McDowell County, NC

ZIP 28749

In ZIP 28749, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Spruce Pine, Town Of meets every EPA legal limit; 8 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 162× 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: Snap-On Tools Co (74%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 5.8 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 12,470 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28749

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

Based on 2 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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