Rowan County, NC

ZIP 28159

In ZIP 28159, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Salisbury-Rowan meets every EPA legal limit; 6 contaminants are above health goals, led by bromodichloromethane at 142× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: National Starch & Chemical Corp., 5.6 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Chroma Color Corp (68%), 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 28159

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

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

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