SC / county FIPS 45015 / county research

Berkeley County, South Carolina: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Berkeley County is 143.9 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. Federal databases place 1,235 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (796), Rail grade crossing (117), Gas station (mapped facility) (76). 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: 33.1632, -79.9107.

View on the heat map Scan an address in this county

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 Berkeley County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	New cases	59.2	51.8	1.14xSignificant	55 to 63.6	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	15.6	13.9	1.12x	13.4 to 18	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	19.9	17.9	1.11x	17.5 to 22.5	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	4.1	3.7	1.11x	3.1 to 5.3	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	12.5	11.3	1.11x	10.6 to 14.7	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	17.8	16.4	1.09x	12.8 to 24.1	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	32.5	30.2	1.08x	29.4 to 35.8	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.1	6.6	1.08x	5.7 to 8.8	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.1	2	1.05x	1.4 to 3.1	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	143.9	143.2	1x	137.3 to 150.8	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.4	6.6	0.97x	5 to 8	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	439.4	453.4	0.97x	427.8 to 451.1	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	5.5	5.7	0.96x	4.2 to 7.1	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	2.6	2.7	0.96x	1.8 to 3.7	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	22.3	23.8	0.94x	19.7 to 25.1	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	4.3	4.6	0.93x	3.2 to 5.5	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	3.8	4.1	0.93x	2.7 to 5.1	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	17.1	18.7	0.91x	14.8 to 19.6	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.6	6.2	0.9x	4.3 to 7.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	16.3	18.5	0.88x	14.1 to 18.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.6	8.7	0.87x	6.2 to 9.3	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	11.3	13	0.87x	9.5 to 13.4	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	3.8	4.4	0.86x	2.8 to 5.1	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.1	4.8	0.85x	3 to 5.4	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	2.9	3.4	0.85x	2 to 4	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	10.8	14.5	0.74x	9 to 12.9	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 Berkeley County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	9,014.7	9,842.6	-8%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76.7	75.3	+2%	years
Child mortality	54.9	59.8	-8%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.2	6.2	-16%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	89.5	96.9	-8%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	33.6	28.6	+17%	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.

Formaldehyde21.43 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.93 per million
Acetaldehyde1.95 per million
Benzene0.93 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 270 days: 252 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 35, peak 84.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,235 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit796
Rail grade crossing117
Gas station (mapped facility)76
Air permit holder (minor source)66
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)32
TRI reporting facility26
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)23
Small hazardous waste generator23
Major air pollution source19
Large hazardous waste generator14
Large greenhouse gas emitter10
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)4
Public airport3
Hazardous waste transporter3
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Hydroelectric plant3
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)3
Brownfield property2
Heliport2
Coal power plant2
Scrapyard (mapped facility)2
EPA air quality monitor1
Commercial airport1
Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
Crematorium (mapped facility)1
Biomass power plant1
Solar 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.

Alumax Of South Carolina Inc, Goose Creek
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $767,057.
EPA FRS registry ID 110056954470 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Cross Generating Station, Pineville
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), Barium And Barium Compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 5,527,243 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29436CRSSG553CR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.7
Century Aluminum Of South Carolina, Goose Creek
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Carbonyl sulfide, Hydrogen fluoride, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Naphthalene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,732,837 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29445LMXFSHIGHW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.4
Nucor Steel- Berkeley, Huger
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000353527 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.4
Dcl - Bushy Park Facility, Goose Creek
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ammonia, Aniline, Formaldehyde and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,652,027 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29445SNCHM156BU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.4
Santee Cooper Cross Generating Station, Pineville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $18,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000499764 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.4
Dcl Corp (Bp) Llc, Goose Creek
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $18,950.
EPA FRS registry ID 110014362509 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.3
C R Bard Inc, Moncks Corner
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000353545 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 9.2
Ineos Us Chemicals Co - Cooper River Plant, Wando
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: p-Xylene, Methanol, Ammonia, Cobalt compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,083,294 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29492MCCHMCLEME (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Dominion Energy Of South Carolina - Williams Station Genco, Goose Creek
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), Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 872,794 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29445WLLMS2242B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Cr Bard, Moncks Corner
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dichloromethane, Methanol, Chlorine. Reports carcinogens. 516,497 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29461CRBRDPOWER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
Bp Amoco Chemical Co - Cooper River Plant, Wando
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000353705 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.9
Sea Fox Boat Co Inc., Moncks Corner
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 461,721 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29461SFXBT255HW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.8
Freeman Boatworks Llc, Moncks Corner
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 304,251 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 2946WFRMNB124SP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.7
Symrise, Inc., Goose Creek
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $5,200.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000353475 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.7
Nucor Steel-Berkeley, Huger
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 260,336 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29450NCRST1455H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.7
Alpek Polyester Usa Llc Cooper River Plant, Moncks Corner
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene glycol, Acetaldehyde, 1,4-Dioxane, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 236,114 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29423DKMRCCYPRE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.6
U.S. Dod Dfsp Charleston, Hanahan
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Ethylbenzene, Cumene, Naphthalene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 1,892 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29406SDFNS5862N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.5
Freeman Boatworks Llc, Moncks Corner
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $18,700.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070912953 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.3
Cross, Cross
Coal power plant.
Record ID 130 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 8
Jw Aluminum Mt Holly Operations, Goose Creek
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Lead, Copper, Manganese and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 30,668 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29463JWLMNOLDMT (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Volvo Car Usa Llc, Ridgeville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110070125078 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Lanxess Corp Bushy Park Plant, Goose Creek
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Benzoyl chloride, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Toluene. Reports carcinogens. 18,576 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29445LNXSS153BU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Zeb Metals, Moncks Corner
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride, Manganese, Copper and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,444 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 2946WZBMTLUSHIG (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Secondary Aluminum Target Llc, Moncks Corner
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $19,520.
EPA FRS registry ID 110071469428 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.7

Correctional facilities

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

Berkeley County Jail Housing Addition, Moncks Corner
EPA FRS registry ID
110071928610
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Berkeley County

South Carolina 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 Berkeley County, and their findings.
South Carolina vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
South Carolina health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
South Carolina 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.
South Carolina 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.

Scan an address in Berkeley County View on the heat map All South Carolina counties