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Davidson County, Tennessee: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Davidson County is 151.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 2,545 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,443), Air permit holder (minor source) (381), Gas station (mapped facility) (198). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county. EPA AirToxScreen estimates a lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics of 40 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: 36.1893, -86.7808.

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 Davidson County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Liver & bile duct	New cases	10.5	8.7	1.21xSignificant	9.5 to 11.6	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	7.4	6.2	1.19xSignificant	6.5 to 8.4	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.1	4.4	1.16x	4.4 to 5.9	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.5	6.6	1.14x	6.6 to 8.4	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	18.4	16.4	1.12x	15.2 to 22.1	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	33.3	30.2	1.1xSignificant	31.4 to 35.3	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.2	4.8	1.08x	4.4 to 6	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	55.3	51.8	1.07xSignificant	52.9 to 57.9	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	151.8	143.2	1.06xSignificant	147.6 to 156	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.1	2	1.05x	1.7 to 2.7	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	4.3	4.1	1.05x	3.6 to 5.1	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5.8	5.7	1.02x	5 to 6.7	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	11.4	11.3	1.01x	10.3 to 12.6	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3.4	3.4	1x	2.8 to 4	2020-2024
Pancreas	New cases	13.6	13.9	0.98x	12.4 to 15	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	440.4	453.4	0.97x	433.4 to 447.5	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.6	2.7	0.96x	2 to 3.2	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	13.4	14.5	0.92x	12.2 to 14.7	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	16.7	18.7	0.89x	15.3 to 18.1	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	16.4	18.5	0.89x	15.1 to 17.9	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.8	6.6	0.88x	5 to 6.6	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	15.6	17.9	0.87x	14.4 to 17	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.2	3.7	0.86x	2.6 to 3.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	3.7	4.6	0.8x	3.1 to 4.4	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	8.9	13	0.68x	8 to 10	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	15.6	23.8	0.66x	14.3 to 17	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 Davidson County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	10,529.1	9,842.6	+7%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75.1	75.3	-0%	years
Child mortality	79.3	59.8	+33%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	7	6.2	+12%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	128.3	96.9	+32%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	71.5	28.6	+150%	deaths per 100,000

Air toxics and air quality

EPA AirToxScreen 2020

Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 40 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.

Formaldehyde24.05 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.92 per million
Acetaldehyde2.44 per million
Naphthalene1.8 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 193 good, 1 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 49, peak 136.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,545 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,443
Air permit holder (minor source)381
Gas station (mapped facility)198
Rail grade crossing181
Small hazardous waste generator77
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)66
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)44
TRI reporting facility37
Large hazardous waste generator31
Brownfield property24
Major air pollution source13
Scrapyard (mapped facility)10
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)9
Heliport9
Large greenhouse gas emitter6
EPA air quality monitor4
Commercial airport2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Hazardous waste transporter2
Gas power plant2
Public airport1
Hydroelectric plant1
Solar 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.

Clemons Concrete Coatings, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Cumene. Reports carcinogens. 50,808 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3721WCLMNS55CAV (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Superior Industrial Solutions Inc, Old Hickory
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dichloromethane, n-Hexane, Methyl tert-butyl ether, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 29,943 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3713WSPRRS518SW (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Nwi Nashville, Llc, Nashville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $16,580.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370839 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.9
Blanchard Terminal Co - Nashville 51 Ave Tn Terminal, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 13,373 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37209BPXPL14095 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Mplx Terminals Llc - Nashville Bordeaux Tn Terminal, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 12,312 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37218MRTHN292LD (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Cone Nashville Llc., Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, n-Hexane, Toluene, Methyl isobutyl ketone and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,919 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37209CNSLV1830L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Shell Nashville Terminal, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Benzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 9,721 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37209NSHVL17176 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Exxon Mobil Corp Nashville Terminal, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, n-Hexane, Xylene (mixed isomers), Benzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 6,126 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37208XXNMB1741E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Safety-Kleen Systems, Nashville
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000619046 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.1
Nashville Wire Products, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers. 200,733 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37218NSHVL1604C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Metro Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nashville
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $2,100.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000566487 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Mplx Terminals Llc - Nashville Downtown Tn Terminal, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,501 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37213MRTHN5MAIN (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Sinomax East Inc., La Vergne
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Diisocyanates, Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers). Reports carcinogens. 1,422 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3708WSNMXS174JP (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Triton Terminaling Nashville Terminal, Nashville
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,040.
EPA FRS registry ID 110025229312 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc-Goodlettsville, Goodlettsville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size). 101,945 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37072SCRMY201CA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Azz Galvanizing Services-Nashville, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 944 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37209BYLSG20032 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Carlex Glass America, Llc, Nashville
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370982 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Midsouth Wire, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size). 32,046 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3721WMDSTH145VI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Nashville Wire Products Co. Material Handling Div., Nashville
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000863049 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Qg Printing Ii Llc, Nashville
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, Ethylene glycol, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 21,241 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37207QBCRW2947B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.3
Superior Oil Company, Inc., Old Hickory
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110042425462 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.2
E I Dupont De Nemours - Old Hickory Plant, Old Hickory
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370544 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Nwi Nashville, Llc, Nashville
Major air pollution source. Penalties $16,580.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370839 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Safety-Kleen Systems, Nashville
Large hazardous waste generator.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000619046 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Safety-Kleen Systems, Nashville
NPDES wastewater discharge permit.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000619046 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6

Correctional facilities

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

Hill Detention Center / Fire Station 2 - Demolition, Nashville
EPA FRS registry ID
110071278956
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report
Spencer Youth Development Center, Nashville
EPA FRS registry ID
x457ec639c10f1d64c8d4fa92364527a0
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Davidson 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 Davidson 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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