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Richland County, South Carolina: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Richland County is 160.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate and Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,584 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (764), Rail grade crossing (184), Gas station (mapped facility) (164). 4 correctional facilities operate in the county, at least one with health-based drinking water violations on record. 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: 34.0059, -80.8496.
How this county ranks in South Carolina
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 | Measure | County rate | U.S. rate | Times U.S. | 95% interval | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 4.3 | 3.4 | 1.26xSignificant | 3.5 to 5.3 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 3.1 | 2.7 | 1.15x | 2.4 to 4 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | Deaths | 4.6 | 4.1 | 1.12x | 3.7 to 5.7 | 2020-2024 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 160.1 | 143.2 | 1.12xSignificant | 154.7 to 165.6 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 33.5 | 30.2 | 1.11xSignificant | 31.1 to 36.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | New cases | 7.1 | 6.6 | 1.08x | 6 to 8.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 11.8 | 11.3 | 1.04x | 10.4 to 13.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 5.9 | 5.7 | 1.04x | 4.9 to 7 | 2020-2024 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 4.9 | 4.8 | 1.02x | 4 to 5.9 | 2020-2024 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 13.9 | 13.9 | 1x | 12.4 to 15.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 49.9 | 51.8 | 0.96x | 46.9 to 53 | 2019-2023 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 16.9 | 17.9 | 0.94x | 15.2 to 18.7 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 6.2 | 6.6 | 0.94x | 5.2 to 7.3 | 2020-2024 |
| All cancer | New cases | 408.8 | 453.4 | 0.9x | 400.2 to 417.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 3.3 | 3.7 | 0.89x | 2.6 to 4.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | New cases | 14.5 | 16.4 | 0.88x | 10.9 to 18.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | Deaths | 1.7 | 2 | 0.85x | 1.1 to 2.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 7.1 | 8.7 | 0.82x | 6 to 8.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 3.7 | 4.6 | 0.8x | 2.9 to 4.6 | 2019-2023 |
| Bladder | New cases | 14.5 | 18.7 | 0.78x | 12.9 to 16.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 3.4 | 4.4 | 0.77x | 2.6 to 4.2 | 2020-2024 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 4.3 | 6.2 | 0.69x | 3.5 to 5.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 12.3 | 18.5 | 0.66x | 10.8 to 13.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 9.4 | 14.5 | 0.65x | 8.1 to 10.8 | 2019-2023 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 8 | 13 | 0.62x | 6.8 to 9.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 10.6 | 23.8 | 0.45x | 9.2 to 12.1 | 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.
| Measure | County | U.S. median | Difference | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premature death | 9,520.8 | 9,842.6 | -3% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 75.5 | 75.3 | +0% | years |
| Child mortality | 66.8 | 59.8 | +12% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 7.3 | 6.2 | +18% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 83.8 | 96.9 | -14% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 27.5 | 28.6 | -4% | 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.
- Formaldehyde24.58 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.92 per million
- Acetaldehyde2.4 per million
- Benzene1.14 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 365 days: 212 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 47, peak 89.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
1,584 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit764
- Rail grade crossing184
- Gas station (mapped facility)164
- Air permit holder (minor source)102
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)83
- Small hazardous waste generator69
- Brownfield property56
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)42
- TRI reporting facility34
- Major air pollution source16
- Large hazardous waste generator14
- Dry cleaner (mapped facility)13
- Landfill (mapped facility)6
- Scrapyard (mapped facility)6
- EPA air quality monitor4
- Correctional facility (prison or jail)4
- Hazardous waste transporter4
- Heliport4
- Large greenhouse gas emitter3
- Commercial airport2
- Biomass power plant2
- Superfund (NPL) site2
- Public airport1
- Crematorium (mapped facility)1
- Coal power plant1
- Hydroelectric plant1
- Gas power plant1
- Wastewater plant (mapped facility)1
Highest-severity records
The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.
- Severity 10
SCRDI Bluff Road, Columbia
Superfund (NPL) site. NPL Site.
EPA site ID SCD000622787 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 10
Townsend Saw Chain Co., Pontiac
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 35.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID SCD980558050 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 9.8
Sylvamo Eastover Mill, Eastover
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese compounds, Methanol, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,002,467 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29044NNCMPROUTE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.6
Wateree, Eastover
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110015337198 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 9.4
Westinghouse Electric Co Llc, Hopkins
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ammonia, Nitric acid, Hydrogen fluoride and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,207,525 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29250WSTNGPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.2
Sea-Hunt Boat Manufacturing Co Inc, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 1,299,950 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29201SNBRD2348S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.1
Dominion Energy South Carolina - Wateree Station, Eastover
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Barium And Barium Compounds, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Vanadium compounds, Zinc compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 927,793 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29044STHCR142WA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9
U.S. Army Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 756,640 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29207SRMYSESSAY (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.9
Westinghouse Electric Company Llc/Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, Hopkins
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,443,152.
EPA FRS registry ID 110017326339 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.4
Engineered Composites, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 125,625 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29201NGNRD81IDL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.1
Sylvamo Eastover Mill, Eastover
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $16,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110043816289 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8
Precoat Metals, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, n-Butyl alcohol, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 34,506 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29202CNSLD650RO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Lindau Chemicals Inc., Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: 1,3-Butadiene, Isoprene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Styrene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 29,191 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29201LNDCH750GR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Xerxes Blythewood, Blythewood
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 26,980 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 2901WXRXSB141HB (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.9
Fn America Llc, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Trichloroethylene, Methanol, Lead, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 25,809 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29223FNMNF797CL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.7
General Shale Brick Inc. - Plant 14, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Lead, Manganese compounds. Reports carcinogens. 13,541 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29203RCHTXBRICK (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.4
Us Army Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $8,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001120019 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 7.3
Micalline Llc, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 4,999 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29290MCLLN1717P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.3
Charter Next Generation - Blythewood, Blythewood
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ozone. 391,363 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 2901WCHRTR1771F (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.2
Us Brick, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen fluoride, Lead, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Lead compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,159 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29223CRLNC9931T (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7.1
Owens Corning Non-Wovens - Blythewood Llc, Blythewood
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 2,439 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29016LTRNN1JENK (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 7
American Italian Pasta Co, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuryl fluoride. 179,125 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29209MRCNT2AMER (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 6.9
Owen Steel Co, Columbia
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Manganese compounds, Lead And Lead Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,336 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 29202WNSTL2405S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 6.8
Palmetto Utils Incorporated Reg Wwtp, Columbia
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $11,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110002312578 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 6.7
Wateree, Eastover
Coal power plant.
Record ID 3297 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Correctional facilities
Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.
Lieber Correctional Institute (1870050)-Plant 1(B18001) Wells 1&2 (G18134,-135), Columbia
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110048714833
- Water system
- SC1870050
- Health-based violations
- 4 all time, 0 in 5 years
- All violations
- 17
- Contaminants cited
- Coliform (TCR)
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Macdougall Correctional Inst (Sc0870050)-Plant 1 (B08006) Well 1(G08128) Adm Bld, Columbia
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110048410750
- Water system
- SC0870050
- Health-based violations
- 1 all time, 0 in 5 years
- All violations
- 3
- Contaminants cited
- Coliform (TCR)
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
South Carolina Department Of Corrections, Columbia
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110002178740
- Wastewater permit
- None on record
Va Sc - Varo Stormwater Improvements And Corrections, Columbia
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110071911201
- Wastewater permit
- Yes
Discovery / public records
Records to request for Richland 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 Richland 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.