TX / county FIPS 48355 / county research
Nueces County, Texas: environmental and disease records
Cancer mortality in Nueces County is 132.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Liver & bile duct deaths at 2 times the U.S. rate and Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,408 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (711), Rail grade crossing (186), Gas station (mapped facility) (111). One correctional facility operates 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 20 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: 27.777, -97.6626.
How this county ranks in Texas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver & bile duct | New cases | 18 | 8.7 | 2.07xSignificant | 16.2 to 19.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Liver & bile duct | Deaths | 13 | 6.6 | 1.97xSignificant | 11.6 to 14.7 | 2020-2024 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | New cases | 24 | 17.9 | 1.34xSignificant | 21.9 to 26.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Kidney & renal pelvis | Deaths | 4.4 | 3.4 | 1.29xSignificant | 3.5 to 5.5 | 2020-2024 |
| Stomach | Deaths | 3.2 | 2.7 | 1.19x | 2.5 to 4.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Deaths | 5 | 4.8 | 1.04x | 4.1 to 6.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Childhood cancer (under 15) | New cases | 16.5 | 16.4 | 1.01x | 12.5 to 21.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | New cases | 12.9 | 13.9 | 0.93x | 11.4 to 14.6 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | Deaths | 132.3 | 143.2 | 0.92x | 127.3 to 137.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Leukemia | Deaths | 5.2 | 5.7 | 0.91x | 4.2 to 6.3 | 2020-2024 |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | New cases | 16.5 | 18.5 | 0.89x | 14.8 to 18.4 | 2019-2023 |
| Leukemia | New cases | 12.9 | 14.5 | 0.89x | 11.3 to 14.7 | 2019-2023 |
| Stomach | New cases | 5.7 | 6.6 | 0.86x | 4.7 to 6.9 | 2019-2023 |
| Esophagus | New cases | 3.9 | 4.6 | 0.85x | 3.1 to 4.8 | 2019-2023 |
| All cancer | New cases | 383.5 | 453.4 | 0.85x | 374.9 to 392.3 | 2019-2023 |
| Pancreas | Deaths | 9.4 | 11.3 | 0.83x | 8.1 to 10.8 | 2020-2024 |
| Thyroid | New cases | 10.8 | 13 | 0.83x | 9.3 to 12.5 | 2019-2023 |
| Brain & nervous system | Deaths | 3.5 | 4.4 | 0.8x | 2.8 to 4.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Brain & nervous system | New cases | 4.9 | 6.2 | 0.79x | 3.9 to 6 | 2019-2023 |
| Bladder | New cases | 14.3 | 18.7 | 0.76x | 12.7 to 16.1 | 2019-2023 |
| Lung & bronchus | Deaths | 23 | 30.2 | 0.76x | 21 to 25.1 | 2020-2024 |
| Bladder | Deaths | 3.1 | 4.1 | 0.76x | 2.3 to 4 | 2020-2024 |
| Esophagus | Deaths | 2.6 | 3.7 | 0.7x | 2 to 3.4 | 2020-2024 |
| Melanoma of the skin | Deaths | 1.4 | 2 | 0.7x | 0.9 to 2 | 2020-2024 |
| Lung & bronchus | New cases | 35.5 | 51.8 | 0.69x | 33 to 38.2 | 2019-2023 |
| Melanoma of the skin | New cases | 13.1 | 23.8 | 0.55x | 11.6 to 14.8 | 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 | 10,926.5 | 9,842.6 | +11% | years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000 |
| Life expectancy | 74.6 | 75.3 | -1% | years |
| Child mortality | 53 | 59.8 | -11% | deaths under age 18 per 100,000 |
| Infant mortality | 5.1 | 6.2 | -18% | deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births |
| Injury deaths | 79.9 | 96.9 | -18% | deaths per 100,000 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 26.6 | 28.6 | -7% | deaths per 100,000 |
Air toxics and air quality
EPA AirToxScreen 2020
Lifetime cancer risk from outdoor air toxics: 20 in a million. EPA treats 100 in a million as the upper end of acceptable risk and 1 in a million as the goal.
- Formaldehyde15.94 per million
- Carbon Tetrachloride2.88 per million
- Pahpom1.62 per million
- Acetaldehyde0.94 per million
EPA Air Quality Index 2025
Monitored on 365 days: 148 good, 8 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 53, peak 137.
Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type
1,408 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.
- NPDES wastewater discharge permit711
- Rail grade crossing186
- Gas station (mapped facility)111
- Air permit holder (minor source)59
- Hazardous waste transporter58
- Small hazardous waste generator48
- Major air pollution source39
- Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)33
- Large hazardous waste generator31
- TRI reporting facility28
- Large greenhouse gas emitter18
- Brownfield property17
- Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)12
- Heliport10
- Wastewater plant (mapped facility)8
- Public airport6
- Commercial airport6
- Dry cleaner (mapped facility)6
- Gas power plant6
- Landfill (mapped facility)5
- EPA air quality monitor4
- Wind power plant3
- Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
- Oil-fired 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.
- Severity 10
Equistar Chemicals, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,498,100.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000465069 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Citgo Corpus Christi Refinery East Plant, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $68,089.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000505640 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Us Ecology, Robstown
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $99,683.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000607013 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Kiewit Offshore Services Ltd, Ingleside
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $58,488.
EPA FRS registry ID 110022524106 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Valero Corpus Christi Refineries - West Plant, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $63,230.
EPA FRS registry ID 110064636032 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 10
Brine Service Company, Corpus Christi
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. NPL Site.
EPA site ID TX0000605264 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
- Severity 10
Us Ecology Texas Inc, Robstown
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Aluminum oxide (fibrous forms), Asbestos (friable), Ethylene glycol, Zinc compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. Reports PFAS. 34,453,398 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78380TXSCLPETRO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.6
Valero Refining-Texas Lp Corpus Christi West Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen cyanide, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), n-Hexane, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 4,474,027 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78469VLRRF5900U (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.6
Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi Llc - West Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Xylene (mixed isomers), Hydrogen cyanide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 4,438,899 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78410KCHRFSUNTI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.6
Citgo Refining & Chemicals Co Lp East Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen cyanide, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 4,341,635 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78408CHMPL1801N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.5
Fhr Corpus Christi West Refinery, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $453,888.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000504918 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 9.3
Valero Refining Texas Lp Corpus Christi East Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, Toluene, n-Hexane and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,887,495 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78403CSTLR1300C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.2
Flint Hills Resources Corpus Christi Llc - East Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen cyanide, Ozone and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,339,094 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78408STHWS1700N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.2
Ticona Polymers Inc, Bishop
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Formaldehyde, Methanol, n-Hexane, Phenol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,148,695 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78343CLNSNONEMI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 9.1
Equistar Chemicals Lp, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene, 1,3-Butadiene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,065,233 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78410CCPCC1501M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.9
Citgo Refining & Chemicals Co Lp-West Plant, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Hydrogen sulfide, n-Hexane, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 518,978 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78409CHMPL7350I (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.8
Us Navy Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Ethylbenzene, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, Tetrabromobisphenol A and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 358,392 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78419NVLRS11001 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.8
Kiewit Offshore Services Ltd, Ingleside
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Xylene (mixed isomers), Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Manganese and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 351,321 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78362KWTFF244KI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.7
Basf Corp, Bishop
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen fluoride, Phenol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 281,359 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 7834WBSFCR5738C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.5
Deep Sea Terminal, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000465005 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.4
Magellan Processing L.P., Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Methanol, Benzene, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 124,483 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 7840WMGLLN15NCU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.4
Buckeye Texas Processing Llc-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Propylene, Cyclohexane, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 106,347 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 7840WBCKYT151SU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Majek Boat Works, Corpus Christi
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 87,790 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 78414MJKBT71SAL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
- Severity 8.3
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000465078 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
- Severity 8.2
Corpus Christi East Refinery, Corpus Christi
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $110,668.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000501993 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Correctional facilities
Prisons, jails and corrections operations with an EPA facility record, and the drinking water and wastewater compliance attached to them.
Lcs-Nueces Nueces County Detention Center, Robstown
- EPA FRS registry ID
- 110033945364
- Water system
- TX1780057
- Health-based violations
- 1 all time, 0 in 5 years
- All violations
- 8
- Contaminants cited
- Lead and Copper Rule
- Wastewater permit
- Yes, 4 quarters in noncompliance
Discovery / public records
Records to request for Nueces County
Texas 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 Nueces County, and their findings.
Texas vital statistics office
Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.
Texas health department, environmental epidemiology
Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.
Texas 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.
Texas 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.