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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Luzerne County is 161.9 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.2 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,755 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (655), Rail grade crossing (240), Air permit holder (minor source) (224). One correctional facility operates in the county. 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: 41.1657, -75.9547.

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 Luzerne County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Thyroid	New cases	19	13	1.46xSignificant	16.9 to 21.2	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	25.8	18.7	1.38xSignificant	23.8 to 27.9	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	4.9	3.7	1.32xSignificant	4 to 5.9	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	17	13.9	1.22xSignificant	15.4 to 18.9	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	5	4.1	1.22x	4.1 to 6	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	36.7	30.2	1.22xSignificant	34.3 to 39.2	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	62.9	51.8	1.21xSignificant	59.7 to 66.1	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	17.4	14.5	1.2xSignificant	15.6 to 19.4	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	5.5	4.6	1.2x	4.6 to 6.5	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	6.7	5.7	1.18x	5.6 to 7.9	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.1	4.4	1.16x	4.2 to 6.2	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.6	6.6	1.15x	6.5 to 8.8	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	161.9	143.2	1.13xSignificant	156.7 to 167.2	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	512.4	453.4	1.13xSignificant	502.8 to 522.2	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	12.6	11.3	1.12x	11.3 to 14.2	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.9	6.2	1.11x	5.8 to 8.3	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	9.6	8.7	1.1x	8.4 to 10.9	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.2	2	1.1x	1.6 to 2.9	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	19.4	17.9	1.08x	17.5 to 21.4	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	17.3	16.4	1.05x	12.7 to 23	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	6.8	6.6	1.03x	5.8 to 8	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.9	4.8	1.02x	4 to 6	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.5	18.5	1x	16.7 to 20.4	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	22.8	23.8	0.96x	20.7 to 25	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.2	3.4	0.94x	2.5 to 4.1	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	2	2.7	0.74x	1.5 to 2.7	2020-2024

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 Luzerne County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	10,191.9	9,842.6	+4%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	74.8	75.3	-1%	years
Child mortality	56.8	59.8	-5%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	6.2	6.2	-1%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	115	96.9	+19%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	56.4	28.6	+97%	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.

Formaldehyde15.71 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million
Benzene1.98 per million
Acetaldehyde1.58 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

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

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,755 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit655
Rail grade crossing240
Air permit holder (minor source)224
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)151
Gas station (mapped facility)136
Small hazardous waste generator126
Large hazardous waste generator35
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)35
TRI reporting facility33
Hazardous waste transporter25
Brownfield property23
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)12
Scrapyard (mapped facility)11
Major air pollution source10
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)9
Heliport5
Landfill (mapped facility)5
Gas power plant4
Commercial airport3
Large greenhouse gas emitter3
Oil-fired power plant2
Public airport1
Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
Nuclear power plant1
Other power plant1
Solar power plant1
Wind power plant1
Superfund (NPL) site1
Proposed Superfund 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.

Valmont TCE, West Hazleton
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 43.2. NPL Site.
EPA site ID PAD982363970 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Crestwood Membranes Inc Dba I2m, Mountain Top
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002448584 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.2
Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp, Pittston
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, n-Butyl alcohol, Formaldehyde, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 51,729 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18640NGTVPRD4PO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Silgan White Cap Corp, Hazleton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, n-Butyl alcohol and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 44,991 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18201CNTNNVALMO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation/Church Road TCE, Mountain Top
Proposed Superfund site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. Proposed NPL Site.
EPA site ID PAD003031788 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 8
Multi-Plastics Extrusions Inc., Hazleton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Ethylbenzene. Reports carcinogens. 24,860 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18201KNTPL666DI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Ugi Development Company, Hunlock Creek
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000335593 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.7
I2m Inc., Mountain Top
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methyl isobutyl ketone, Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)), Antimony compounds, Zinc compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,201 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18707DYNMTCREST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.5
Greater Hazleton Jt Sew Auth/West Hazleton Stp, West Hazleton
Major air pollution source. Penalties $53,400.
EPA FRS registry ID 110007211533 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Modineer - Pulverman, Dallas
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel, Manganese, Aluminum (fume or dust) and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,137 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1861WMDNRP117LW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Moxie Freedom, Berwick
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia. 430,863 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1860WMXFRD237MI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Cornell Iron Works, Mountain Top
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $9,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110041370771 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.3
L & P Berwick Div Leggett & Platt/Salem Twp, Berwick
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110006662478 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.2
Dober Chemical Corp (Hazle Township), Hazleton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sodium nitrite, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,882 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1820WDBRGR543FR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Cornell Cookson, Mountain Top
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Zinc compounds, Copper and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,396 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18707CRNLLCREST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Acton Technologies Inc, Pittston
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Naphthalene, Certain glycol ethers. Reports carcinogens. 1,161 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18640CTNTC100TH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Can Do Inc - Humboldt Wwtp, Hazleton
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $23,367.
EPA FRS registry ID 110010970672 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Reynolds Packaging Kama Inc, Hazleton
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000335290 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.7
Hunlock Creek Generating Llc Hunlock Creek Energy Center, Hunlock Creek
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia. 56,022 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18621GTLTSUSRTE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
Nucor Towers & Structures, Hazleton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Lead, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 470 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18201SMMTM225KI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.6
General Dynamics Ots (Wilkes-Barre) Llc - Hanover Facility, Wilkes Barre
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper compounds, Copper And Copper Compounds, Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 423 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 1870WGNRLD16HAN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Schott North Amer Inc/Duryea, Duryea
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110010989109 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.4
Polyglass Usa, Hazleton
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001089152 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.4
Acton Technologies Inc, Pittston
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $8,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001066462 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Safety-Kleen Systems Hanover Township (Wbp), Wilkes Barre
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ethylene glycol, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Lead and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 132 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 18706SFTYK600ST (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.1

Correctional facilities

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

Aqua Pa Wayne County Prison-Prison Treatment, White Haven
EPA FRS registry ID
110047337388
Water system
PA2640031
Health-based violations
0 all time, 0 in 5 years
All violations
49
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Luzerne 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 Luzerne 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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