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Butler County, Pennsylvania: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Butler County is 142.7 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Leukemia deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,510 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (785), Air permit holder (minor source) (181), Rail grade crossing (121). 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: 40.9164, -79.9263.

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 Butler County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Leukemia	Deaths	8.5	5.7	1.49xSignificant	7 to 10.2	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.6	2	1.3x	1.8 to 3.7	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.6	4.4	1.27x	4.3 to 7.1	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	7.7	6.2	1.24x	6.1 to 9.6	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.8	4.8	1.21x	4.6 to 7.3	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	5.2	4.6	1.13x	4 to 6.6	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	14.6	13	1.12x	12.3 to 17.3	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.6	4.1	1.12x	3.6 to 5.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	4	3.7	1.08x	3 to 5.2	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	15.3	14.5	1.06x	13.2 to 17.7	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	24.2	23.8	1.02x	21.4 to 27.3	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	142.7	143.2	1x	136.5 to 149.2	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	29.7	30.2	0.98x	27 to 32.7	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	13.4	13.9	0.96x	11.5 to 15.5	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	15.7	16.4	0.96x	10.1 to 23.4	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	10.4	11.3	0.92x	8.8 to 12.3	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.1	3.4	0.91x	2.2 to 4.2	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	16.3	18.5	0.88x	14.2 to 18.7	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	44.6	51.8	0.86x	41.2 to 48.3	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	15.9	18.7	0.85x	13.8 to 18.1	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	379.8	453.4	0.84x	369.1 to 390.8	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	5.1	6.6	0.77x	4 to 6.5	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	4.9	6.6	0.74x	3.7 to 6.2	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2	2.7	0.74x	1.3 to 3	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	11.8	17.9	0.66x	9.9 to 13.8	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	5.7	8.7	0.66x	4.5 to 7.1	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 Butler County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	7,052.9	9,842.6	-28%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	77.8	75.3	+3%	years
Child mortality	34.9	59.8	-42%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	4	6.2	-36%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	82.4	96.9	-15%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	36.9	28.6	+29%	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.

Formaldehyde16.46 per million
Benzene3.57 per million
Ethylene Oxide3.14 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

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

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,510 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit785
Air permit holder (minor source)181
Rail grade crossing121
Small hazardous waste generator103
Gas station (mapped facility)82
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)45
Brownfield property42
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)38
TRI reporting facility36
Large hazardous waste generator21
Hazardous waste transporter15
Major air pollution source9
Large greenhouse gas emitter8
Public airport6
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)5
Heliport4
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
Commercial airport1

Highest-severity records

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

Armstrong Cement & Supply - Winfield, Cabot
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $261,086.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007029562 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corp /Butler Works, Butler
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese compounds, Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Nickel compounds, Copper compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,134,372 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16003RMCDVROUTE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.8
Sonneborn Llc, Petrolia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Barium And Barium Compounds, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Hydrogen sulfide, Methanol and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 102,465 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16050WTCCRHWY26 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Armstrong Cement & Supply Corp, Cabot
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Mercury compounds, Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Reports carcinogens. 101,360 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16023RMSTR100CL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Vorteq Valencia Llc, Valencia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers), n-Butyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 74,231 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16059NPCNCMCFAN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
Ascensus Specialties Callery Llc, Evans City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, n-Hexane, Toluene, tert-Butyl alcohol and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 46,107 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16033BSFCR1424M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Bluestone Gas Plant, Evans City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Benzene, Cyclohexane, Ethylene and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 27,209 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1603WBLSTN44HAR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Cleveland Cliffs Steel Corp/ Butler Works, Butler
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110038167113 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.9
Kawneer Co Inc., Cranberry Township
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Certain glycol ethers, Xylene (mixed isomers), Dimethyl phthalate and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 18,837 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 15095TRCTHCRANB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Etc Northeast Pipeline/Galaxy Comp Sta, Parker
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Formaldehyde, Methanol, n-Hexane, Cyclohexane and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 15,331 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1604WTCNRT251WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Concast Metal Products Co, Mars
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc (fume or dust), Copper, Lead, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 12,646 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16046RSSNGMYOMA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Armstrong Cement & Supply - Winfield, Cabot
Major air pollution source. Penalties $261,086.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007029562 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Vorteq Coil Finishers/Valencia Plt, Valencia
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007757123 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.4
Calumet Karns City Refining, Karns City
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110012413628 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.2
Harsco Minerals Of Pa Llc, Sarver
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,249 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16055RCMXF359NO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Armstrong Cement & Supply - Winfield, Cabot
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $261,086.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007029562 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Sonneborn, Llc., Petrolia
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $33,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110059338220 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.9
Harsco Metals - Butler, Butler
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region), Chromium compounds (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 772 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16001HCKTTARMCO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Bear Metallurgical Co, Butler
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Molybdenum trioxide, Vanadium compounds, Lead compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds. Reports carcinogens. 430 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16001BRMTL679EB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Mountain Gathering, Renfrew
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,000,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070386122 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Armstrong Cement & Supply - Winfield, Cabot
Large greenhouse gas emitter. Penalties $261,086.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007029562 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Du-Co Ceramics Co, Saxonburg
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds. 22,106 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 16056DCCRM155SR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Main Steel Polishing Co., Harmony
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 233 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1603WMNSTL6WHIT (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Ersvin Inds. Inc. Amasteel Div., Butler,
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110022538609 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Markwest Liberty Bluestone Llc/Sarsen Gas Proc Plt, Evans City
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, 1,3-Butadiene. Reports carcinogens. 197 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1603WMRKWS736PR (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 Butler 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 Butler 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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