Essex County, VA

ZIP 22438

In ZIP 22438, 2 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Bell Acres meets every EPA legal limit; 5 contaminants are above health goals, led by chloroform at 7.2× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Closer to Superfund sites than 0% of U.S. neighborhoods, with no listed site within 10 miles of its center.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Sterilization Services Of Virginia (97%), mostly ethylene oxide.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.4 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 63,398 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 22438

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityB
• Pesticide useF
• Neighborhood health statusF
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsA to B

Based on 2 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

Loading the full report, with every source…