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Wilkes County, North Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Wilkes County is 159.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Melanoma of the skin deaths at 1.8 times the U.S. rate and Leukemia deaths at 1.7 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 229 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (82), Rail grade crossing (39), Gas station (mapped facility) (32). 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: 36.2178, -81.1697.

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 Wilkes County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinDeaths3.521.75xSignificant2.1 to 5.62020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths9.75.71.7xSignificant7.3 to 12.82020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths41.230.21.36xSignificant35.8 to 47.22020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases18.814.51.3xSignificant14.9 to 23.52019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths8.56.61.29x6.2 to 11.42020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases6651.81.27xSignificant59.3 to 73.52019-2023
PancreasNew cases16.513.91.19x13.2 to 20.52019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases27.423.81.15x22.7 to 32.92019-2023
PancreasDeaths1311.31.15x10.1 to 16.72020-2024
All cancerDeaths159.8143.21.12xSignificant149 to 171.32020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases19.817.91.11x15.7 to 24.72019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases9.48.71.08x6.9 to 12.72019-2023
EsophagusNew cases4.94.61.07x3.1 to 7.62019-2023
StomachNew cases76.61.06x4.6 to 10.22019-2023
BladderNew cases19.218.71.03x15.5 to 23.72019-2023
EsophagusDeaths3.73.71x2.1 to 6.12020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths3.43.41x2 to 5.62020-2024
All cancerNew cases451.7453.41x432.3 to 471.92019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.74.80.98x3 to 7.22020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases16.818.50.91x13.1 to 21.32019-2023
BladderDeaths3.74.10.9x2.1 to 6.12020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases5.56.20.89x3.3 to 8.62019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths3.34.40.75x1.8 to 5.72020-2024
ThyroidNew cases8.9130.68x5.9 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 Wilkes County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death12,046.89,842.6+22%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy73.775.3-2%years
Child mortality67.859.8+13%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality7.46.2+19%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths115.996.9+20%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths32.628.6+14%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.

  • Formaldehyde17.72 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.86 per million
  • Acetaldehyde1.8 per million
  • Benzene0.94 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

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

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit82
  • Rail grade crossing39
  • Gas station (mapped facility)32
  • Air permit holder (minor source)29
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)10
  • Small hazardous waste generator8
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)8
  • TRI reporting facility7
  • Major air pollution source5
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter2
  • Large hazardous waste generator2
  • Public airport1
  • Commercial airport1
  • Brownfield property1
  • 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.

  1. U.S. Chemical Storage Llc, Wilkesboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Chromium, Xylene (mixed isomers), Nickel and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 270,068 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2869WJSTRT186RI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.7

  2. Jeld-Wen Composites-North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Diisocyanates. Reports carcinogens. 235,044 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2865WJLDWN25LAN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.6

  3. Jeld-Wen, Inc. - North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,197.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110060257225 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.1

  4. Tyson Foods, Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000492734 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.7

  5. Louisiana-Pacific Corp, North Wilkesboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Phenol, Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds. 58,260 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28669BTBPRHWY26 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.7

  6. Cub Creek Wwtp, Wilkesboro

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $4,775.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110040042290 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  7. Justrite Safety Group - U.S. Chemical Storage, Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070551070 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.4

  8. Tyson Foods, Wilkesboro

    Large greenhouse gas emitter.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000492734 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  9. Jeld-Wen, Inc. - North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $4,197.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110060257225 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  10. Jeld-Wen, Inc. - North Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $4,197.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110060257225 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  11. Tyson Farms Inc., Wilkesboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Peracetic acid, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 201 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 28697HLLYF103FA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.8

  12. Plycem Usa Llc, North Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001503301 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.8

  13. Plycem Usa Llc, North Wilkesboro

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

    TRI facility ID 28659CRTNT1149A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.6

  14. Tyson Foods, Wilkesboro

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000492734 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  15. Traphill Elementary School Wwtp, Traphill

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006674125 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  16. Gardner Glass Products Inc., North Wilkesboro

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

    TRI facility ID 28659GRDNR600EL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  17. Tyson Farms Inc, Wilkesboro

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 28697HLLYFRIVER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  18. Mountain Park Elementary, State Road

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110018577342 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

  19. Tyson Foods, Wilkesboro

    Air permit holder (minor source).

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000492734 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  20. Gardner Glass Products, Inc., North Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001482271 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  21. Interflex Group - Carolina Plant, Wilkesboro

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001489032 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  22. Louisiana Pacific Corp, North Wilkesboro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007659006 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  23. Tyson Farms, Inc. - Roaring River Feed Mill, Roaring River

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110009856263 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  24. Gardner Glass Products, Inc., North Wilkesboro

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001482271 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  25. Interflex Group - Carolina Plant, Wilkesboro

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001489032 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

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 Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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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