Pittsburgh's Air Pollution: What's Being Done?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as the 'city of steel' and the 'city of bridges', both of which allude to its large number of steel-related production facilities and bridges. These factors, along with its well-developed road infrastructure, contribute to higher amounts of pollution. The city's air quality has been described as an onslaught of awful, with residents reporting awful odours, headaches, burning eyes, coughing, wheezing, and asthma attacks. The American Lung Association's 2024 State of the Air report found that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was one of only 13 counties in the US to receive failing grades for long and short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone. However, there is some good news: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently implemented new air pollution rules, and organisations like the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and the Breathe Project are working to improve Pittsburgh's air quality.

The EPA's new air pollution rules

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced new air pollution rules that aim to tackle particle pollution and address the growing concerns surrounding climate change. This is a significant development, especially for cities like Pittsburgh, which has been ranked among the most polluted places in the United States.

The new EPA rule focuses on reducing PM 2.5, or particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. These fine particles, primarily resulting from vehicles running on fossil fuels and industrial smokestacks, pose a severe threat to human health. Research has linked PM 2.5 to various adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions being at the highest risk.

In recognition of the health risks associated with PM 2.5, the EPA has lowered the acceptable annual air quality standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, down from 12. This stricter standard is expected to have a significant impact on public health, potentially saving an estimated 4,500 lives each year across the United States.

To achieve this new standard, industries will be required to implement more effective pollution control measures. For instance, U.S. Steel, a major contributor to air pollution in Pittsburgh, has agreed to lower the sulfur content of its coke oven gas. This change will result in reduced emissions from its facilities in the city. Additionally, the settlement with U.S. Steel includes a $42 million upgrade to the plant, which will enhance its pollution control system and ensure backup measures in case of unexpected events, such as fires.

While some industries have expressed concerns that these tightened regulations will push manufacturing to countries with more relaxed air pollution laws, the health and environmental benefits of the EPA's new rules cannot be overstated. The new standards are a step towards ensuring cleaner air and a healthier future for the residents of Pittsburgh and other polluted cities across the nation.

Groups working to improve air quality

Several groups are actively working to improve the air quality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here are some of the key organizations and their contributions:

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP)

GASP is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving air quality and reducing pollution in Southwestern Pennsylvania, specifically targeting the Pittsburgh region. They provide simple and straightforward guides to help residents understand the complex issues surrounding air quality. GASP collaborates with other organizations, such as the American Lung Association, to raise awareness and advocate for cleaner air.

Breathe Project

The Breathe Project is a collaborative initiative led by a coalition of citizens, environmental advocates, public health professionals, and academics. It serves as a clearinghouse for information on air quality in Pittsburgh and beyond. The project utilizes the best available science and technology to monitor and understand air quality, empowering citizens to take informed action. The Breathe Collaborative, directed by Matthew Mehalik, also establishes community outreach platforms and networks to engage the public in improving air quality and eliminating climate pollution.

Clean Air Council

The Clean Air Council has been fighting for everyone's right to breathe clean air since 1967, even before the establishment of the EPA and the modern Clean Air Act. They focus on transportation-related issues and work to address the most relevant regional concerns. With over 9,000 members, the council advocates for policies and bills that improve air quality and promote physical and mental health.

Upper Ohio River Valley Monitoring Project

Led by Emily, the Program Manager, this project specifically targets the Greater Pittsburgh Region and Beaver County. It aims to support residents in understanding how the petrochemical industry's expansion has impacted their air quality and health. The project provides residents with monitors that offer real-time, localized information on air quality, enabling them to make informed decisions and take action to protect their health.

These groups are actively working to address air pollution and improve the health and well-being of Pittsburgh residents. Their efforts include advocacy, education, community engagement, and the provision of resources to empower individuals and communities in the fight for cleaner air.

The impact of air pollution on health

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known as the "city of steel" and the "city of bridges", owing to its many steel production facilities and bridges. These features, however, contribute to higher amounts of pollution. The city's road infrastructure, for example, leads to increased traffic, while its steel plants release pollutants and require freight vehicles to transport materials.

The pollutants that make up the US Air Quality Index (AQI) include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particles known as PM2.5 and PM10. Of these, PM2.5 is the most dangerous due to its minute size. It can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs. It can also lead to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.

The health effects of air pollution are wide-ranging and can affect almost every organ in the body. Short-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma. Long-term exposure, on the other hand, increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. Maternal exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight and pre-term birth, and an increased risk of miscarriage, leading to higher infant mortality rates. Children exposed to high concentrations of fine particulate matter pollution have increased odds of developing asthma. In Pittsburgh, there are over 39,000 children with asthma, and residents have reported a range of health impacts, from awful odours and headaches to heart attacks, strokes, and hospital visits.

The impacts of air pollution are not limited to physical health. Psychosocial stress, such as poverty and racial/ethnic discrimination, can amplify the harmful effects of air pollution. Additionally, communities of colour are disproportionately affected by air pollution due to discriminatory practices that have led to the placement of sources of pollution, such as power plants and industrial facilities, in economically disadvantaged areas.

The sources of Pittsburgh's air pollution

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has historically been known as the "Smoky City", the "City of Smoke", and the "City of Steel", owing to its industrial past and the smoke pollution that came with it. While the city has seen improvements in air quality since the 1950s, it still has some of the worst air pollution in the United States, with over 1.2 million people considered at risk.

The primary sources of Pittsburgh's air pollution are industrial emissions, vehicle emissions, and fossil fuel combustion. The city has a large number of steel plants and other industrial facilities, which release pollutants into the atmosphere and require a significant number of freight vehicles for transportation. These vehicles often use fossil fuels such as diesel, which produce high levels of pollution. In addition, the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories, and power plants releases black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, contributing to the fine particle pollution known as PM2.5. This form of pollution is particularly harmful due to its minuscule size, which allows it to bypass the body's natural defences and cause damage to the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs.

The Shell Petrochemical Plant in Pittsburgh has been permitted to emit 2.2 million tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions of approximately 430,836 passenger cars. This has a significant impact on air quality, and it would take a vast number of trees to capture these emissions.

Additionally, Pittsburgh's geography and infrastructure contribute to its air pollution levels. The city's well-developed road network and series of bridges lead to increased traffic and higher vehicle emissions. Meteorological conditions also play a role, as certain weather patterns can sweep large elevations of pollutants across the city.

The effects of air pollution are far-reaching, with vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with existing health conditions being particularly at risk. Research has shown that children exposed to high levels of PM2.5 pollution in Pittsburgh have a 58% increased likelihood of developing asthma. Other health impacts include respiratory issues, skin conditions, heart attacks, strokes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The air quality in fenceline communities

Pittsburgh's history as a centre for steel production and its many bridges has contributed to higher amounts of pollution. The steel plants release pollutants and require a large number of freight vehicles, increasing traffic emissions. In addition, the American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report has consistently ranked the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV metro area as one of the worst cities for year-round particle pollution. This area includes Allegheny County, which earned failing grades for long- and short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone.

PM2.5 refers to particles that are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter and are considered one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution due to their minuscule size. These particles can bypass the body's natural defences and harm not only the lungs but also the heart, brain, and other organs. Research has shown that children exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5 near industrial pollution in parts of Pittsburgh had a 58% higher chance of developing asthma compared to children in areas with lower PM2.5 levels.

To address these issues, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented new air pollution rules to reduce particle pollution and address climate change. U.S. Steel, a major contributor to air pollution in Pittsburgh, has agreed to lower the sulfur content of its coke oven gas, which is expected to reduce air pollution from its facilities in the city. Additionally, the company has committed to investing $42 million in upgrades, including improving its pollution control system and closing down one of its batteries. These measures are a step towards improving the air quality in Pittsburgh's fenceline communities.

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