Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max in Kern County reached 0.083 ppm in 2024, 19% above the EPA NAAQS of 0.07 ppm.
County · TRI 2024
Kern County, California Pollution
10 top TRI facilities tracked here. PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) rose meaningfully year over year (+18%). PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have fallen 41% since 2010.
FIPS 06029 · population 906,883
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals
PM2.5 annual mean
PM2.5 annual mean in Kern County reached 10.1 µg/m³ in 2024, 12% above the EPA NAAQS of 9 µg/m³.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile in Kern County reached 37.4 µg/m³ in 2024, 7% above the EPA NAAQS of 35 µg/m³.
Top facilities mapped
Where Chemicals Are Released In Kern County
Each red dot is one of the top TRI facilities. Size reflects 2024 total releases. County boundary outlined in blue.
Pollutant pathways
Kern County Pollutant Multi-Year Trends
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have fallen 41% since 2010.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations have fallen 41% since 2010.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour))Health riskGround-level ozone (smog) forms when vehicle and industrial emissions react in sunlight. Inflames the airways, triggers asthma attacks, and worsens heart and lung disease.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour)) concentrations have fallen 17% since 2010.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual))Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual)) concentrations have fallen 42% since 2010.
Lifetime cancer risk all pollutants (100 in a million (EPA elevated threshold))Health riskEPA-modeled added cancer cases per million residents from a lifetime of breathing local air toxics. EPA flags 100-in-a-million as elevated.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Formaldehyde ambient mean (0.077 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic emitted by refineries, wood products, and combustion. EPA classifies it as a known human carcinogen — long-term inhalation raises cancer risk.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Benzene ambient mean (0.13 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic from gasoline, refineries, and tobacco smoke. A known human carcinogen — chronic exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as released into the air — fugitive leaks plus smokestack emissions. Higher pounds means more inhaled exposure for nearby residents.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations are up 70% since 2010.
TRI water releases (5.3)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as discharged to surface waters (rivers, lakes, the ocean). Affects fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.
TRI water releases (5.3) volumes here are too small to anchor a multi-year trend; YoY movement is still shown above.
TRI land + off-site releasesHealth riskToxic chemicals released to land on-site or transferred off-site for disposal — landfills, deep-well injection, and similar. Risks groundwater contamination over time.
TRI land + off-site releases concentrations have fallen 30% since 2010.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023)Health riskGreenhouse gases reported by large industrial emitters under EPA's GHGRP, in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Drives climate warming and the heat-related health effects that follow.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations have fallen 21% since 2010.
Top facilities · 2024
Where The Chemical Releases Are Concentrated
| Facility | City | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Harbors Buttonwillow LLCClean Harbors INC | Buttonwillow | Asbestos (friable)Health riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. (IARC, EPA) | 5.3M lb | -34% |
| New Carrot Farms LLC Dba Bolthouse Fresh Foods | Bakersfield | Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)Health riskDrinking-water nitrate causes methemoglobinemia ('blue-baby syndrome') in infants; EPA MCL is 10 mg/L as N. (EPA) | 511k lb | — |
| Prc-Desoto International INC.Ppg Industries INC | Mojave | Methyl isobutyl ketoneHealth riskEye, skin, and respiratory irritant; central-nervous-system depressant at high exposure. (NIOSH) | 208k lb | +282% |
| Golden Queen Mining CO LLC | Mojave | LeadHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 120k lb | +1% |
| US Dod Usaf Edwards Afb CaUS Department Of Defense | Edwards | Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)Health riskDrinking-water nitrate causes methemoglobinemia ('blue-baby syndrome') in infants; EPA MCL is 10 mg/L as N. (EPA) | 108k lb | +508% |
| Frito Lay INC.Pepsico INC | Bakersfield | Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)Health riskDrinking-water nitrate causes methemoglobinemia ('blue-baby syndrome') in infants; EPA MCL is 10 mg/L as N. (EPA) | 107k lb | +13% |
| Containment Solutions INCNov INC | Bakersfield | StyreneHealth riskIARC Group 2A probable carcinogen; central-nervous-system effects from inhalation. (IARC, EPA) | 106k lb | -2% |
| National Cement CO Of California INCNational Cement | Lebec | AmmoniaHealth riskSevere respiratory and eye irritant; high concentrations cause chemical burns to lung tissue. (EPA) | 44k lb | +97% |
| Bakersfield Renewable Fuels LLC - Areas 1 & 2Global Clean Energy Holdings INC | Bakersfield | DiethanolamineHealth riskSkin and eye irritant. Reacts with nitrites to form nitrosamines (probable carcinogens). (NIOSH) | 23k lb | +288% |
| Elk CO Of Texas LLCG Holdings INC | Shafter | Nickel compoundsHealth riskNickel compounds are IARC Group 1 carcinogens; inhalation exposure raises lung and nasal cancer risk. (IARC) | 17k lb | +139% |
Superfund / NPL sites
Federal Cleanup Sites In Kern County
Sites on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List, plus deleted sites whose cleanup objectives EPA has finalized. Federal-facility sites (defense, DOE, etc.) are flagged separately. Each link routes to a per-site page.
| Site | City | Status | Federal facility | Primary contaminant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown & Bryant, Inc. (Arvin Plant) | Arvin | NPL FINAL | No | 1,2,3-Trichloropropane |
| Edwards Air Force Base | Edwards Afb | NPL FINAL | FEDERAL | BenzeneHealth riskIARC Group 1 carcinogen. Long-term inhalation causes leukemia and bone-marrow disorders. (IARC, EPA) |
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity
Who Lives In Kern County
All block groups in Kern County County, CA: 906,883 residents. County disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits severely above the reference burden (200). Why we surface this →
19.3%
Low-income
68.5%
People of color
7.9%
Under age 5
11.3%
Over age 64
- PM2.5 (fine particulate)Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.99in the highest 5% nationally
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.97in the highest 5% nationally
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.71above the national median
- Diesel particulateHealth riskSoot from diesel engines (trucks, trains, ports, construction). EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen and a major driver of childhood asthma near freight corridors.87in the highest 20% nationally
- Toxic releases (RSEI)Health riskEPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators score — weights TRI chemical releases by toxicity, where they go, and how many people are nearby. Higher means greater modeled cancer and chronic-health risk.27below the national median
- Traffic proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to high-volume roads. Living close to heavy traffic raises exposure to PM2.5, NO₂, and diesel exhaust — and the cardiovascular and asthma risks that follow.69above the national median
- Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)Health riskShare of housing built before 1960, when lead-based paint was common. Dust from deteriorating paint is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning, which permanently impairs cognitive development.54near the national median
- Superfund site proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to NPL Superfund sites — the most contaminated waste sites in the country. Nearby groundwater, soil, and air can carry industrial solvents, metals, and other long-lived contaminants.56near the national median
- RMP-facility proximityHealth riskDistance to facilities holding chemicals at quantities large enough to require an EPA Risk Management Plan (refineries, fertilizer plants, etc.). These pose acute exposure risk during accidental releases.79above the national median
- Hazardous-waste site proximityHealth riskDistance to RCRA hazardous-waste handlers (treatment, storage, disposal facilities). Indicates potential exposure to industrial chemicals in air, soil, and groundwater.74above the national median
- Underground storage tanksHealth riskDensity of underground tanks (gasoline, heating oil, industrial fluids). Leaking tanks are a leading source of benzene and other volatile organic compounds in groundwater drinking-water supplies.28below the national median
- NPDES wastewater proximityHealth riskDistance to permitted industrial wastewater dischargers. Closer proximity raises exposure to pollutants released into surface waters used for fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.37below the national median
- Drinking-water non-complianceHealth riskEPA score for public water systems with health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Higher means more residents on systems that recently exceeded safe limits for contaminants like lead, arsenic, or nitrate.80above the national median
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 200 | severely above the reference burden |
| Ozone | 203 | severely above the reference burden |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 141 | moderately above the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 159 | well above the reference burden |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 39 | well below the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 126 | moderately above the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 85 | below the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 14 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 144 | moderately above the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 135 | moderately above the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 0 | well below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 7 | well below the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 15 | well below the reference |
Source: Census ACS 2018-2022 (5-year) + USEPA-clone EJ blockgroup stats (raw indicators + EJ disparity mirror).
Health context
Co-Located Health Indicators
Modeled adult-prevalence estimates published by CDC PLACES, paired with this county's pollution and demographic context. Comparisons are ecological, not causal — pollution and disease prevalence covary at the area level, but the data does not attribute any individual's diagnosis to local exposure. How this section works →
Adult asthma (current)
10.3%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
COPD prevalence
6.4%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Coronary heart disease
6.2%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Diabetes (diagnosed)
13.3%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
Frequent mental distress
20.0%
CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023
PLACES uses BRFSS-modeled small-area estimates, not individual records. Crude prevalence shown above is the local rate as published; comparators are age-adjusted vs the California mean and the US mean — both population-weighted across counties — so geographies with different age structures stay apples-to-apples. Sources: CDC PLACES · 2025 release · BRFSS 2022-2023.
Browse
All 35 Kern County Cities With TRI Data
Pollution trends and TRI 2024 pages for every tracked city in this county. Alphabetical.
- Arvin pollution· 0 facilities
- Bakersfield pollution· 5 facilities
- Bodfish pollution· 0 facilities
- Boron pollution· 0 facilities
- Buttonwillow pollution· 0 facilities
- California City pollution· 0 facilities
- Delano pollution· 0 facilities
- East Niles pollution· 1 facility
- Edison pollution· 0 facilities
- Edwards AFB pollution· 0 facilities
- Frazier Park pollution· 0 facilities
- Fuller Acres pollution· 1 facility
- Glennville pollution· 0 facilities
- Inyokern pollution· 0 facilities
- Keene pollution· 0 facilities
- Kernville pollution· 0 facilities
- Lake Isabella pollution· 0 facilities
- Lake of the Woods pollution· 0 facilities
- Lamont pollution· 0 facilities
- Lebec pollution· 1 facility
- Lost Hills pollution· 0 facilities
- McFarland pollution· 0 facilities
- Mojave pollution· 4 facilities
- North Edwards pollution· 0 facilities
- Oildale pollution· 1 facility
- Pine Mountain Club pollution· 0 facilities
- Ridgecrest pollution· 1 facility
- Rosamond pollution· 0 facilities
- Shafter pollution· 2 facilities
- Taft pollution· 0 facilities
- Tehachapi pollution· 0 facilities
- Wasco pollution· 0 facilities
- Weldon pollution· 0 facilities
- Wofford Heights pollution· 0 facilities
- Woody pollution· 0 facilities
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.
All sources are federal public-domain datasets under 17 USC §105. We aggregate but do not relabel; the underlying observations remain attributable to EPA.