West Virginia: what the public record shows.
71,257 documented environmental records across 55 counties, published by federal and state agencies and mapped beside the health measures those agencies release. Locations and rates only — nothing here shows that anything caused anything else.
Documented records in West Virginia
Published health measures
| Measure | Years | Areas |
|---|---|---|
| All-cause infant mortality | 1989–2022 | 56 |
| Child and youth mortality (ages 1-19) | 2019–2022 | 56 |
| Low birthweight (<2,500 g) | 2016–2022 | 56 |
| Premature death (years of potential life lost before 75) | 2020–2022 | 56 |
| Teen births (ages 15-19) | 2016–2022 | 56 |
Rates are area-level and published by their source. Where a source suppressed a small count, it stays unpublished here.
Events on the public record
Charleston, Kanawha County, WV · 2014
Elk River MCHM chemical spill
A storage tank leaked crude MCHM into the Elk River just upstream of the regional drinking-water intake, leaving about 300,000 people without usable tap water.
Institute, Kanawha County, WV · 1985–2008
Institute, WV chemical releases
The Institute plant, sister facility to Bhopal, produced methyl isocyanate and experienced releases and a fatal 2008 explosion in the Kanawha Valley chemical corridor.
Parkersburg / Vienna, Wood County, WV and Washington County, OH · 1951
Washington Works PFOA (C8) contamination
Decades of PFOA (C8) discharge from the DuPont Washington Works plant contaminated drinking water for tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the Ohio River.
Who to contact in West Virginia
State agency
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
State agency for mining and drilling permits, water and air programmes.
Nonprofit / community group
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Long-standing coalfield organization supporting residents near mining and industrial sites.
Nonprofit / community group
West Virginia Rivers Coalition
Statewide water group with volunteer monitoring and source water protection programmes.
Nonprofit / community group
Coal River Mountain Watch
Community group organizing around surface mining and coalfield health.
Nonprofit / community group
Appalachian Voices
Regional organization offering water testing help and mining permit tracking.
Nearby coverage