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Rutherford County, Tennessee: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Rutherford County is 159.5 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 1.3 times the U.S. rate and Leukemia deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,337 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (834), Gas station (mapped facility) (163), Air permit holder (minor source) (92). 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: 35.8594, -86.392.

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 Rutherford County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	38.5	30.2	1.27xSignificant	35.4 to 41.8	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	7.2	5.7	1.26xSignificant	5.8 to 8.8	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4.2	3.4	1.24x	3.2 to 5.4	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	62.2	51.8	1.2xSignificant	58.3 to 66.3	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.7	4.1	1.15x	3.6 to 6.1	2020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	18.7	16.4	1.14x	14.5 to 23.7	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	159.5	143.2	1.11xSignificant	153 to 166.1	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.2	2	1.1x	1.5 to 3.1	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	5.2	4.8	1.08x	4 to 6.5	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	7.1	6.6	1.08x	5.8 to 8.5	2020-2024
Esophagus	Deaths	3.9	3.7	1.05x	2.9 to 5	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	11.7	11.3	1.04x	10.1 to 13.6	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.5	4.4	1.02x	3.5 to 5.6	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	18.3	17.9	1.02x	16.2 to 20.5	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	8.7	8.7	1x	7.3 to 10.3	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.7	2.7	1x	1.9 to 3.7	2020-2024
All cancer	New cases	447	453.4	0.99x	436.5 to 457.6	2019-2023
Bladder	New cases	18.3	18.7	0.98x	16.2 to 20.7	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	4.5	4.6	0.98x	3.5 to 5.7	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6	6.2	0.97x	4.8 to 7.3	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	17.8	18.5	0.96x	15.7 to 20	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	12.7	13.9	0.91x	11 to 14.7	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12.6	14.5	0.87x	10.9 to 14.6	2019-2023
Stomach	New cases	5.7	6.6	0.86x	4.6 to 7	2019-2023
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	18.4	23.8	0.77x	16.3 to 20.7	2019-2023
Thyroid	New cases	8	13	0.62x	6.7 to 9.4	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 Rutherford County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	8,619.7	9,842.6	-12%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	76	75.3	+1%	years
Child mortality	48.6	59.8	-19%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	6.1	6.2	-1%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	83.1	96.9	-14%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	37.8	28.6	+32%	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.

Formaldehyde22.39 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million
Acetaldehyde2.38 per million
Naphthalene1.34 per million

EPA Air Quality Index

No EPA air quality monitor reports daily AQI for this county.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,337 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit834
Gas station (mapped facility)163
Air permit holder (minor source)92
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)49
Small hazardous waste generator36
Rail grade crossing30
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)29
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)28
TRI reporting facility22
Large hazardous waste generator12
Scrapyard (mapped facility)10
Public airport9
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)9
Large greenhouse gas emitter4
Major air pollution source3
Commercial airport2
Landfill (mapped facility)2
Hazardous waste transporter1
Heliport1
Gas 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.

Nissan N.A. Inc., Smyrna
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Certain glycol ethers, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Xylene (mixed isomers), N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,961,201 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37167NSSNMNISSA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.5
Research Solutions Group Inc, La Vergne
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, n-Hexane, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 34,092 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37086RSRCH133BA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8
Nissan North America, Inc.- Smyrna, Smyrna
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370688 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.7
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc, La Vergne
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Polycyclic aromatic compounds, Lead compounds, Cobalt compounds and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 2,466 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37086BRDGSPOBOX (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Us Army National Guard Smyrna Range(S), Smyrna
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead. Reports carcinogens. 1,695 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37167SRMYNFITZH (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Palm Commodities International Llc, La Vergne
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Nitric acid, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Cobalt And Cobalt Compounds and 3 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,349 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37086PLMCM1289B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.9
Cumberland Swan, Smyrna
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000765949 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.5
Kasai Na Inc / Nissan Ilc Building, Smyrna
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Cyclohexane. 13,746 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 3716WKSNRT2SAMG (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.2
Research Solvents & Chemicals Inc, La Vergne
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110004980361 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.7
Palm Commodities International, La Vergne
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370223 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.5
Heritage Farms Dairy, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitric acid, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). 1,710 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37129HRTGF1100N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.5
Quality Industries Llc., La Vergne
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Chromium, Nickel. Reports carcinogens. 16 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37086QLTYN130JO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.4
Paulo - Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid and 1 more. 1,313 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37130PLPRD1307R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.4
Wegmann Automotive Usa Inc, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Lead, Antimony. Reports carcinogens. 11 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 37127PRFCT1715J (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 5.3
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Llc - Lavergne, La Vergne
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370214 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5.2
Heritage Farms Dairy, Murfreesboro
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $7,309.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370438 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5
Smyrna, Smyrna
Commercial airport. O.
Record ID MQY (FAA / U.S. DOT)
Severity 5
Paulo Prods Co, Murfreesboro
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000498649 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 5
Quality Industries Inc, La Vergne
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000820791 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.6
Nissan North America, Inc.- Smyrna, Smyrna
Major air pollution source. Penalties $1,500.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000370688 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 4.5
Univar Solutions Usa, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylbenzene, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers). Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 37129VNWTR912DA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.5
Key Oil Co Murfreesboro Bulk Plant, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Ethylbenzene, Benzene, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 3712WKYLCM3299E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.5
Steel Technologies Llc, Murfreesboro
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Manganese. Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 37130MTCHS210MI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.5
Ideal Clamp Products Inc., Smyrna
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nickel, Chromium, Manganese, Copper. Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 37167TRCPR8100T (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.5
Pugh Lubricants - Smyrna, Smyrna
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Zinc compounds, Naphthalene, Xylene (mixed isomers). Reports carcinogens.
TRI facility ID 3716WPGHLC8125T (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 4.5

Correctional facilities

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

No correctional facility with an EPA record is located in this county.

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Rutherford 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 Rutherford 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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