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Pierce County, Washington: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Pierce County is 152.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Esophagus deaths at 1.3 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 2,405 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (952), Rail grade crossing (471), Gas station (mapped facility) (274). 2 correctional facilities operate 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: 47.0242, -122.0342.

How this county ranks in Washington

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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 Pierce County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
EsophagusDeaths4.73.71.27xSignificant4.1 to 5.32020-2024
LeukemiaNew cases18.114.51.25xSignificant16.9 to 19.42019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases29.723.81.25xSignificant28.2 to 31.32019-2023
EsophagusNew cases5.74.61.24xSignificant5.1 to 6.42019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases10.68.71.22xSignificant9.8 to 11.62019-2023
ThyroidDeaths0.60.51.2x0.4 to 0.82020-2024
BladderNew cases22.418.71.2xSignificant21.1 to 23.72019-2023
StomachNew cases7.96.61.2xSignificant7.1 to 8.72019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases20.518.51.11xSignificant19.3 to 21.92019-2023
Lung & bronchusNew cases57.351.81.11xSignificant55.2 to 59.42019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths5.34.81.1x4.7 to 62020-2024
All cancerNew cases497.3453.41.1xSignificant491.1 to 503.62019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths3.73.41.09x3.1 to 4.22020-2024
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases17.816.41.09x15.1 to 20.72019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases6.76.21.08x6 to 7.52019-2023
Liver & bile ductDeaths7.16.61.08x6.3 to 7.82020-2024
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases19.217.91.07xSignificant18 to 20.52019-2023
PancreasNew cases14.813.91.06x13.7 to 15.92019-2023
All cancerDeaths152.1143.21.06xSignificant148.7 to 155.62020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths4.64.41.05x4 to 5.22020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths5.95.71.04x5.2 to 6.62020-2024
ThyroidNew cases13.3131.02x12.3 to 14.42019-2023
StomachDeaths2.72.71x2.2 to 3.22020-2024
Lung & bronchusDeaths3030.20.99x28.5 to 31.62020-2024
BladderDeaths3.94.10.95x3.3 to 4.52020-2024
PancreasDeaths10.711.30.95x9.9 to 11.72020-2024
Melanoma of the skinDeaths1.820.9x1.4 to 2.22020-2024

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 Pierce County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death7,855.19,842.6-20%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy77.475.3+3%years
Child mortality45.959.8-23%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality4.96.2-22%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths87.996.9-9%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths33.928.6+19%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.

  • Formaldehyde15.76 per million
  • Naphthalene3.08 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride3 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.49 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 267 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 44, peak 100.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

2,405 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit952
  • Rail grade crossing471
  • Gas station (mapped facility)274
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)217
  • Small hazardous waste generator102
  • Air permit holder (minor source)85
  • Large hazardous waste generator47
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)38
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)38
  • Brownfield property33
  • TRI reporting facility31
  • Major air pollution source16
  • Hazardous waste transporter16
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)14
  • Heliport11
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)11
  • Public airport10
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter8
  • Superfund (NPL) site6
  • EPA air quality monitor5
  • Commercial airport4
  • Landfill (mapped facility)4
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
  • Crematorium (mapped facility)2
  • Biomass power plant2
  • Hydroelectric plant2
  • Gas power plant2
  • Airfield1
  • Oil-fired 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.

  1. Arclin Surfaces, Llc, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $2,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000490521 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Us Oil & Refining Co, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $30,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000490549 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 10

  3. Fort Lewis Logistics Center, Tillicum

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 35.5. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WA7210090067 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  4. Lakewood, Lakewood

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 42.5. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WAD050075662 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  5. Hidden Valley Landfill (Thun Field), Pierce County

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 37.9. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WAD980511539 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  6. Commencement Bay, South Tacoma Channel, Tacoma

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 54.6. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WAD980726301 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  7. Commencement Bay, Near Shore/Tide Flats, Pierce County

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 42.2. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WAD980726368 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  8. American Lake Gardens/McChord AFB, Tacoma

    Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 28.9. NPL Site.

    EPA site ID WAD980833065 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record

    Severity 10

  9. Westrock Tacoma Mill, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrochloric acid (acid aerosols including mists, vapors, gas, fog, and other airborne forms of any particle size), Hydrogen sulfide and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,773,687 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98421SMPSN801PO (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.3

  10. U.S. Army Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, Jblm

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Copper, Lead And Lead Compounds, Nitroglycerin, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 702,026 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98433SDDSR11MIL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9

  11. Bradken Atlas, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $40,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000495884 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.9

  12. Us Oil & Refining Co, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, n-Hexane, Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 465,723 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98421SLRFN3001M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.9

  13. Rainier Plywood, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110001916767 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.6

  14. General Plastics Mfg Co 4813, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000490406 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.6

  15. Arclin Surfaces Llc, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Formaldehyde, Phenol, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). Reports carcinogens. 143,988 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98421DYNVR2144M (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.5

  16. Pabco Roofing Products, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110011637611 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.4

  17. Emerald Services Inc, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene glycol, Toluene, Methanol, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 56,502 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98421SLPRN1825A (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.1

  18. Jblm Bldg 9001, Mcchord Afb

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $1,250.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070596041 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.1

  19. Milgard Manufacturing Llc Tacoma Pultrusion, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 45,117 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98424MLGRD29357 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.1

  20. Emerald Services Tacoma, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000620588 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.1

  21. Stericycle Environmental Solutions - Tacoma Facility, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,719.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110014328245 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8

  22. Rainier Plywood Co, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Phenol, Formaldehyde. Reports carcinogens. 15,456 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98421RNRPL624E1 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.7

  23. General Plastics Manufacturing Co, Tacoma

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Dichloromethane, Diisocyanates, Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers). Reports carcinogens. 12,540 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 98409GNRLP4910B (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.6

  24. Pacific Functional Fluids Tacoma, Tacoma

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000910630 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.6

  25. Arclin Surfaces, Llc, Tacoma

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $2,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000490521 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.5

Correctional facilities

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

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Pierce County

  • Washington 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 Pierce County, and their findings.

  • Washington vital statistics office

    Death certificate counts by cause of death and residence tract or ZIP code, and the years behind the mortality measures above.

  • Washington health department, environmental epidemiology

    Health consultations or assessments by ATSDR or the state health department covering the county, and any exposure investigations.

  • Washington 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.

  • Washington 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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