Brian Barton
Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, has been ranked among the most polluted places to live in the United States. In 2022, residents of the county endured 179 days of elevated levels of ozone and particulate pollution, earning an F rating from the American Lung Association. The poor air quality in the region has been attributed to industrial facilities, with U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works identified as the top contributor of harmful PM2.5 air pollution. Despite efforts to reduce emissions, air pollution in Allegheny County continues to pose significant health risks, with hundreds of deaths attributed to particulate matter exposure each year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Top contributor of PM2.5 air pollution | U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works |
| Number of deaths due to air pollution from 2020 to 2022 | 640–1373 |
| Pittsburgh's rank in worst cities for annual particle pollution | 14th |
| Pittsburgh's rank in worst cities for daily short-term particle pollution | 20th |
| Allegheny County's rank in counties nationwide for added cancer risk from air toxics emissions | Top 2% |
| Number of industrial facilities in Allegheny County that reported toxic chemical releases to the TRI in 2021 | 46 |
| Total toxic chemical releases by the 46 facilities in 2021 | More than 1.8 million pounds |
| Number of active facilities responsible for nearly four-fifths of the pollution | 10 |
| Total toxic pollutants released by the 10 active facilities in 2021 | More than 1.4 million pounds |
| Allegheny County's rank among most polluted places to live in 2023 | Among the worst |
| Pittsburgh's rank in worst cities in the nation for air quality in 2023 | Among the worst |
| Number of days in 2022 with elevated levels of ozone "smog" and/or particulate pollution in Pittsburgh | 179 |
| American Lung Association's grade for Allegheny County's air quality in 2022 | "F" |
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What You'll Learn
Pittsburgh's air quality
The poor air quality in Pittsburgh is mainly attributed to industrial sources, with U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works being the top contributor of PM2.5 pollution in the county. In 2021, U.S. Steel's Clairton plant released more than 1.1 million pounds of toxins into the air, accounting for about 60% of all air toxic releases reported by industrial facilities in Allegheny County. Other industrial facilities in the county, such as the Cheswick Power Plant and Carpenter Powder Products, have also been identified as major polluters.
The emissions from these industrial sources include toxic pollutants linked to serious health issues such as cancer, reproductive problems, and respiratory diseases. According to a report by the Breathe Project, residents of Allegheny County are more likely to die from air pollution than people in other parts of the United States. It is estimated that between 640 and 1373 people died each year in the county from PM2.5 exposure between 2020 and 2022. The mortality rate from this pollution is higher in communities with more people living under the poverty line and a higher proportion of people of color.
While there have been efforts to improve air quality in Pittsburgh, such as U.S. Steel's investment in a new battery at Clairton Coke Works to reduce emissions, the city continues to struggle with poor air quality. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has implemented measures to monitor and improve air quality, but the county still falls short of meeting federal air quality standards. As a result, Pittsburgh continues to be ranked among the most polluted places to live, with air pollution posing a significant risk to the health and well-being of its residents.
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Allegheny County's Toxic Ten
Allegheny County has some of the worst air pollution in the United States, with Pittsburgh ranking as one of the top 10 most polluted cities in the nation for year-round particle pollution. In 2022, residents of Allegheny County endured 179 days with elevated levels of ozone "smog" and/or particulate pollution. The American Lung Association gave Allegheny County's air a failing grade ("F") based on the number of days with excessive levels of ozone and particulates in the county's air from 2018 to 2020.
In 2021, 46 industrial facilities in Allegheny County reported releasing over 1.8 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air. Of these, just 10 active facilities—the "Toxic Ten"—were responsible for nearly four-fifths of that pollution, or more than 1.4 million pounds of toxic pollutants released into the air. These toxic pollutants include substances linked to cancer, birth defects, reproductive problems, and other serious health ailments.
The "Toxic Ten" facilities represent those active facilities whose emissions in 2021 posed the greatest toxic hazard. The ranking of Allegheny County's "Toxic Ten" is based on the facilities' releases of toxic substances as reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The pollution releases are then weighted for their toxicity using the EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) Hazard model.
U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, a coal-processing steel plant located near Pittsburgh, topped the list of Allegheny County's "Toxic Ten" in 2021. The Clairton plant reported releasing more than 1.1 million pounds of toxics into the county's air, accounting for roughly 60% of all air toxics releases reported by industrial facilities in the county by weight. The facility's releases accounted for 23% of the toxic hazard posed by industrial air toxics emissions in the county in 2021.
Other facilities on the "Toxic Ten" list in 2021 included TMS International in Braddock, Neville Chemical on Neville Island, and the McConway & Torley foundry in Pittsburgh. These facilities replaced the Cheswick Power Plant, Carpenter Powder Products, and Harsco Metals' Natrona Facility, which appeared on the "Toxic Ten" list in 2019 but did not report toxic air emissions to the EPA in 2021.
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Clairton Coke Works
Allegheny County in Pennsylvania has been ranked among the most polluted places to live in the United States. In 2022, residents of Allegheny County experienced 179 days of elevated levels of ozone and/or particulate pollution. The American Lung Association gave the county's air quality an "F" grade in 2022, based on the number of days with excessive levels of ozone and particulates from 2018 to 2020. The Pittsburgh region, where Allegheny County is located, has some of the worst air quality in the nation.
The history of Clairton Coke Works is marked by labour strikes and concerns over air pollution. In the 1960s, it was discovered that gases from the coke operation were causing lung cancer and other health issues in workers. A University of Pittsburgh study found 2.5 times higher cancer rates for coke workers in Allegheny County compared to other steelworkers. In the 1970s, new environmental regulations were implemented, and the Clairton plant repeatedly violated air pollution standards.
In recent years, U.S. Steel has invested in new technology to reduce air pollution, including the installation of a new 84-oven battery, "C Battery," in 2012. However, the company faced challenges in meeting emissions limitations and was subject to fines and legal agreements with the Allegheny County Health Department. In 2024, one of the oldest and most polluting parts of the Clairton Coke Works, Battery 15, was permanently shut down due to environmental concerns. Despite these efforts, U.S. Steel's Clairton plant was ranked as the most toxic industrial air polluter in Allegheny County in 2021, releasing more than 1.1 million pounds of toxics into the air.
While opinions vary among residents and workers, there is a general consensus that air quality in Allegheny County has improved over the years. The Allegheny County Health Department continues to work towards ensuring cleaner air for its residents, striving to balance industrial progress with the community's health and well-being.
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Allegheny County Health Department
Allegheny County in Pennsylvania has been ranked among the most polluted places to live in the United States. In 2023, Pittsburgh, the largest city in Allegheny County, was ranked among the worst in the nation for air quality. The area has long struggled with poor air quality, with Pittsburgh ranked as one of the top 10 most polluted cities in the US with regard to year-round particle pollution. In 2022, residents of Allegheny County endured 179 days with elevated levels of ozone "smog" and/or particulate pollution. The American Lung Association gave the county's air quality a grade of "F" in 2022, based on data from 2018 to 2020.
The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has acknowledged the region's historical issues with air pollution but maintains that significant progress has been made in recent years. In response to the 2023 report, the ACHD pointed out that the data used was from two years prior and highlighted EPA certifications in 2020 and 2021, confirming that all county monitors met federal air quality standards for particle matter. Patrick Dowd, the acting director of the ACHD, stated that "Allegheny County is no longer the smoky region it once was, and has not been for a long time."
Despite these improvements, several industrial facilities in Allegheny County continue to emit toxic pollutants, posing serious health risks to residents. In 2021, 46 industrial facilities in the county reported releasing over 1.8 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air. Of these, the top 10 most toxic facilities, dubbed the "Toxic Ten," were responsible for nearly four-fifths of the total pollution, emitting more than 1.4 million pounds of toxic pollutants. U.S. Steel's Clairton coke plant was identified as the most toxic industrial air polluter in the county in 2021, releasing more than 1.1 million pounds of toxins into the air.
The ACHD has taken steps to address pollution from specific sources. For instance, the department entered into a consent decree with U.S. Steel in 2014 to resolve issues with the company's failure to operate within required emissions limitations. The agreement included fines and requirements for U.S. Steel to implement a new coke gas collection system and certify compliance with emissions limits. While the installation of the C Battery at the Clairton plant was expected to significantly reduce air pollution, critics argue that it has not ensured good air quality, and the facility remained the top toxic air polluter in the county in 2021.
The ACHD asserts that it is committed to finding better ways to monitor, permit, plan, and enforce air quality regulations. The department aims to continuously improve air quality in the county, ensuring the health and well-being of its residents.
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American Lung Association report
The American Lung Association's annual '"State of the Air" report uses PM2.5 and ozone levels to grade air quality as it is considered "two of the most widespread and dangerous air pollutants." The report also tracks short-term spikes in particle pollution, which can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
The 2023 report, which covers 2019-2021, states that the Pittsburgh metro area ranked 20th worst in the nation and received an F grade for short-term particle pollution. It was also the 14th most polluted for year-round particle pollution, but still met air quality standards. Allegheny County, in particular, ranked in the top 2% of counties nationwide for added cancer risk from air toxics emissions from stationary sources in 2019. The Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV metro area was named one of the worst cities in the nation for year-round particle pollution in the 2024 report. However, for the first time, the Pittsburgh metro area no longer ranks among the worst 25 metro areas in the nation for daily particle pollution.
The 2024 report also highlights that Allegheny County, PA received a failing grade for a year-round average level of particle pollution of 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter, which is worse than the 9 micrograms per cubic meter federal standard. This resulted in the Pittsburgh metro area ranking 19th worst in the nation and worst in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Pittsburgh metro area ranked 50th worst in the nation for ozone pollution and 26th worst for short-term particle pollution.
The American Lung Association's report has faced criticism from some, such as the director of research and policy with the business-labor coalition, Pittsburgh Works Together, who questioned the accuracy of the report's portrayal of the region as having some of the worst air in the country. However, the report has also been supported by sources such as clean air advocate Zachary Barber, who stated that parts of Allegheny County topped the EPA's list for worst air quality in the country.
The report highlights the dangerous nature of particle pollution, which can cause a range of serious health issues and even lead to premature death. It is a growing threat to public health, and short-term spikes in particle pollution can kill, with most premature deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular causes.
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Frequently asked questions
Allegheny County is polluted. Pittsburgh, the region within Allegheny County, ranked among the worst in the nation for air quality.
The pollution in Allegheny County is largely due to industrial sources, such as U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, which is the top contributor to PM2.5 air pollution in the county.
Efforts are being made to improve air quality in Allegheny County. For example, U.S. Steel invested $1.2 billion to install a new 84-oven battery at Clairton Coke Works, which was supposed to significantly reduce air pollution. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is also working to monitor, permit, plan, and enforce air quality regulations to ensure the county's air quality keeps improving.
