Rowan County, NC

ZIP 28144

In ZIP 28144, 7 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Old Farm Development meets every EPA legal limit; 8 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 47× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: National Starch & Chemical Corp., 5.2 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Chroma Color Corp (69%), 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 77,058 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28144

• Superfund sites nearbyC to D
• Factories and industrial sitesC to D
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC to F
• Air qualityB
• Drinking water qualityD to F
• Pesticide useD to F
• Neighborhood health statusC to D
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsB
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsB to C

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

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