogers Energy Complex, Mooresboro

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $627.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006424404 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  14. Befesa Zinc Metal Llc, Mooresboro

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $6,500.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055619399 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  15. Town Of Spindale, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Spindale

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000723370 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  16. Forest City Wastewater Treatment Plant, Forest City

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007122595 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  17. Rogers Energy Complex, Mooresboro

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $627.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006424404 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  18. Befesa Zinc Metal Llc, Mooresboro

    Air permit holder (minor source). Penalties $6,500.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110055619399 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  19. Aallied Die Casting Co Of Nc, Rutherfordton

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110018748140 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.9

  20. Everest Textile Usa Llc, Forest City

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348106 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  21. Rutherfordton Wwtp, Rutherfordton

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $1,321.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110040036699 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  22. Westrock Converting, Forest City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 28043GNDST30PIN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  23. Danfoss Power Solutions Ii Llc, Forest City

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348099 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.4

  24. Cliffside Sanitary District Wwtp, Cliffside

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110005974071 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  25. Bostic Delivery No 2, Bostic

    Oil-fired power plant.

    Record ID 56547 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

    Severity 4

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 Rutherford 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 Rutherford 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 Rutherford CountyView on the heat mapAll North Carolina counties