Polk County, IA

ZIP 50161

In ZIP 50161, 6 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Altoona Water Supply has 1 contaminant at or over an EPA legal limit; 12 contaminants are above health goals, led by lithium at 19× the USGS health-based screening level.
• 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: Quality Manufacturing Corp - Urbandale (61%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.7 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 296,290 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 50161

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesB to F
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC
• Air qualityA to B
• Drinking water qualityB to D
• Pesticide useF
• Neighborhood health statusA to C
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC to F
• Noise levelsA to D
• Radiation signalsD to F

Based on 4 census tracts · compiled October 25, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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