VA / county FIPS 51041 / county research

Chesterfield County, Virginia: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Chesterfield County is 141.3 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. Federal databases place 1,056 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (451), Air permit holder (minor source) (145), Gas station (mapped facility) (120). 5 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: 37.3906, -77.6297.

How this county ranks in Virginia

View on the heat map Scan an address in this county

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 Chesterfield County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.2	2	1.1x	1.6 to 2.9	2020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	19.5	17.9	1.09x	17.7 to 21.5	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	4.7	4.4	1.07x	3.8 to 5.7	2020-2024
Bladder	Deaths	4.3	4.1	1.05x	3.5 to 5.4	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.4	6.2	1.03x	5.4 to 7.6	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	457.9	453.4	1.01x	448.8 to 467.1	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	13.9	13.9	1x	12.4 to 15.6	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	18.4	18.5	0.99x	16.6 to 20.4	2019-2023
All cancer	Deaths	141.3	143.2	0.99x	136.2 to 146.5	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	18.4	18.7	0.98x	16.6 to 20.4	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	29.4	30.2	0.97x	27.1 to 31.8	2020-2024
Leukemia	Deaths	5.5	5.7	0.96x	4.6 to 6.7	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	49.9	51.8	0.96x	47 to 53	2019-2023
Stomach	Deaths	2.6	2.7	0.96x	1.9 to 3.4	2020-2024
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.3	6.6	0.95x	5.3 to 7.5	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.2	6.6	0.94x	5.2 to 7.4	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	3.4	3.7	0.92x	2.6 to 4.3	2020-2024
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.4	4.8	0.92x	3.5 to 5.4	2020-2024
Pancreas	Deaths	10.3	11.3	0.91x	9 to 11.7	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	20.8	23.8	0.87x	18.9 to 22.9	2019-2023
Leukemia	New cases	12.4	14.5	0.86x	10.9 to 14	2019-2023
Esophagus	New cases	3.9	4.6	0.85x	3.1 to 4.8	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.3	8.7	0.84x	6.2 to 8.5	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	13.4	16.4	0.82x	9.9 to 17.8	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	2.6	3.4	0.76x	2 to 3.4	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	8.3	13	0.64x	7 to 9.6	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 Chesterfield County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	7,543.7	9,842.6	-23%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	77.8	75.3	+3%	years
Child mortality	54.1	59.8	-9%	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	77.7	96.9	-20%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	30.9	28.6	+8%	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.

Formaldehyde21.63 per million
Ethylene Oxide3.8 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride2.97 per million
Acetaldehyde2.25 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 364 days: 294 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 80.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,056 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit451
Air permit holder (minor source)145
Gas station (mapped facility)120
Small hazardous waste generator73
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)68
Rail grade crossing49
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)29
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)28
Large hazardous waste generator23
TRI reporting facility21
Major air pollution source11
Hazardous waste transporter6
Correctional facility (prison or jail)5
Large greenhouse gas emitter5
Landfill (mapped facility)5
Heliport4
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)3
EPA air quality monitor1
Airfield1
Public airport1
Commercial airport1
Biomass power plant1
Coal power plant1
Hydroelectric plant1
Gas power plant1
Solar 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.

Dupont Spruance Plant, Richmond
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $52,833.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000868918 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 10
Defense General Supply Center (DLA), Chesterfield County
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 33.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID VA3971520751 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Dupont Specialty Products Usa Llc - Spruance Plant, North Chesterfield
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), Dimethylamine, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, Toluene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,484,837 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23234DPNTSUSHIG (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.2
Chesterfield Power Station, Chester
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Barium And Barium Compounds, Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Vanadium compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,118,238 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23836CHSTR500CO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.1
Honeywell International Incorporated-Technical Ctr, Colonial Heights
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $8,918.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000867937 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.4
Novelis Alr Rolled Products Inc, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Aluminum (fume or dust), Lead And Lead Compounds, Lead compounds, Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Reports carcinogens. 27,941 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23237TRNST1801R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.9
Wako Chemicals Usa Inc, Richmond
TRI reporting facility. Penalties $38,585.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000341979 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.8
Honeywell International Colonial Heights Plant, Colonial Heights
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Freon 113 (CFC-113). 1,310,476 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23832LLDSGEXIT5 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
Philip Morris Usa Park 500 Site, Chester
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nicotine and salts, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Chlorine. 1,118,365 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23831PHLLP4100B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Dupont Spruance Plant, Richmond
Major air pollution source. Penalties $52,833.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000868918 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.5
Church & Dwight Co Inc, Colonial Heights
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran. 582,891 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23834LDNCR16101 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Chesterfield, Chester
Coal power plant.
Record ID 3797 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Severity 7.4
Mylar Specialty Films Spruance, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene. 285,375 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 2323WDPNTT541AR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Dupont Spruance Plant, Richmond
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $52,833.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000868918 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Dupont Spruance Plant, Richmond
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $52,833.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000868918 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7
Philip Morris Usa Inc - Park 500, Chester
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110008181644 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.9
Fujifilm Wako Chemicals Usa Corp, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Toluene, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Ammonia and 1 more. 93,650 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23237WKCHM1600B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Bellwood Printing Plant, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone. 81,195 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23237BLLWD2001R (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Nexpera James River Plant, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Sulfuric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size). 38,234 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23237DPNTJ1201B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.5
Dupont Teijin Films Spruance, Richmond
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110071407289 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Honeywell International Inc - Chesterfield, Chester
Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $34,727.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000342460 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.3
Us Defense Logistics Agency Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Bromotrifluoromethane (Halon 1301), Bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211), Dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC-114), Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) and 2 more. 15,789 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 23297DFNSG8000J (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.2
Us Defense Logistics Agency Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000492574 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.2
Church & Dwight Manufacturing Co., Inc, Colonial Heights
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000342521 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6
Reynolds Consumer Products Llc, Richmond
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110040953484 (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.

Doc Central Virginia Correctional Unit 1, Chesterfield
EPA FRS registry ID
110010916492
Wastewater permit
Yes, 3 quarters in noncompliance
EPA detailed facility report
Bon Air Juvenile Correctional, Richmond
EPA FRS registry ID
110001905519
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Chesterfield County - 1892 Historic Jail, Chesterfield
EPA FRS registry ID
110032662517
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Central Virginia Correctional Unit # 13, Chesterfield
EPA FRS registry ID
110042296262
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Va Dept Of Juvenile Justice At Bon Air Ms4, Chesterfield County
EPA FRS registry ID
110071365539
Wastewater permit
Yes
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Chesterfield County

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

Scan an address in Chesterfield County View on the heat map All Virginia counties