Polk County, NC

ZIP 28722

In ZIP 28722, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Brights Creek Water System meets every EPA legal limit; 3 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 31× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: General Electric Co/shepherd Farm, 9.6 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Basf Corp (31%), mostly ethylene oxide.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.7 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 15,333 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28722

• Superfund sites nearbyA to C
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityA to B
• Drinking water qualityC to F
• Pesticide useD to F
• Neighborhood health statusD to F
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsD to F

Based on 5 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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