Middlesex County, MA

ZIP 02478

In ZIP 02478, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Cambridge Water Department has 3 contaminants at or over an EPA legal limit; 13 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 3.1× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Materials Technology Laboratory (usarmy), 2.7 miles away (3 within 10 miles).
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Tecomet (40%), mostly cobalt.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 7.3 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 34,462 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 02478

• Superfund sites nearbyA to D
• Factories and industrial sitesC to D
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyD to F
• Air qualityB to C
• Drinking water qualityA to F
• Pesticide useB to C
• Neighborhood health statusA to B
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA to C
• Radiation signalsC

Based on 8 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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