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Franklin County, Ohio: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Franklin County is 147.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,586 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Gas station (mapped facility) (365), Air permit holder (minor source) (225), Rail grade crossing (205). 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: 39.9695, -83.0132.

How this county ranks in Ohio

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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 Franklin County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Esophagus	New cases	5.4	4.6	1.17xSignificant	4.8 to 6	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	58	51.8	1.12xSignificant	56.2 to 59.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	32.7	30.2	1.08xSignificant	31.3 to 34.1	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	20.1	18.7	1.07xSignificant	18.9 to 21.2	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.4	4.1	1.07x	3.8 to 4.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	3.9	3.7	1.05x	3.4 to 4.4	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	14.5	13.9	1.04x	13.5 to 15.4	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	147.1	143.2	1.03xSignificant	144.1 to 150.1	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	11.6	11.3	1.03x	10.7 to 12.4	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	16.8	16.4	1.02x	14.6 to 19.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.9	18.5	1.02x	17.8 to 20	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	24.1	23.8	1.01x	22.9 to 25.3	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	458.5	453.4	1.01x	453.3 to 463.8	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	Deaths	1.9	1.9	1x	1.2 to 2.8	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.4	3.4	1x	2.9 to 3.9	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5.7	5.7	1x	5.1 to 6.3	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.6	6.6	1x	6 to 7.2	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.8	4.8	1x	4.2 to 5.4	2020-2024
Thyroid	Deaths	0.5	0.5	1x	0.3 to 0.7	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	17.3	17.9	0.97x	16.3 to 18.3	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	1.9	2	0.95x	1.6 to 2.3	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.8	8.7	0.9x	7.2 to 8.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	3.9	4.4	0.89x	3.4 to 4.4	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	11.4	13	0.88x	10.6 to 12.3	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.4	6.2	0.87x	4.9 to 6	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.7	6.6	0.86x	5.2 to 6.3	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.1	2.7	0.78x	1.7 to 2.4	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	11.1	14.5	0.77x	10.3 to 12	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 Franklin County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,721.5	9,842.6	-1%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75.5	75.3	+0%	years
Child mortality	69.1	59.8	+16%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	7.8	6.2	+25%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	108.3	96.9	+12%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	61.2	28.6	+114%	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.

Formaldehyde18.14 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
Naphthalene2.15 per million
Acetaldehyde1.87 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 147 good, 5 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 53, peak 156.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,586 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

Gas station (mapped facility)365
Air permit holder (minor source)225
Rail grade crossing205
Small hazardous waste generator193
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)168
NPDES wastewater discharge permit83
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)68
TRI reporting facility63
Large hazardous waste generator52
Brownfield property40
Landfill (mapped facility)22
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)20
Major air pollution source19
Hazardous waste transporter15
Heliport14
Large greenhouse gas emitter7
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)7
EPA air quality monitor5
Commercial airport4
Oil-fired power plant4
Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
Crematorium (mapped facility)1
Industrial wastewater discharge1
Biomass power plant1
Proposed Superfund site1

Highest-severity records

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

Capital Resin Corp, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $236,602.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000382309 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.7
Core Molding Technologies, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Zinc compounds, Diisocyanates. Reports carcinogens. 126,185 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43228NVSTR800MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Sonoco Metal Packaging Llc, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, Ethylbenzene and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 123,581 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43228HKNCN2690C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Worthington Cylinder Corp, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Certain glycol ethers, Diisocyanates, Nickel and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 94,077 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43085WRTHN1085D (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Mills Metal Finishing, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $5,200.
EPA FRS registry ID 110066838827 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.3
Shelly Materials Plant #90, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $60,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110004738115 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.1
Hfi Llc (0125034004), Canal Winchester
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Diisocyanates, Ethylene glycol, Diethanolamine, Propylene oxide. Reports carcinogens. 50,522 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43110TSTRM59GEN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Mettler Toledo Llc, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Chromium, Nickel, Manganese. Reports carcinogens. 40,820 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43229MTTLR6600H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Franklin International, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Vinyl acetate, Butyl acrylate, n-Hexane, Certain glycol ethers and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 37,716 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43207FRNKL2020B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Air Force Plant 85, Columbus
Proposed Superfund site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. Proposed NPL Site.
EPA site ID OH1170090004 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 8
Amsted Rail Co Inc, Groveport
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc (fume or dust), Manganese, Phenol, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 35,010 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43125GRFFN3900B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Opc Polymers, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Phthalic anhydride, Styrene, Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 32,645 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43219YNKNM1920L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Gfs Chemicals Inc, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitric acid, Chlorine, Ammonia, 1,4-Dioxane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 28,514 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43223GFRDR867MC (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Plaskolite Llc., Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl methacrylate, Ethyl acrylate. Reports carcinogens. 23,038 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43219PLSKL1770J (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Core Molding Technologies Inc, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $98,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000382684 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Mplx Terminals Llc - Columbus Oh West Terminal, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 16,114 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43228MRTHN4125F (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Capital Resin Corp, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Maleic anhydride and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 15,843 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43207CPTLR324DE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Bakelite Chemicals Llc, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Formaldehyde, Ammonia, Phenol and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,352 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43207GRGPC1975W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Sherwin-Williams Co, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Methyl isobutyl ketone, Triethylamine and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 11,743 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43207DSTNC2121N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Opc Polymers Llc, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $40,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000382586 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.6
Gfs Chemicals Inc, Columbus
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,200.
EPA FRS registry ID 110041396398 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.4
Mplx Terminals Llc - Columbus Oh East Terminal, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,343 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 43228MRTHN3855F (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Inliner Solutions Llc, Hilliard
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 3,584 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4302WGRNTN435WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
V&S Columbus Galvanizing Llc, Columbus
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 2,530 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4320WVSCLM987BU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Capital Resin Corp, Columbus
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $236,602.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000382309 (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 Franklin County

Ohio 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 Franklin County, and their findings.
Ohio vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Ohio health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Ohio 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.
Ohio 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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