Envyrofax
Scan an Address

NC / county FIPS 37179 / county research

Union County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Union County is 133 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. Federal databases place 568 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (359), Air permit holder (minor source) (59), Rail grade crossing (57). 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: 35.0112, -80.5623.

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 Union County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinNew cases35.723.81.5xSignificant32.4 to 39.12019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths4.13.41.21x3.1 to 5.42020-2024
Melanoma of the skinDeaths2.421.2x1.6 to 3.52020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases21.117.91.18xSignificant18.7 to 23.72019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases7.26.21.16x5.8 to 8.82019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases5851.81.12xSignificant53.8 to 62.32019-2023
ThyroidNew cases14.5131.12x12.4 to 16.82019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases18.116.41.1x13.1 to 24.32019-2023
All cancerNew cases491453.41.08xSignificant479 to 503.32019-2023
EsophagusNew cases4.94.61.07x3.8 to 6.22019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths5.14.81.06x3.9 to 6.52020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases18.418.50.99x16.1 to 20.92019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths29.930.20.99x27 to 33.12020-2024
PancreasNew cases13.713.90.99x11.7 to 15.92019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases14.214.50.98x12.1 to 16.42019-2023
BladderNew cases17.718.70.95x15.4 to 20.22019-2023
All cancerDeaths133143.20.93x126.7 to 139.62020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths44.40.91x3 to 5.22020-2024
BladderDeaths3.74.10.9x2.6 to 52020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths5.15.70.89x3.9 to 6.52020-2024
Liver & bile ductDeaths5.96.60.89x4.7 to 7.42020-2024
StomachNew cases5.56.60.83x4.3 to 6.92019-2023
PancreasDeaths9.411.30.83x7.8 to 11.22020-2024
Liver & bile ductNew cases7.18.70.82x5.7 to 8.72019-2023
EsophagusDeaths2.93.70.78x2.1 to 42020-2024
StomachDeaths1.92.70.7x1.2 to 2.92020-2024

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 Union County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death6,695.79,842.6-32%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy78.575.3+4%years
Child mortality37.759.8-37%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality4.46.2-29%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths56.296.9-42%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths19.528.6-32%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.

  • Formaldehyde23.24 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.41 per million
  • Benzene1.2 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 245 days: 223 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 40, peak 90.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit359
  • Air permit holder (minor source)59
  • Rail grade crossing57
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)21
  • Small hazardous waste generator20
  • TRI reporting facility19
  • Public airport10
  • Large hazardous waste generator7
  • Solar power plant5
  • Major air pollution source3
  • Heliport3
  • EPA air quality monitor1
  • Commercial airport1
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter1
  • Gas power 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. Surteco N.A. Inc., Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Methanol, Methyl isobutyl ketone. Reports carcinogens. 114,012 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28110PRNTW2011R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.4

  2. Norton Door Controls (Norton), Monroe

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,123.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348570 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8

  3. Pro-Tops Inc., Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Ethylbenzene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 25,450 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2811WPRTPS41VAN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.9

  4. Pro-Tops Inc, Matthews

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 12,797 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2810WPRTPS41MAT (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.7

  5. Surteco North America Inc., Monroe

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348543 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.3

  6. Bonakemi Usa, Inc., Monroe

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $65,886.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110024825858 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7

  7. Ati Specialty Materials - Monroe Plant, Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 360 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28111TLDYN2020A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.5

  8. Darnel Inc, Monroe

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110027374874 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  9. Ati Specialty Materials - Monroe Plant, Monroe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $38,298.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110072166877 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  10. Ati Specialty Materials - Bakers Site, Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, Chromium and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 189 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2811WTLLVC375AL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.2

  11. Pilgrim'S Pride Corp Marshville Processing Facility, Marshville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Peracetic acid, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 16,760 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28103CDDYFHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.2

  12. Tyson Farms Inc, Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Peracetic acid, Copper compounds, Manganese compounds and 1 more. 13,528 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28110HLLYFSECRE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.2

  13. Circor Pumps N.A. Llc, Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Lead, Zinc compounds, Copper and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 54 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28110MDLVLAIRPO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.8

  14. Tyson Farms, Inc. - Monroe Processing, Feed Mill, & Hatchery, Monroe

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348516 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  15. Pro-Tops Inc, Matthews

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070102164 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  16. Darnel Inc, Monroe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110027374874 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  17. Yale Security Inc.,Norton Door Controls, Monroe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead And Lead Compounds, Nickel, Lead compounds. Reports carcinogens. 35 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28110YLSCRHWY74 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.7

  18. Pilgrims Pride Corp Marshville Facility, Marshville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009855932 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.7

  19. Decore-Ative Specialities Incorporated, Monroe

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $23,459.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001495702 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  20. Bonakemi Usa, Inc., Monroe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $65,886.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110024825858 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  21. Norton Door Controls (Norton), Monroe

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $10,123.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348570 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  22. Norton Door Controls (Norton), Monroe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $10,123.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348570 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  23. City Of Monroe Wastewater Treatment Plant, Monroe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000554873 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  24. Ati Specialty Materials, Monroe Plant, Monroe

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000348589 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.1

  25. Bonakemi Usa, Inc., Monroe

    Air permit holder (minor source). Penalties $65,886.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110024825858 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

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 Union 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 Union 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 Union CountyView on the heat mapAll North Carolina counties