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Kay County, Oklahoma: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Kay County is 203.4 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.7 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.7 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 304 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by Rail grade crossing (92), Air permit holder (minor source) (81), Gas station (mapped facility) (33). 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: 36.7964, -97.1073.

How this county ranks in Oklahoma

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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 Kay County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths5.93.41.74xSignificant3.6 to 9.52020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths51.830.21.72xSignificant44 to 60.62020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths8.14.81.69xSignificant5 to 12.42020-2024
EsophagusDeaths5.93.71.59x3.3 to 9.82020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths6.64.41.5x3.9 to 10.62020-2024
EsophagusNew cases6.94.61.5x4.2 to 10.92019-2023
All cancerDeaths203.4143.21.42xSignificant187.3 to 220.62020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases24.917.91.39xSignificant19.2 to 31.72019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases11.98.71.37x8.4 to 16.62019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases69.651.81.34xSignificant60.6 to 79.82019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths8.86.61.33x5.8 to 132020-2024
Brain & nervous systemNew cases7.66.21.23x4.6 to 11.92019-2023
BladderNew cases20.718.71.11x16 to 26.52019-2023
All cancerNew cases483.6453.41.07xSignificant457.6 to 510.72019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases18.718.51.01x13.7 to 252019-2023
ThyroidNew cases13.1131.01x8.8 to 192019-2023
PancreasDeaths10.911.30.96x7.5 to 15.62020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths5.35.70.93x3 to 8.92020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases13.314.50.92x9.3 to 18.62019-2023
PancreasNew cases12.313.90.88x8.5 to 17.32019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases19.623.80.82x14.3 to 26.12019-2023

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 Kay County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death13,037.59,842.6+32%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy71.875.3-5%years
Child mortality66.859.8+12%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality7.76.2+24%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths123.296.9+27%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths17.628.6-38%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.

  • Formaldehyde19.12 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.88 per million
  • Pahpom1.52 per million
  • Acetaldehyde1.5 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 361 days: 257 good, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 37, peak 141.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • Rail grade crossing92
  • Air permit holder (minor source)81
  • Gas station (mapped facility)33
  • Brownfield property19
  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit18
  • TRI reporting facility10
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)10
  • Small hazardous waste generator9
  • Major air pollution source8
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter6
  • Wind power plant5
  • Gas power plant3
  • Commercial airport2
  • Large hazardous waste generator2
  • EPA air quality monitor1
  • Airfield1
  • Public airport1
  • Hazardous waste transporter1
  • Hydroelectric 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. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 9.8

  2. A-Line Tds Inc., Tonkawa

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Polychlorinated biphenyls, Copper. Reports carcinogens. 6,791,393 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 7465WLNTDS15NMA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.7

  3. Phillips 66 Ponca City Site, Ponca City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen cyanide, n-Hexane, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,744,884 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 74603CNCPN1000S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.3

  4. Mertz Manufacturing Inc, Ponca City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene, Chromium, Manganese and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 53,323 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 74601MRTZN1701N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.1

  5. Continental Carbon Co Ponca City Ok Plant, Ponca City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen sulfide, Carbon disulfide, Hydrogen cyanide, Carbonyl sulfide and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 34,090 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 74602WTCCR1MILE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8

  6. A Line Transformer Disposal Specialist (Tds) Inc, Tonkawa

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $12,500.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071356024 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.8

  7. Continental Carbon Ponca City Plant, Ponca City

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $71,600.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455766 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.8

  8. Jupiter Sulphur Llc, Ponca City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrogen sulfide, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Carbonyl sulfide and 1 more. 1,060,084 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 74602JPTRC14MIS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.6

  9. Jupiter Sulphur Llc, Ponca City

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455757 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.2

  10. Air System Components Lp, Ponca City

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers. 177,912 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 74601TTSPRBUILD (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7

  11. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.8

  12. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  13. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.3

  14. Ponca City Metal Products Faclty, Ponca City

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455748 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  15. Mertz Manufacturing, Llc, Ponca City

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455711 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.9

  16. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  17. Continental Carbon Ponca City Plant, Ponca City

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $71,600.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455766 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  18. Ponca City, Ponca City

    EPA air quality monitor.

    Record ID 400710604 (U.S. EPA AirData)

    Severity 5.2

  19. Tonkawa Foundry Inc / Tonkawa Foundry, Tonkawa

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $6,185.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000743651 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  20. Ponca City Refinery, Ponca City

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $32,550.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110015682830 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.8

  21. Evans & Associates Construction Co Inc, Ponca City

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

    TRI facility ID 7460WVNSSS322N1 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.6

  22. Continental Carbon Ponca City Plant, Ponca City

    Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $71,600.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455766 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  23. Parrish Enterprises (Dba Oklahoma Investment Casting Co), Blackwell

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

    TRI facility ID 74631KLHMNHWY11 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  24. Tonkawa Foundry Inc, Tonkawa

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Diisocyanates and 1 more. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 74653TNKWF510SO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  25. Jupiter Sulphur Llc, Ponca City

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000455757 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.3

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 Kay County

  • Oklahoma 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 Kay County, and their findings.

  • Oklahoma vital statistics office

    Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.

  • Oklahoma health department, environmental epidemiology

    Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.

  • Oklahoma 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.

  • Oklahoma 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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