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Lorain County, Ohio: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Lorain County is 154.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Non-Hodgkin lymphoma deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 918 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (190), Air permit holder (minor source) (187), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (125). 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: 41.2983, -82.1104.

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 Lorain County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Thyroid	New cases	22.7	13	1.75xSignificant	20.4 to 25.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	6.7	4.8	1.4xSignificant	5.6 to 7.9	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	22.8	18.7	1.22xSignificant	20.8 to 24.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	62.7	51.8	1.21xSignificant	59.4 to 66	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.9	4.1	1.2x	4 to 6	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	28.4	23.8	1.19xSignificant	26 to 30.9	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	19.4	16.4	1.18x	14.6 to 25.3	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	21.7	18.5	1.17xSignificant	19.7 to 23.9	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	5.3	4.6	1.15x	4.4 to 6.3	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.9	3.4	1.15x	3.1 to 4.8	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5	4.4	1.14x	4.1 to 6.1	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	6.4	5.7	1.12x	5.3 to 7.6	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.9	6.2	1.11x	5.7 to 8.2	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	33.6	30.2	1.11xSignificant	31.2 to 36.1	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	4.1	3.7	1.11x	3.3 to 5	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	502.2	453.4	1.11xSignificant	492.5 to 512.2	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	12.4	11.3	1.1x	11 to 14	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	19.5	17.9	1.09x	17.6 to 21.6	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	154.3	143.2	1.08xSignificant	149.1 to 159.6	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	7.1	6.6	1.08x	6 to 8.4	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.1	2	1.05x	1.5 to 2.8	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	14.2	13.9	1.02x	12.6 to 15.9	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.7	2.7	1x	2 to 3.5	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.5	6.6	0.98x	5.5 to 7.7	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	13.7	14.5	0.94x	12 to 15.5	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.2	8.7	0.94x	7.1 to 9.6	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 Lorain County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,275.3	9,842.6	-6%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76	75.3	+1%	years
Child mortality	51	59.8	-15%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.9	6.2	-5%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	101.7	96.9	+5%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	45.5	28.6	+59%	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.

Formaldehyde15.23 per million
Chromium Vi Hexavalent4.11 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.96 per million
Acetaldehyde1.47 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 237 days: 207 good, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 119.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

Rail grade crossing190
Air permit holder (minor source)187
NPDES wastewater discharge permit125
Brownfield property95
Gas station (mapped facility)75
Small hazardous waste generator57
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)43
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)37
TRI reporting facility35
Major air pollution source19
Large hazardous waste generator18
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)7
Public airport4
Large greenhouse gas emitter4
Hazardous waste transporter4
Heliport3
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Gas power plant2
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)2
EPA air quality monitor1
Commercial airport1
Crematorium (mapped facility)1
Biomass power plant1
Coal power plant1
Oil-fired power plant1
Solar power plant1
Scrapyard (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.

Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Avon Lake
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl methacrylate, Ethyl acrylate, Acrylic acid, Butyl acrylate and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 17,835 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44012BFGDRMOORE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.3
Chemtron Corp, Avon
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $375,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385137 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.6
Avon Lake Environmental Redevelopment Group Llc, Avon Lake
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Lead And Lead Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 110,986 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44012FRSTN33570 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Basf Corp, Elyria
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Copper And Copper Compounds, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 100,519 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44035NGLHR120PI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Ford Motor Co - Ohio Assembly Plant, Avon Lake
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Methyl isobutyl ketone, Methanol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 72,695 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44012FRDMT650MI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Ross Incineration Services Inc, Grafton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Mercury And Mercury Compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds, Zinc compounds, Selenium And Selenium Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 630 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44044RSSNC36790 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Advanced Polymer Coatings, Avon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 36,596 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4401WDVNCD951JA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Aviva Metals Inc, Lorain
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Aluminum (fume or dust), Zinc (fume or dust), Nickel and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 18,986 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44055NTNLB5311W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Elyria Foundry Co Llc, Elyria
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Phenol, Manganese, Copper, Nickel and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 10,967 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44036LYRFN120FI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Us Steel Corporation, Lorain
Major air pollution source. Penalties $700,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385645 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Reworld Tron Corp, Avon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Methanol, Ethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 6,384 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44011CHMTR35850 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Us Steel Corporation, Lorain
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $700,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385645 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Us Steel Corporation, Lorain
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $700,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385645 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Crane Co Lear Romec Div, Elyria
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,456.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385422 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Chemtron Corp, Avon
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $375,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385137 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Ohio Screw Products, Inc. (0247040393), Elyria
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $14,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002110171 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Lorain Rng Plant, Oberlin
Major air pollution source. Penalties $22,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110071524395 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Us Steel Corp Tubular Div Lorain Tubular, Lorain
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Chromium, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 849 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 44055LRNTB2199E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Ford Motor Company - Ohio Assembly Plant (0247030471), Avon Lake
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385164 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.7
Degussa Initiators Inc, Elyria
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $51,700.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385404 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.7
Avon Lake, Avon Lake
Coal power plant.
Record ID 2836 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6.7
Basf Corp, Elyria
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385440 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.6
Us Steel Corporation, Lorain
Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $700,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385645 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Ross Incineration Services (Grafton, Oh), Grafton
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $95,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000385592 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.4
L & W Cleveland Inc., Avon
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Chromium, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 250 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 4401WLWNGN119JA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3

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 Lorain 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 Lorain 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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