Rensselaer County, NY

ZIP 12185

In ZIP 12185, 6 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Cambridge Water Works meets every EPA legal limit; 8 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 20× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 91% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: US Army - Watervliet Arsenal (33%), mostly chromium compounds.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.9 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 81,410 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 12185

• Superfund sites nearbyD to F
• Factories and industrial sitesA to C
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC
• Air qualityA to B
• Drinking water qualityA to D
• Pesticide useF
• Neighborhood health statusC to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsD to F

Based on 4 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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