Berks County, PA

ZIP 19604

In ZIP 19604, 8 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Reading Area Water Authority has 1 contaminant at or over an EPA legal limit; 9 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 2.2× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Former Exide Technologies Laureldale, 0.8 miles away (2 within 10 miles).
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Carpenter Technology Corp (93%), mostly chromium compounds.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 8.9 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 222,778 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 19604

• Superfund sites nearbyD to F
• Factories and industrial sitesD to F
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityC to F
• Drinking water qualityB to D
• Pesticide useC to D
• Neighborhood health statusB to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsC to F

Based on 11 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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