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Ross County, Ohio: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Ross County is 173.4 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 1.9 times the U.S. rate and Esophagus deaths at 1.7 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 221 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (71), Gas station (mapped facility) (38), NPDES wastewater discharge permit (27). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county, at least one with health-based drinking water violations on record. 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: 39.3426, -83.0649.

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 Ross County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Melanoma of the skinDeaths3.721.85xSignificant2.2 to 5.92020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases90.751.81.75xSignificant82.7 to 99.42019-2023
EsophagusDeaths6.23.71.68xSignificant4.2 to 8.92020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths48.530.21.61xSignificant42.7 to 552020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases25.317.91.41xSignificant21 to 30.32019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases3223.81.34xSignificant27 to 37.82019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths7.65.71.33x5.4 to 10.62020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases18.214.51.26x14.5 to 22.62019-2023
BladderNew cases23.218.71.24xSignificant19.2 to 27.92019-2023
BladderDeaths54.11.22x3.2 to 7.52020-2024
All cancerDeaths173.4143.21.21xSignificant161.9 to 185.52020-2024
EsophagusNew cases5.54.61.2x3.7 to 8.12019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths43.41.18x2.4 to 6.42020-2024
All cancerNew cases522.8453.41.15xSignificant502.5 to 543.82019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases20.118.51.09x16.2 to 24.72019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths7.16.61.08x5 to 102020-2024
PancreasDeaths11.711.31.04x8.9 to 15.22020-2024
PancreasNew cases13.913.91x10.8 to 17.82019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases8.68.70.99x6.3 to 11.62019-2023
ThyroidNew cases12.6130.97x9.4 to 16.72019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.54.80.94x2.8 to 6.92020-2024
StomachNew cases5.56.60.83x3.6 to 8.12019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases4.96.20.79x3 to 7.62019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths3.24.40.73x1.8 to 5.42020-2024

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 Ross County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death12,209.29,842.6+24%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy72.275.3-4%years
Child mortality50.959.8-15%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality5.96.2-5%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths140.596.9+45%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths76.528.6+168%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.

  • Formaldehyde18.46 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.04 per million
  • Benzene1.16 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

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

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • Rail grade crossing71
  • Gas station (mapped facility)38
  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit27
  • Air permit holder (minor source)19
  • Brownfield property14
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)12
  • Small hazardous waste generator7
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)7
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)5
  • Large hazardous waste generator3
  • TRI reporting facility3
  • Major air pollution source2
  • Public airport2
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
  • Heliport2
  • Landfill (mapped facility)2
  • Commercial airport1
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)1
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter1
  • Biomass 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.

  1. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc (0671010028), Chillicothe

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $234,440.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395117 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 9.6

  2. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc, Chillicothe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ammonia, Chlorine dioxide, Acetaldehyde and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,651,522 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 45601MDCRP401SP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.4

  3. Us Army National Guard Range - Camp Sherman, Chillicothe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1,643 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 4560WSRMYN2154N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7

  4. Kenworth Truck Co, Chillicothe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol. 47,984 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 45601KNWRT65KEN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.6

  5. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc (0671010028), Chillicothe

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $234,440.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395117 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  6. Barber Spring Ohio, Chillicothe

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Manganese, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 99 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 45601NMSPR387WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6

  7. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc (0671010028), Chillicothe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $234,440.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395117 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  8. Greenfield, Village Of, Greenfield

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000735250 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  9. Kenworth Truck Co, Chillicothe

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395108 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.9

  10. Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Chillicothe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001623379 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  11. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc (0671010028), Chillicothe

    Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $234,440.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395117 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  12. Us Army National Guard Range - Camp Sherman, Chillicothe

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110060261513 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  13. Rocal Inc, Frankfort

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039508486 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  14. Chillicothe Wwtp - Easterly, Chillicothe

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110064637406 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  15. Pixelle Specialty Solutions Llc (0671010028), Chillicothe

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $234,440.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395117 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  16. Village Of Kingston Wwtp, Kingston

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039716377 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  17. Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Chillicothe

    Air permit holder (minor source).

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001623379 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  18. Kenworth Truck Co, Chillicothe

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000395108 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

  19. Vitatoe Industries, Inc. (0671010143), Chillicothe

    Large hazardous waste generator.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110004726912 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  20. Frankfort Wwtp, Frankfort

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006216825 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.3

  21. Mcarthur Elementary School, Chillicothe

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110021739724 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  22. School Bus Garage, Chillicothe

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039137396 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  23. Water Street Service Area, Chillicothe

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039137403 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  24. Former Armory, Chillicothe

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039137412 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

  25. Former Salvage Yard, Chillicothe

    Brownfield property.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039137421 (U.S. EPA Brownfields (ACRES)) Agency record

    Severity 3

Correctional facilities

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

  • Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Chillicothe

    EPA FRS registry ID
    110001623379
    Water system
    OH7101212
    Health-based violations
    7 all time, 1 in 5 years
    All violations
    23
    Contaminants cited
    Coliform (TCR), LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
    Wastewater permit
    Yes, 7 quarters in noncompliance

    EPA detailed facility report

  • Ross Correctional Institution, Chillicothe

    EPA FRS registry ID
    110006107952
    Wastewater permit
    None on record

    EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Ross 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 Ross 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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