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Columbia County, Pennsylvania: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Columbia County is 167.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Bladder deaths at 1.9 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 471 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (251), Air permit holder (minor source) (62), Rail grade crossing (52). 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: 41.0433, -76.3978.

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 Columbia County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
BladderDeaths7.94.11.93xSignificant5.6 to 11.12020-2024
EsophagusDeaths5.53.71.49x3.6 to 8.42020-2024
BladderNew cases25.218.71.35xSignificant20.9 to 30.42019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases24.818.51.34xSignificant20 to 30.62019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases23.617.91.32xSignificant19 to 29.22019-2023
LeukemiaDeaths7.55.71.32x5 to 10.92020-2024
Liver & bile ductDeaths8.26.61.24x5.7 to 11.42020-2024
PancreasNew cases17.113.91.23x13.4 to 21.62019-2023
ThyroidNew cases15.6131.2x11.4 to 20.92019-2023
EsophagusNew cases5.54.61.2x3.5 to 8.42019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases28.323.81.19x23.2 to 34.22019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases1714.51.17x13.1 to 21.92019-2023
All cancerDeaths167.8143.21.17xSignificant156 to 180.42020-2024
PancreasDeaths12.811.31.13x9.7 to 16.62020-2024
All cancerNew cases508.4453.41.12xSignificant486.5 to 5312019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases5751.81.1x50.4 to 64.42019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases6.86.21.1x4.3 to 10.42019-2023
StomachNew cases7.16.61.08x4.8 to 10.12019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths32.430.21.07x27.4 to 38.12020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths3.63.41.06x2.1 to 62020-2024
Liver & bile ductNew cases9.18.71.05x6.5 to 12.62019-2023
Brain & nervous systemDeaths4.64.41.05x2.7 to 7.42020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.14.80.85x2.5 to 6.52020-2024

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 Columbia County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death8,535.39,842.6-13%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy76.575.3+2%years
Child mortality39.859.8-33%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality5.26.2-17%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths93.596.9-4%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths32.428.6+13%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.

  • Formaldehyde16.4 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.94 per million
  • Acetaldehyde1.66 per million
  • Benzene1.59 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

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

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit251
  • Air permit holder (minor source)62
  • Rail grade crossing52
  • Gas station (mapped facility)34
  • Small hazardous waste generator19
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)10
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)9
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)8
  • TRI reporting facility6
  • Public airport5
  • Large hazardous waste generator3
  • Major air pollution source2
  • Brownfield property2
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter2
  • Hazardous waste transporter2
  • Heliport2
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)1
  • Superfund (NPL) site1

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. Safety Light Corporation, Bloomsburg

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 70.7. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID PAD987295276 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Kawneer Co Inc, Bloomsburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Diisocyanates, Toluene, Certain glycol ethers and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 16,851 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17815KWNRC500E1 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.7

  3. Benton Foundry Inc, Benton

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000984249 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

  4. Kawneer Co Inc, Bloomsburg

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000334451 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5.9

  5. Western International Gas & Cylinders Inc., Berwick

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Propylene. 4,785 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 1860WWSTRN53RIV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.8

  6. Tranpo Industries, Berwick

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl methacrylate. 2,000 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 1860WCSTKN23RIV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.5

  7. Benton Feed Mill, Benton

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Copper And Copper Compounds. 520 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 1781WBNTNF464MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 5.1

  8. Wise Foods/Berwick Snack Food Plt, Berwick

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $30,100.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110041063194 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 5

  9. Ultra Poly Corp - Bloomsburg Plant, Bloomsburg

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001219556 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.8

  10. Midland Asphalt Materials Inc., Bloomsburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene. Reports carcinogens. 1 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 1781WMDLND1525M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.7

  11. Foam Fabricators, Bloomsburg

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $4,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001057846 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4.5

  12. Sekisui Kydex Llc, Bloomsburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Antimony compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 17815KLRDX6685L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  13. Autoneum N.A. Inc., Bloomsburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Cobalt compounds, Diisocyanates. Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 17815MGCRP480WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  14. Sekisui Kydex, Bloomsburg

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Antimony And Antimony Compounds, Antimony compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Zinc (fume or dust). Reports carcinogens.

    TRI facility ID 1781WSKSKY4411L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 4.5

  15. Kleerdex, Bloomsburg

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000575547 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  16. Berwick Area Jt Sew Auth, Berwick

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006646852 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  17. Central Columbia School District, Bloomsburg

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110006694719 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  18. Patriot Metal Products, Berwick

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $20,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110027233633 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  19. Sekisui Kydex, Bloomsburg

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071043484 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  20. Midland Asphalt Materials, Inc., Bloomsburg

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110071285245 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 4

  21. Benton Foundry Inc, Benton

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Diisocyanates. 14 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 17814BNTNFRD2BO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 3.9

  22. Benton Foundry Inc, Benton

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000984249 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  23. Brookside Mhp, Berwick

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110010962896 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  24. Bloomsburg Stp, Bloomsburg

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110039806083 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.8

  25. Transco Station 517, Benton

    Major air pollution source.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110007339059 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 3.5

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 Columbia 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 Columbia 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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