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Adams County, Pennsylvania: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Adams County is 148.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Bladder deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 704 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (356), Rail grade crossing (104), Air permit holder (minor source) (72). 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: 39.8943, -77.226.

How this county ranks in Pennsylvania

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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 Adams County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
EsophagusDeaths5.83.71.57xSignificant4.3 to 7.82020-2024
BladderDeaths5.74.11.39xSignificant4.2 to 7.72020-2024
BladderNew cases25.818.71.38xSignificant22.3 to 29.72019-2023
EsophagusNew cases6.34.61.37xSignificant4.7 to 8.52019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases31.623.81.33xSignificant27.3 to 36.32019-2023
PancreasDeaths14.211.31.26xSignificant11.7 to 17.22020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths43.41.18x2.8 to 5.72020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths5.64.81.17x4.1 to 7.62020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths54.41.14x3.4 to 7.12020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases57.351.81.11xSignificant52.2 to 62.92019-2023
Melanoma of the skinDeaths2.221.1x1.3 to 3.62020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths6.25.71.09x4.5 to 8.42020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases15.414.51.06x12.5 to 18.92019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths31.730.21.05x27.9 to 35.92020-2024
All cancerDeaths148.8143.21.04x140.3 to 157.72020-2024
ThyroidNew cases13.3131.02x10.3 to 172019-2023
PancreasNew cases13.813.90.99x11.3 to 16.82019-2023
All cancerNew cases448.5453.40.99x432.9 to 464.52019-2023
StomachNew cases6.56.60.98x4.7 to 8.82019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases5.76.20.92x3.8 to 8.22019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths5.56.60.83x4.1 to 7.52020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases14.817.90.83x12.1 to 182019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases15.218.50.82x12.4 to 18.42019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases5.88.70.67x4.2 to 7.82019-2023

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 Adams County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death6,266.59,842.6-36%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy78.875.3+5%years
Child mortality40.659.8-32%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality4.66.2-25%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths78.896.9-19%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths19.228.6-33%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.

  • Formaldehyde18.31 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.95 per million
  • Acetaldehyde1.78 per million
  • Benzene1.38 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 351 days: 261 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 42, peak 100.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit356
  • Rail grade crossing104
  • Air permit holder (minor source)72
  • Gas station (mapped facility)33
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)28
  • Small hazardous waste generator24
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)14
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)12
  • Public airport10
  • TRI reporting facility10
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)9
  • Major air pollution source6
  • Large hazardous waste generator5
  • Heliport5
  • Superfund (NPL) site4
  • EPA air quality monitor2
  • Gas power plant2
  • Oil-fired power plant2
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)1
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter1
  • Hazardous waste transporter1
  • Industrial wastewater discharge1
  • Landfill (mapped facility)1
  • Biomass power plant1

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. Westinghouse Elevator Co. Plant, Cumberland Township

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 36.4. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID PAD043882281 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Keystone Sanitation Landfill, Union Township

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 33.8. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID PAD054142781 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  3. Shriver's Corner, Straban Township

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 46.1. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID PAD980830889 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  4. Hunterstown Road, Straban Township

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 48.3. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID PAD980830897 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  5. Mcclarin Plastics Llc, Hanover

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate, Dicyclopentadiene. Reports carcinogens. 128,287 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17331MCCLR100BL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.4

  6. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Orrtanna Plant, Orrtanna

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,750.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000576458 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8

  7. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Peach Glen Plant, Gardners

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $492,922.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000569368 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7

  8. Mott'S Inc.- Aspers Facility, Aspers

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000577974 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6

  9. Dal-Tile Corp Lincolnway East Plant, Gettysburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Cobalt compounds. Reports carcinogens. 64 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17325DLTLX2938Y (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.9

  10. Mcclarin Plastics Llc/Blettner Ave, Hanover

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $5,291.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000923975 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.8

  11. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Orrtanna Plant, Orrtanna

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $3,750.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000576458 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  12. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Orrtanna Plant, Orrtanna

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $3,750.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000576458 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  13. Knouse Foods Coop Inc/Biglerville, Biglerville

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110008054835 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.5

  14. Gettysburg Stream Well #2, Gettysburg

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000944818 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.3

  15. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Orrtanna Plant, Orrtanna

    Air permit holder (minor source). Penalties $3,750.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000576458 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  16. Littlestown Hdwr & Foundry, Littlestown

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $26,370.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007170257 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  17. Motts Llp, Aspers

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitric acid. 281 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17304MTTSN45ASP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.9

  18. Hunterstown Combined Cycle Power Plant, Gettysburg

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $9,759.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110022447574 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.8

  19. Edsal Manufacturing, Littlestown

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 1 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17340RSTKRKEYST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.7

  20. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Peach Glen Plant, Gardners

    Small hazardous waste generator. Penalties $492,922.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000569368 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  21. Knouse Foods Coop Inc Peach Glen Plant, Gardners

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $492,922.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000569368 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  22. Rice Fruit Co, Gardners

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110004865691 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  23. Hanover Boro Stp, Mcsherrystown

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006368126 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  24. Sfs Plank, Robert, Gettysburg

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110043748914 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  25. Arendtsville

    EPA air quality monitor.

    Record ID 420010001 (U.S. EPA AirData)

    Severity 4.5

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 Adams County

  • Pennsylvania 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 Adams County, and their findings.

  • Pennsylvania vital statistics office

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

  • Pennsylvania health department, environmental epidemiology

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

  • Pennsylvania 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.

  • Pennsylvania 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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