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Hamilton County, Tennessee: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Hamilton County is 141.5 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.1 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 2,363 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (965), Industrial wastewater discharge (469), Rail grade crossing (285). 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: 35.2212, -85.1535.

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 Hamilton County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	21.7	17.9	1.21xSignificant	19.8 to 23.7	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	New cases	59.8	51.8	1.15xSignificant	56.8 to 62.9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	34.7	30.2	1.15xSignificant	32.5 to 37.1	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.1	4.8	1.06x	4.2 to 6.1	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.1	2	1.05x	1.6 to 2.9	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	15	14.5	1.03x	13.4 to 16.7	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.4	6.2	1.03x	5.4 to 7.6	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	466.9	453.4	1.03xSignificant	458 to 475.9	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.4	4.4	1x	3.6 to 5.4	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	141.5	143.2	0.99x	136.8 to 146.3	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18	18.5	0.97x	16.3 to 19.9	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	5.5	5.7	0.96x	4.6 to 6.5	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	15.8	16.4	0.96x	11.8 to 20.8	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.3	6.6	0.95x	5.4 to 7.4	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.2	8.7	0.94x	7.1 to 9.5	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	10.5	11.3	0.93x	9.3 to 11.9	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	4.2	4.6	0.91x	3.4 to 5.2	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	12.6	13.9	0.91x	11.2 to 14.2	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.3	3.7	0.89x	2.7 to 4.2	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	3	3.4	0.88x	2.3 to 3.7	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	15.9	18.7	0.85x	14.4 to 17.6	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.4	6.6	0.82x	4.5 to 6.5	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	19	23.8	0.8x	17.2 to 21	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2	2.7	0.74x	1.5 to 2.7	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	3	4.1	0.73x	2.3 to 3.8	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	9.5	13	0.73x	8.1 to 11	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 Hamilton County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	10,011.2	9,842.6	+2%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	75.6	75.3	+0%	years
Child mortality	59.8	59.8	+0%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	6.8	6.2	+9%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	94.3	96.9	-3%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	44.2	28.6	+55%	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.

Formaldehyde24.96 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.88 per million
Acetaldehyde2.45 per million
Benzene1.16 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 237 good, 2 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 44, peak 141.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,363 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit965
Industrial wastewater discharge469
Rail grade crossing285
Gas station (mapped facility)162
Air permit holder (minor source)111
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)78
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)64
TRI reporting facility50
Small hazardous waste generator48
Brownfield property45
Large hazardous waste generator30
Major air pollution source9
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)6
Large greenhouse gas emitter6
Scrapyard (mapped facility)6
Hazardous waste transporter5
Heliport4
EPA air quality monitor3
Public airport3
Landfill (mapped facility)3
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)3
Commercial airport2
Solar power plant2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
Hydroelectric plant1
Nuclear power plant1
Superfund (NPL) 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.

Southside Chattanooga Lead, Chattanooga
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID TNN000410686 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Volkswagen Group Of America Chattanooga Operations Llc., Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, n-Butyl alcohol, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 621,338 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3741WVLKSW81VLK (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.9
Chattem Chemicals Warehouse, Chattanooga
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110005003263 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.6
Mueller Co, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Zinc compounds, Manganese, Phenol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 191,830 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406MLLRC1401M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.6
Astec Inc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Manganese, Chromium, Nickel and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 90,776 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3740WSTCNC414JE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.3
Chattem Chemicals Inc., Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ammonia, Dichloromethane, Chloroacetic acid and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 69,050 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37409CHTTM3801S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.2
South Atlantic Galvanizing, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Lead, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region). Reports carcinogens. 38,054 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406STHTL4186S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Brenntag Mid-South Inc., Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Diethanolamine, Formic acid, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 32,327 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37409PBSCN317WA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Volkswagen Group Of America Chattanooga Operations, Llc, Chattanooga
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $54,050.
EPA FRS registry ID 110046123805 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Mueller Co. Llc -- Concrete Batch Plant, Chattanooga
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,600.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000371838 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Basf Corp, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, 1,3-Butadiene, Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 13,657 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406PLYSR3805A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Signal Mountain Cement Co Dba Buzzi Unicem Usa, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Aluminum (fume or dust), Manganese compounds, Manganese And Manganese Compounds, Chromium and Chromium Compounds(except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 11,926 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37405SGNLM1201S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Basf Corp, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, tert-Butyl alcohol, 1,3-Butadiene, Acrylic acid and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 11,524 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37421PLYSR2200P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Allied Metal Co, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Copper, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 11,235 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406SGNLL3440L (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Brenntag Mid-South, Inc., Chattanooga
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $4,200.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000371963 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Nippon Shokubai America Industries Inc. (Formerly Na Industr, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Acrylic acid, Maleic anhydride, Styrene, Butyl acrylate. Reports carcinogens. 6,933 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406NNDST2651R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Plastic Omnium Auto Exteriors Llc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Certain glycol ethers, Ethylbenzene. Reports carcinogens. 5,977 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3741WPLSTC3241H (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Wr Grace Chattanooga Plant, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Aluminum (fume or dust), Nickel, Cobalt and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 4,741 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406WRGRC4000N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Woodbridge Inoac Technical Products Llc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers), Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate. Reports carcinogens. 3,815 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406WDBRD100JU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Us Tva Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Soddy Daisy
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Hydrazine. Reports carcinogens. 2,376 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37379STVSQSEQUO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Lamberti Synthesis Usa Inc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nonylphenol, Ethylene oxide, Propylene oxide, Methanol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,296 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406SYNRC4001N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Fxi Inc. - Chattanooga, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers). Reports carcinogens. 1,159 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406NFMPR1101W (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Astec Industries, Inc., Chattanooga
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $600.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000820522 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8
Nouryon Surface Chemistry Llc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethyl acrylate, Acrylic acid, Maleic anhydride, Butyl acrylate and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 724 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406LCCHM909MU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7
Sofix Llc, Chattanooga
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), Methanol, Benfluralin. 59,870 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37406SFXCR2800R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.7

Correctional facilities

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

Silverdale Correctional Facility Expansion, Chattanooga
EPA FRS registry ID
110070883278
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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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