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Kanawha County, West Virginia: environmental and disease records

Cancer mortality in Kanawha County is 172.1 deaths per 100,000 people per year against a U.S. rate of 143.2, a statistically significant excess. The strongest disease signals are Lung & bronchus deaths at 1.6 times the U.S. rate and Melanoma of the skin deaths at 1.5 times the U.S. rate. Federal databases place 1,910 regulated facilities, sites and hazards inside the county, led by NPDES wastewater discharge permit (1,269), Rail grade crossing (221), Gas station (mapped facility) (97). One correctional facility operates 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: 38.2959, -81.5229.

How this county ranks in West Virginia

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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 Kanawha County compared with the United States
CancerMeasureCounty rateU.S. rateTimes U.S.95% intervalYears
ThyroidNew cases22.1131.7xSignificant19.1 to 25.42019-2023
Lung & bronchusDeaths47.630.21.58xSignificant44 to 51.52020-2024
Melanoma of the skinDeaths321.5xSignificant2.1 to 4.22020-2024
Lung & bronchusNew cases74.951.81.45xSignificant70.4 to 79.82019-2023
Childhood cancer (under 15)New cases21.916.41.34x14.8 to 312019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisNew cases22.817.91.27xSignificant20 to 25.82019-2023
BladderNew cases23.818.71.27xSignificant21.2 to 26.62019-2023
EsophagusNew cases5.84.61.26x4.6 to 7.32019-2023
EsophagusDeaths4.63.71.24x3.5 to 6.12020-2024
All cancerDeaths172.1143.21.2xSignificant165.1 to 179.52020-2024
PancreasDeaths13.211.31.17x11.3 to 15.32020-2024
All cancerNew cases516.6453.41.14xSignificant503.6 to 529.82019-2023
Brain & nervous systemNew cases76.21.13x5.4 to 8.92019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaNew cases19.918.51.08x17.4 to 22.62019-2023
BladderDeaths4.44.11.07x3.4 to 5.82020-2024
LeukemiaDeaths6.15.71.07x4.7 to 7.72020-2024
PancreasNew cases14.713.91.06x12.7 to 172019-2023
Melanoma of the skinNew cases24.423.81.03x21.5 to 27.62019-2023
Liver & bile ductNew cases8.98.71.02x7.4 to 10.72019-2023
LeukemiaNew cases14.714.51.01x12.5 to 17.12019-2023
Non-Hodgkin lymphomaDeaths4.84.81x3.7 to 6.22020-2024
Liver & bile ductDeaths6.46.60.97x5.1 to 7.92020-2024
StomachNew cases6.16.60.92x4.8 to 7.72019-2023
Kidney & renal pelvisDeaths3.13.40.91x2.2 to 4.22020-2024
Brain & nervous systemDeaths3.14.40.7x2.2 to 4.32020-2024
StomachDeaths1.92.70.7x1.2 to 2.92020-2024

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 Kanawha County
MeasureCountyU.S. medianDifferenceUnit
Premature death14,978.79,842.6+52%years of life lost before age 75 per 100,000
Life expectancy7175.3-6%years
Child mortality62.559.8+5%deaths under age 18 per 100,000
Infant mortality7.96.2+28%deaths under age 1 per 1,000 live births
Injury deaths184.396.9+90%deaths per 100,000
Drug overdose deaths104.428.6+265%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.

  • Formaldehyde20 per million
  • Ethylene Oxide7.87 per million
  • Carbon Tetrachloride2.91 per million
  • Acetaldehyde2.16 per million

EPA Air Quality Index 2025

Monitored on 365 days: 281 good, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. Median AQI 39, peak 69.

Regulated facilities, sites and hazards by type

1,910 active records inside the county from EPA ECHO, TRI, Superfund, Brownfields, NPDES, EIA, FAA, FRA and corrections data.

  • NPDES wastewater discharge permit1,269
  • Rail grade crossing221
  • Gas station (mapped facility)97
  • Air permit holder (minor source)65
  • Brownfield property55
  • Small hazardous waste generator43
  • Auto repair or body shop (mapped facility)33
  • Large hazardous waste generator26
  • Toxic chemical release facility (TRI)21
  • Major air pollution source19
  • TRI reporting facility19
  • Wastewater plant (mapped facility)12
  • Hazardous waste transporter9
  • Large greenhouse gas emitter8
  • EPA air quality monitor2
  • Public airport2
  • Hydroelectric plant2
  • Scrapyard (mapped facility)2
  • Commercial airport1
  • Correctional facility (prison or jail)1
  • Dry cleaner (mapped facility)1
  • Heliport1
  • Landfill (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.

  1. The Chemours Co Llc - Belle Facility, Belle

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $19,696.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000344182 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 10

  2. Chemours Belle Plant, Belle

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Methanol, Sodium nitrite, Ammonia and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,588,457 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25015DPNTB901WE (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.3

  3. Altivia Institute Facilities, Dunbar

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution), Methyl isobutyl ketone, Ammonia, Ethylene glycol and 1 more. Reports carcinogens. 1,082,529 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2506WLTVNS25CAR (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 9.1

  4. Union Carbide Corp South Charleston Facility, South Charleston

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Butyl alcohol, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Propylene oxide, Allyl alcohol and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 155,846 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25303NNCRB437MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.5

  5. Arclin Amines, Belle

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Methanol, N,N-Dimethylformamide, Dimethylamine. Reports carcinogens. 131,719 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2501WBLLCH91WDU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 8.4

  6. Catenary Coal Company-Samples Mining Complex, Eskdale

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110054877870 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 8.3

  7. Specialty Products Us Llc - Polyox Plant, Institute

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Methanol, Ethylene oxide, Ethylene glycol. Reports carcinogens. 28,353 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2511WSPCLTRUTE2 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.9

  8. Arclin Amines - Bldg 325, Belle

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $3,630.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110072288282 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.8

  9. Puretech Scientific Llc, Belle

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Formic acid, Methanol, Formaldehyde. Reports carcinogens. 17,271 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2501WPRTCH91WDU (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.8

  10. Covestro Llc, South Charleston

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Styrene, Propylene oxide, Acrylonitrile, Ethylene oxide. Reports carcinogens. 15,855 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25303CWSTV437MA (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.7

  11. Union Carbide Corp Institute Facility, Institute

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Ethylene oxide, Nitric acid, Ethylene glycol and 2 more. Reports carcinogens. 10,644 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25112NNCRBRTE25 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.6

  12. Univation Technologies Llc - Catalyst Plant, South Charleston

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $10,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110043228833 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.6

  13. Altivia Services, Llc, Institute Plant, Dunbar

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110070676994 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.3

  14. The Chemours Co Llc - Belle Facility, Belle

    Major air pollution source. Penalties $19,696.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000344182 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.3

  15. Union Carbide Corp -So Charleston Fac., South Charleston

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000745114 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.2

  16. Mplx Terminals Llc - Charleston Wv Terminal, Charleston

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene (mixed isomers) and 4 more. Reports carcinogens. 3,426 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25314XXNCHSTAND (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7.2

  17. Innovative Water Care, Llc., South Charleston

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110020047545 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 7.2

  18. Cobb Gas Plant, Clendenin

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: n-Hexane, Benzene. Reports carcinogens. 1,938 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 2504WCBBGS1176E (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7

  19. Union Carbide Corp Technology Park Operations, South Charleston

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ethylene, Propylene. 157,241 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25303NNCRB32003 (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 7

  20. Innovative Water Care Llc, South Charleston

    Toxic chemical release facility (TRI). Chemicals: Ammonia, Chlorine. 128,778 lbs released over 5 years.

    TRI facility ID 25303LNCRP95MAC (U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory)

    Severity 6.9

  21. The Chemours Co Llc - Belle Facility, Belle

    Large hazardous waste generator. Penalties $19,696.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000344182 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.8

  22. The Chemours Co Llc - Belle Facility, Belle

    NPDES wastewater discharge permit. Penalties $19,696.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110000344182 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.8

  23. Ac&S Inc, Nitro

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013694038 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.7

  24. Massey Rail Yard, Union Carbide Corporation, South Charleston

    TRI reporting facility. Penalties $25,000.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110013764266 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.6

  25. Kureha Pga, Llc, Belle

    TRI reporting facility.

    EPA FRS registry ID 110057312233 (U.S. EPA ECHO) Agency record

    Severity 6.5

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 Kanawha County

  • West 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 Kanawha County, and their findings.

  • West 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.

  • West Virginia health department, environmental epidemiology

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

  • West 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.

  • West 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.

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