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Brown County, Wisconsin: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Brown County is 141.6 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2. The strongest disease signals are Kidney & renal pelvis deaths at 1.4 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,269 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (505), Rail grade crossing (207), Gas station (mapped facility) (109). 2 correctional facilities operate in the county. 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: 44.4657, -87.9777.

How this county ranks in Wisconsin

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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 Brown County compared with the United States
Cancer	Measure	County rate	U.S. rate	Times U.S.	95% interval	Years
Kidney & renal pelvis	Deaths	4.7	3.4	1.38xSignificant	3.6 to 5.9	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	Deaths	2.6	2	1.3x	1.8 to 3.5	2020-2024
Leukemia	New cases	18.5	14.5	1.28xSignificant	16.4 to 20.8	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	New cases	22.8	18.5	1.23xSignificant	20.4 to 25.4	2019-2023
Leukemia	Deaths	6.9	5.7	1.21x	5.6 to 8.4	2020-2024
Bladder	New cases	22.3	18.7	1.19xSignificant	20 to 24.8	2019-2023
Brain & nervous system	Deaths	5.2	4.4	1.18x	4.1 to 6.5	2020-2024
Melanoma of the skin	New cases	27.9	23.8	1.17xSignificant	25.3 to 30.7	2019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvis	New cases	20.5	17.9	1.15xSignificant	18.3 to 22.9	2019-2023
Pancreas	New cases	15.9	13.9	1.14x	13.9 to 18	2019-2023
Esophagus	Deaths	4.1	3.7	1.11x	3.2 to 5.2	2020-2024
Esophagus	New cases	4.9	4.6	1.07x	3.9 to 6.1	2019-2023
All cancer	New cases	482	453.4	1.06xSignificant	471 to 493.2	2019-2023
Bladder	Deaths	4.2	4.1	1.02x	3.2 to 5.3	2020-2024
Thyroid	New cases	13.2	13	1.02x	11.4 to 15.3	2019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	Deaths	4.8	4.8	1x	3.8 to 6.1	2020-2024
All cancer	Deaths	141.6	143.2	0.99x	135.7 to 147.6	2020-2024
Brain & nervous system	New cases	6.1	6.2	0.98x	4.9 to 7.5	2019-2023
Pancreas	Deaths	10.9	11.3	0.96x	9.4 to 12.7	2020-2024
Lung & bronchus	New cases	49.5	51.8	0.96x	46.1 to 53.1	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	Deaths	6.3	6.6	0.95x	5.1 to 7.7	2020-2024
Stomach	New cases	6.2	6.6	0.94x	5 to 7.6	2019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)	New cases	14.8	16.4	0.9x	10.5 to 20.3	2019-2023
Liver & bile duct	New cases	7.5	8.7	0.86x	6.2 to 9	2019-2023
Lung & bronchus	Deaths	26	30.2	0.86x	23.6 to 28.6	2020-2024
Stomach	Deaths	2.3	2.7	0.85x	1.6 to 3.2	2020-2024

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 Brown County
Measure	County	U.S. median	Difference	Unit
Premature death	6,167.5	9,842.6	-37%	years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy	78.7	75.3	+5%	years
Child mortality	43	59.8	-28%	deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality	5.9	6.2	-5%	deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths	82.6	96.9	-15%	deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths	21	28.6	-27%	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.

Formaldehyde13.36 per million
Carbon Tetrachloride3 per million
Naphthalene1.54 per million
Acetaldehyde1.43 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 267 good, 11 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 37, peak 175.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,269 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

NPDES wastewater discharge permit505
Rail grade crossing207
Gas station (mapped facility)109
Brownfield property104
Small hazardous waste generator66
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)60
TRI reporting facility51
Air permit holder (minor source)45
Large hazardous waste generator25
Major air pollution source20
Hazardous waste transporter18
Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)14
Public airport9
Large greenhouse gas emitter9
Landfill (mapped facility)5
Heliport3
Gas power plant3
Scrapyard (mapped facility)3
EPA air quality monitor2
Correctional facility (prison or jail)2
Dry cleaner (mapped facility)2
Commercial airport1
Industrial wastewater discharge1
Biomass power plant1
Wind power plant1
Superfund (NPL) site1
Proposed Superfund site1
Wastewater plant (mapped facility)1

Highest-severity records

The 25 records with the highest Envyrofax severity in the county, with the agency identifier to cite in a records request.

Better Brite Plating Chrome & Zinc Shops, Depere
Superfund (NPL) site. Hazard Ranking System score 48.9. NPL Site.
EPA site ID WIT560010118 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 10
Georgia-Pacific Broadway Llc, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Methanol, Ammonia, Lead compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,255,274 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54307FRTHW1919S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 9.2
Pioneer Metal Finishing, Green Bay
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110040939438 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.9
Green Bay Packaging Inc Green Bay Coated Products Div, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Vinyl acetate. Reports carcinogens. 152,994 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54307GRNBY3250S (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.5
Kcs International Inc (Pulaski), Pulaski
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Methyl methacrylate. Reports carcinogens. 125,498 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5416WKCSNT7EGLE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.4
Georgia-Pacific Broadway Llc, Green Bay
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110013863275 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 8.2
Carboline Global Inc., Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Toluene, Xylene (mixed isomers), n-Butyl alcohol, Ethylbenzene and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 49,169 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54302WSCNS614EL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 8.1
Fox River NRDA/PCB Releases, Green Bay
Proposed Superfund site. Hazard Ranking System score 50. Proposed NPL Site.
EPA site ID WI0001954841 (U.S. EPA Superfund (SEMS/NPL)) Agency record
Severity 8
Pioneer Metal Finishing Green Bay Wi, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitric acid, Nickel compounds, Nickel And Nickel Compounds, Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution). Reports carcinogens. 19,674 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54304PNRNR486GL (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.8
Belgioioso Cheese Inc Denmark, Denmark
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110020518956 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.7
Green Bay Packaging Inc, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Hydrogen sulfide, Chlorine dioxide, Chlorine, Polycyclic aromatic compounds and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 12,861 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54302GRNBY1601N (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.7
The C.A. Lawton Co. Foundry Operations, De Pere
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Methanol, Manganese, Lead And Lead Compounds, Lead. Reports carcinogens. 10,139 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54115BYNGN1900E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.6
Meca Solutions Llc, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 5,368 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5430WMCTCH1281P (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.4
Marquis Yachts Llc, Pulaski
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene. Reports carcinogens. 4,244 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54162CRVRBINDUS (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.3
Green Bay Metro Sewerage Dist, Green Bay
Major air pollution source. Penalties $260,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000850810 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.3
Proampac, Wrightstown
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ozone. 319,768 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54180CTNGX975BR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.2
Belgioioso Cheese Inc, Pulaski
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110016893290 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.1
Graymont Western Lime Green Bay, Green Bay
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000421552 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 7.1
Belgioioso Glenmore, Denmark
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid. 228,109 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54208BLGSC59CTY (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7.1
Belgioioso - Chase, Pulaski
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid. 182,338 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 54162BLGSC77CTY (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Cng Green Bay, Green Bay
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ozone. 170,270 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5430WLGCYF1327G (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Belmark Inc, De Pere
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ozone, Diisocyanates. 160,611 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5411WBLMRK6HERI (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 7
Proampac, Wrightstown
TRI reporting facility.
EPA FRS registry ID 110012604084 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.9
Belgioioso Cheese, Denmark
Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Nitric acid. 92,844 lbs released over 5 years.
TRI facility ID 5420WBLGSC5911C (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)
Severity 6.8
Green Bay Metro Sewerage Dist, Green Bay
NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $260,000.
EPA FRS registry ID 110000850810 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record
Severity 6.8

Correctional facilities

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

Wis Doa / Green Bay Correctional Institution, Green Bay
EPA FRS registry ID
110008235123
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report
Wi Doc Green Bay Correctional Institution, Green Bay
EPA FRS registry ID
110064201616
Wastewater permit
None on record
EPA detailed facility report

Discovery / public records

Records to request for Brown County

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