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Wake County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Wake County is 119.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. Federal databases place 2,886 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,711), Gas station (mapped facility) (307), Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility) (223). 4 correctional facilities operate in the county. 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: 35.798, -78.6096.

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 Wake County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinNew cases31.123.81.31xSignificant29.7 to 32.62019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases6.76.21.08x6.1 to 7.42019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases19.718.51.06x18.5 to 20.92019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases15.314.51.06x14.3 to 16.42019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)Deaths21.91.05x1.3 to 32020-2024
All cancerNew cases467.4453.41.03xSignificant461.8 to 473.12019-2023
ThyroidNew cases13.4131.03x12.4 to 14.32019-2023
StomachNew cases6.86.61.03x6.1 to 7.52019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases16.816.41.02x14.5 to 19.42019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths4.44.41x3.8 to 4.92020-2024
ThyroidDeaths0.50.51x0.3 to 0.72020-2024
PancreasNew cases13.513.90.97x12.5 to 14.52019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases8.28.70.94x7.5 to 92019-2023
PancreasDeaths10.611.30.94x9.8 to 11.52020-2024
BladderNew cases17.518.70.94x16.3 to 18.62019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases47.251.80.91x45.4 to 49.12019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases16.317.90.91x15.3 to 17.42019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths55.70.88x4.4 to 5.62020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.14.80.85x3.5 to 4.62020-2024
StomachDeaths2.32.70.85x1.9 to 2.72020-2024
All cancerDeaths119.8143.20.84x116.9 to 122.72020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths24.730.20.82x23.4 to 262020-2024
BladderDeaths3.34.10.8x2.8 to 3.82020-2024
EsophagusNew cases3.44.60.74x2.9 to 3.92019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths4.86.60.73x4.2 to 5.42020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths2.43.40.71x2 to 2.82020-2024
EsophagusDeaths2.63.70.7x2.2 to 32020-2024
Melanoma of the skinDeaths1.420.7x1.1 to 1.72020-2024

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 Wake County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death5,322.59,842.6-46%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy8175.3+8%years
Child mortality45.259.8-24%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality5.46.2-13%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths54.596.9-44%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.

  • Formaldehyde22.36 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.27 per million
  • Benzene1.43 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 250 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 43, peak 76.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,886 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,711
  • Gas station (mapped facility)307
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)223
  • Rail grade crossing176
  • Air permit holder (minor source)123
  • Small hazardous waste generator123
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)37
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)36
  • TRI reporting facility29
  • Large hazardous waste generator23
  • Brownfield property18
  • Heliport12
  • Landfill (mapped facility)12
  • Public airport8
  • Major air pollution source7
  • Solar power plant7
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)7
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter5
  • Hazardous waste transporter5
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)4
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
  • Superfund (NPL) site3
  • EPA air quality monitor2
  • Gas power plant2
  • Commercial airport1
  • Biomass power plant1
  • Nuclear 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. Koppers Co., Inc. (Morrisville Plant), Morrisville

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 41.9. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID NCD003200383 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Ward Transformer, Raleigh

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID NCD003202603 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  3. North Carolina State University (Lot 86, Farm Unit #1), Raleigh

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 48.4. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID NCD980557656 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  4. Kellanova - Cary Bakery, Cary

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Formaldehyde. Reports carcinogens. 781,677 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 27513STNQLONEQU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9

  5. Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Raleigh

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Aniline, Nitrobenzene, Ammonia. Reports carcinogens. 304,667 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 27604MLLNC8801N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.7

  6. John Deere Turf Care, Fuquay Varina

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Manganese, Ethylene glycol, Lead and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 23,021 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 27526JHNDR6501H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.8

  7. Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition N.A. Inc., Raleigh

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Methanol, Nitric acid. 508,870 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 27610JNMTS4020A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.4

  8. Braven Environmental Llc, Zebulon

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene. Reports carcinogens. 4,991 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2759WBRVNN517NI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.3

  9. Ncsu Centennial Campus, Raleigh

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $108,400.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015594310 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.8

  10. Cp&L - Harris Nuclear Plant, New Hill

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $1,112.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110018686885 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.8

  11. Sunrock Industries Llc - Rdu, Raleigh

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead And Lead Compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Mercury And Mercury Compounds, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). Reports carcinogens. 470 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2761WCRLNS862BA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.6

  12. Integrated Dna Technologies, Morrisville

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Acetonitrile, Toluene. 37,974 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2756WNTGRT48DAV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.5

  13. Surtronics Inc, Raleigh

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000347241 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.4

  14. Austin Quality Foods, Inc., Cary

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110002098890 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.4

  15. Ajinomoto North America Inc, Raleigh

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000347278 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  16. North Carolina State University, Raleigh

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $12,464.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110064315584 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  17. Mallinckrodt - Raleigh Pharmaceutical Plant, Raleigh

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000347214 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.2

  18. Flowserve - Raleigh, Raleigh

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 11,059 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 27603DWRDV1900S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.1

  19. Braven Environmental Llc, Zebulon

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070864905 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  20. Integrated Dna Technologies, Morrisville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071041884 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  21. Terrible Creek Wwtp, Fuquay Varina

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110040039865 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  22. Western Wake Regional Wrf, New Hill

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110064603825 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  23. John Deere Turf Care, Fuquay Varina

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006722092 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.7

  24. Braven Environmental, Llc, Zebulon

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071948814 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.7

  25. Parker Lord, Cary

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $24,974.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110004028837 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

Correctional facilities

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

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Wake 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 Wake 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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