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Anderson County, Tennessee: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Anderson County is 166.4 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 514 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (187), Rail grade crossing (163), Gas station (mapped facility) (52). 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: 36.1057, -84.2274.

How this county ranks in Tennessee

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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 Anderson County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	45.8	30.2	1.52xSignificant	40.4 to 51.7	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	72	51.8	1.39xSignificant	65.2 to 79.3	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	7.3	5.7	1.28x	5.2 to 10.1	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	5.2	4.1	1.27x	3.5 to 7.6	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	4.6	3.7	1.24x	3.1 to 6.8	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	21	17.9	1.17x	17.1 to 25.5	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	166.4	143.2	1.16xSignificant	155.9 to 177.5	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.5	6.6	1.14x	5.4 to 10.2	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.7	18.5	1.01x	15.2 to 22.9	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	455.7	453.4	1.01x	437.4 to 474.6	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	4.6	4.6	1x	3 to 6.8	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.8	4.8	1x	3.2 to 7.1	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	5.6	6.2	0.9x	3.7 to 8.3	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	16.8	18.7	0.9x	13.6 to 20.7	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	21.1	23.8	0.89x	17.1 to 25.7	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3	3.4	0.88x	1.8 to 5	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	12.2	13.9	0.88x	9.4 to 15.6	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12	14.5	0.83x	9 to 15.7	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	9.1	11.3	0.81x	6.9 to 12	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	5.3	6.6	0.8x	3.6 to 7.7	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	6.9	8.7	0.79x	5 to 9.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	3.4	4.4	0.77x	2 to 5.5	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	6.4	13	0.49x	4 to 9.5	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 Anderson County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	12,679	9,842.6	+29%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	72.6	75.3	-4%	years
Child mortality	57.1	59.8	-4%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	7.7	6.2	+23%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	146.3	96.9	+51%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	96.6	28.6	+238%	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.

Formaldehyde22.77 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.87 per million
Acetaldehyde2.29 per million
Benzene1.08 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 244 days: 230 good, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 105.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

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

NPDES wastewater discharge permit187
Rail grade crossing163
Gas station (mapped facility)52
Air permit holder (minor source)27
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)18
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)14
TRI reporting facility9
Small hazardous waste generator8
Hazardous waste transporter4
Scrapyard (mapped facility)4
Major air pollution source3
Public airport3
Large hazardous waste generator3
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)3
Brownfield property2
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
Large greenhouse gas emitter2
Landfill (mapped facility)2
Wind power plant2
EPA air quality monitor1
Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
Heliport1
Biomass power plant1
Coal power plant1
Hydroelectric 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.

U.S. Tva Bull Run Fossil Plant, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Barium And Barium Compounds, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7)) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 672,456 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37716STVBL1265E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9
Nnsa Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Nickel, Chromium, Copper and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 82,439 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37831SDKRDBEARC (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Us Doe Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid. 316,079 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37831SDKRDBETHE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Geon Performance Solutions, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylbenzene, Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 3,030 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37716DHCMP1260C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Carlstar Clinton, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds. Reports carcinogens. 1,546 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37716DCTRNMODIN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Bull Run, Clinton
Coal power plant.
Record ID 3396 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 6.9
3m Company Dba 3m Clinton, Clinton
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110069996697 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Eagle Bend Manufacturing Inc, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Manganese, Nickel, Chromium. Reports carcinogens. 443 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37716GLBND1000J (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Carlisle Tire, Clinton
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $70,392.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000372427 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.4
3m Co Dba 3m Clinton, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 20,406 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3771WMCMPN4JDYA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Advanced Measurement Technology, Oak Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Nitric acid. 11,105 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37830GGRTC100MI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.1
Tva Bull Run Fossil Plant, Clinton
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110043798487 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Advanced Measurement Technology, Oak Ridge
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110001860807 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Aisin Automotive Casting Tennessee, Clinton
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Nickel, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 42 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37716SNTMT221FR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.8
Norris Stp (Norris Water Commission), Norris
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $4,692.
EPA FRS registry ID 110006690777 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.5
Premium Coal Company, Inc. Baldwin Plant/Baldwin Refuse Impoundment 3, Moores Camp
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $16,996.
EPA FRS registry ID 110009788300 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.5
Tva Bull Run Fossil Plant, Clinton
Large greenhouse gas emitter.
EPA FRS registry ID 110043798487 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.5
Eagle Bend Manufacturing, Clinton
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000578321 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.4
Techmer Pm, Llc, Clinton
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,800.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000372454 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5
Acwa Airbase Stp, Briceville
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $8,109.
EPA FRS registry ID 110055634871 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5
Aisin Automotive Casting Tennessee, Clinton
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110020745951 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.9
Carlisle Tire, Clinton
Major air pollution source. Penalties $70,392.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000372427 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.8
Oak Ridge Stp, Oak Ridge
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110006367742 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.8
Premium Coal Company, Inc Mine 17, Jacksboro
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $83,300.
EPA FRS registry ID 110014428379 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.8
Rapiscan As&E, Oak Ridge
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 37831XFRDT601OA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.6

Correctional facilities

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

2016 Cdbg Water Loss Correction - Rocky Top, Tn, Rocky Top
EPA FRS registry ID
110070250640
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Anderson County

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