It was a rough weekend of air quality for the Mon Valley, which experienced another days-long bad-air episode and two more air quality exceedances. The Liberty-Clairton air shed – Clairton, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, and Port Vue – was regularly at the top of AirNow.gov’s list of areas with the worst air quality in the nation over the past week, and was the subject of a state Department of Environmental Protection Agency (DEP) Code Orange Air Quality Action Day on Saturday. An Air Quality Action Day is issued when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. On an Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities. Additionally, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch alerts on Friday and Saturday. Mon Valley Air Pollution Watches are issued when the forecast indicates PM2.5 levels will likely exceed the 24-hour standard for the Mon Valley. More Air Quality Exceedances for Mon Valley While PM2.5 levels ultimately did not exceed the 24-hour standard, concentrations of hydrogen-sulfide (AKA H2S, AKA a colorless gas most commonly recognized by its “rotten egg” odor) at the Liberty monitor did. In fact, the average concentration of H2S exceeded Pennsylvania’s 24-hour standard of 0.005 ppm on both Friday, May 14 (0.009 ppm) and Saturday, May 15 (0.008 ppm) at the Liberty air quality monitor. Meanwhile, H2S at the North Braddock monitor did not exceed the 24-hour state standard but did come close – with concentrations of 0.005 ppm noted on Friday and Saturday, according to preliminary ACHD data. For those keeping track, there have been 18 exceedances of the 24-hour H2S standard at the Liberty monitor so far this year, and nine at North Braddock. U.S. Steel and Mon Valley Hydrogen-Sulfide Exceedances: What We Know You hear about – and smell – H2S often, but where does it come from? Here in Allegheny County, mostly from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. According to the DEP eFACTS website, U.S. Steel self-reported emitting roughly 155 tons of hydrogen sulfide from the Clairton Coke Works in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available. That makes it not only the number-one emitter of H2S in the county but also in the state. GASP has long called on ACHD to track down the source of the county’s H2S problem, and on April 1 the department finally took action, issuing a Notice of Violation to U.S. Steel covering 25 exceedances that occurred in 2020 and seven in the first quarter of 2021 at the Liberty monitor. Eight exceedances of the state’s 24-hour H2S standard that occurred at the North Braddock monitor December 2020 through March 2021 were not included. Procedurally, the notice is the first step for any enforcement action –  including civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation per day – for air pollution sources. U.S. Steel had 14 days to schedule a meeting with ACHD to discuss the NOV before ACHD may proceed with further enforcement action. No further information about the notice or U.S. Steel’s response is available on the ACHD website. GASP submitted a formal Right to Know request to glean more information and will provide an update when that request is granted. But What Was Up with Those Mon Valley Air Pollution Watches? Mon Valley residents are likely familiar with DEP Code Orange Air Pollution Action Days, while Mon Valley Air Pollution Watches might be a new phenomenon. Here’s what you need to know: Allegheny County Health Department worked for more than a year to craft episodic air pollution regulations that would require the ACHD Air Quality Program to issue Mon Valley Air Pollution alerts.  Those regulations are currently out for public comment and thus have not formally taken effect, but ACHD’s new language suggests that it is already preparing to implement them. A “watch” would be issued when atmospheric conditions are expected to cause an exceedance of the national health-based standard for PM2.5 in any of the 32 municipalities in the affected area, with those conditions expected to last for another 24 hours. A “warning” would be issued once that standard has been exceeded and the weather forecast indicates that atmospheric conditions causing the exceedance are expected to persist for at least another 24 hours. The regulations would require major and minor sources of fine particulate matter pollution like U.S. Steel to create and submit to ACHD for approval a two-tiered action plan to be implemented when these watches and warnings are issued. A “watch” plan must include procedures that ensure the source is “operating in a manner consistent with good engineering and all air pollution control equipment is maintained in good working condition.” During the warning phase, sources will be required to take certain actions to reduce their emissions. ACHD Air Quality Program officials said that could mean reducing transportation, switching or decreasing fuel use, delaying nonessential activities, or reducing, modifying or ceasing certain operations. The regulations would also ban open burning on days where ACHD issues a Mon Valley Air Pollution watch or warning. As we noted above, those regulations are out for public comment, and GASP’s legal staff is currently reviewing them – check back, we will have analysis and all the info residents need to formally weigh in on the new rules.

Community groups in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood are in the process of holding public meetings to identify the community’s shared vision and priorities for potential, future redevelopment of Allegheny County’s Clack Campus site. The GASP office is not located in Lawrenceville but this process caught our eye because the Clack Campus – a 5.2 acre trapezoid of land adjacent to Pittsburgh’s Arsenal Park – houses ACHD’s Air Quality Program offices. GASP is writing about it now because one aspect of vital importance to air quality that some might not fully appreciate is the extent of air quality monitoring that takes place at that facility. ACHD’s Lawrenceville air quality monitoring site serves as our region’s EPA-designated National Core multipollutant monitoring station (NCore), National Air Toxics Trends Station (NAATS), and Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station (PAMS). Explaining the full extent of all the individual constituents monitored is a bit complicated but suffice it to say the Lawrenceville monitoring site produces more air quality data than any other monitoring site in Western Pennsylvania. But more importantly – and relevant to any redevelopment of the Clack Campus – data from that site goes back decades. In fact, pollutants such as ozone and nitric oxide have been monitored continuously since 1980. That might not seem important but one of the most critical aspects of air quality monitoring is being able to measure trends over time. The best way to undertake this type of analysis is to eliminate as many variables as possible. In practice, that means keeping the monitoring method and location constant. Of course, there are a host of other issues that might come up with any potential redevelopment of the Clack Campus. GASP does not mean or plan to ignore those issues, but at this point, they are all hypothetical (as far as we can tell). There appear to be no clear answers regarding if or when any changes to the site will take place. Still, insofar as there is a legitimate community and public health issue to discuss now, we hope the Lawrenceville community and County decision-makers will consider the potential adverse impact of discontinuing air quality monitoring at the Clack Campus. We further call on County officials to be open and transparent regarding any plans that have been established for the future of the Clack Campus.

Is the future of Pennsylvania’s workforce development green? The answer is yes, according to a new report from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The report released Wednesday shows “tremendous potential” for clean energy workforce development opportunities that can bolster Pennsylvania’s economy. The clean energy industry has been a growing source of jobs in Pennsylvania for several years prior, and the COVID-19 pandemic has created a backlog of clean energy projects, resulting in a need for more skilled workers to fulfill project demands. Now, the 2021 Pennsylvania Clean Energy Industry Workforce Development Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis Report identifies how to best support continued job growth in the state’s clean energy technology sectors. “As Pennsylvania focuses on economic recovery and growth, the clean energy sector will undoubtedly help move Pennsylvania forward because this area is rife with opportunities for employees and employers alike,’’ DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in the release. “This demand is only going to keep growing, and it will need a strong workforce. This report provides recommendations to support clean energy workforce development.” For the purposes of the report, the industry is composed of five major technology sectors: energy efficiency clean energy generation alternative transportation clean grid and storage and clean fuels There are also various sub-sectors within each of those sectors such as solar, wind, efficient lighting, hydropower, smart grid, electric vehicles, and biomass fuels. Over the last five years, these occupations grew by a collective 6 percent. Pennsylvania is a manufacturing hub for wind, hydro turbine, and ENERGY STAR products, which means the state is well-poised to supply nationwide demand for clean energy goods and services, possibly requiring the need for more skilled assemblers and fabricators and other manufacturing positions, according to the release. The ramping up of clean energy generation and energy efficiency measures indicates a need for construction and installation workers such as HVAC mechanics, electricians, and solar photovoltaic installers. “The commonwealth’s clean energy industry presents us with a wide array of opportunities, from creating jobs to improving the quality of life in our communities,” Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin said. “We are one of the largest solar employers in the nation, and almost one-fifth of electricity sold comes from approved renewable or alternative sources. It is critical that we continue to invest in the businesses and technologies that provide clean, reliable, and efficient energy to Pennsylvanians.” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini called the report encouraging. “This is good news for both our region and our environment,” she said. “We hear the false argument all the time: We can either have jobs or a healthy environment. This report shows they aren’t mutually exclusive and in fact the future looks bright for both clean energy and good jobs in PA.” You can check out the entire press release here.

For those who may be unaware: When asbestos is left undisturbed it does not pose a health risk. However, during renovation or demolition, it’s common for old, brittle asbestos products to release tiny – even microscopic – fibers. These tasteless, odorless fibers can remain suspended in the air and enter your lungs when you inhale. Once inhaled, asbestos stays there forever. Like PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), asbestos is known as a “forever chemical” because its chemistry keeps it from breaking down in the body. Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural disease.  And there is no safe minimum level of exposure to asbestos.  An estimated 10,000 cases of asbestos-related disease occur each year in the U.S. as a result of past exposures. It can take 20-40 years for some of these diseases to manifest, so we are currently seeing the results of exposures from the 1980s and 1990s now. It should be noted that asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. And health officials say that the mortality rate for mesothelioma in Allegheny County is “significantly higher” than that of both Pennsylvania and the nation. Wasn’t Asbestos Banned a Long Time Ago? Quick history lesson: Asbestos refers to a collection of silicate minerals used in myriad products throughout the 20th Century – everything from cement to shingles – because of its strength and resistance to heat. Asbestos-containing material (also known as ACMs) was used in residential and commercial settings for decades, even after the carcinogenic effects of this fiber became apparent in humans. In the 1980s, asbestos was partially banned in the United States in new building materials but some products are still permitted to use small amounts of asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found in tile flooring, shingles, cement floors, insulation, and fireplace flues. So What Are the Local Asbestos-Related Air Quality Regulations? Allegheny County Health Department’s rules require an asbestos survey (a thorough inspection to determine the presence of asbestos) for all renovation and demolition projects and depending on the quantity of asbestos identified, proper notification, specific work practices, and proper disposal of asbestos-containing material are required. The notification requirements for facility demolition and renovation activities are dependent upon the amount of asbestos-containing material at the site. If less than 160 square feet of ACM is identified in the facility, a properly completed notification must be submitted 10 days before demolition or renovation activity begins. If the amount of ACM is 160 square feet or more, a properly completed permit application must be submitted with appropriate payment at least 10 working days before the asbestos abatement begins. A licensed asbestos contractor must remove all ACM identified as described in the permit. Demolition or renovation activities may proceed once ACHD has performed a final clearance inspection. Note: Demolition or renovation activities performed for a private homeowner of a residential structure with four or fewer dwelling units are exempt from the asbestos regulations unless they are part of a larger installation or project. Now that you understand the problem and the regulations, here are the latest enforcement actions: Stop-Work Orders Issued to Businesses Because of Asbestos Violations On March 13, ACHD issued four stop-work orders related to asbestos violations. Two of those happened at fast-food restaurants that were being renovated or demolished. Live in the Robinson Township area? Because the Wendy’s located at 6296 Steubenville Pike was one of the locations where health officials said asbestos violations occurred. According to the stop-work order issued to Steve Thompson, chief financial officer of Primary Aim LLC, the company failed to perform an asbestos survey prior to commencing renovations there. ACHD said Primary Aim LLC also removed asbestos-containing material without a licensed contractor. The company also failed to properly dispose of the material. Then there were the violations at the Taco Bell restaurant located at 825 Freeport Road in Aspinwall. The ACHD stop-work order issued to Charter Foods said its contractor failed to perform an asbestos survey prior to commencing renovations, performing abatement without a survey, and removing asbestos-containing material without a permit. ACHD on March 19 issued a stop-work order against George and Carol Fisher for failing to conduct an asbestos survey prior to commencing renovations at a commercial property located at 5401 Penn Ave.  The Fishers were ordered to conduct air monitoring and bulk-sample the remaining material for asbestos. Trent Seaman of the Trisda Group also received a stop-work order from ACHD regarding asbestos violation at 160 Southern Ave. in Pittsburgh. Like the other cases, the health department noted that the company failed to conduct an asbestos survey. ACHD ordered the company to cease renovations and obtain air and dust samples representative of the area being renovated. Warning of Violation Orders Issued to Businesses Because of Asbestos Violations ACHD put a Sewickley company on notice March 26, issuing a warning of violation letter regarding asbestos-related infractions. ACHD found that BLT Contracting’s Patrick McGee was not a certified asbestos contractor at the time abatement work was conducted and a final inspection completed. According to the letter, the final inspection of a commercial development at 4200 Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh occurred on Dec. 28, 2020. McGee became certified by the state on Dec. 31, 2020. The department issued a similar warning to Munhal-based Gray Waste Management Corp. for asbestos-related violations at a commercial development site located at 4724 Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh. According to the April 1 warning of violation letter, Gray Waste Management’s Mervin Jones was not certified by the state to conduct asbestos-abatement work when health officials completed a final inspection March 30. ACHD ordered Jones to stay off the site until his certification is re-established. In both Warning of Violation letters, ACHD noted that failure to comply in the future could result in civil penalties in the amount of $25,000-a-day or even criminal prosecution. Notice of Violation Letters Issued to Businesses Because of Asbestos Violations ACHD also issued notice of violation letters to three businesses for various asbestos-related violations. Two LLCs located at 373 S. Atlantic Ave. in Pittsburgh – 4012 Liberty Avenue Development and 4014 Liberty Avenue Development – for the improper removal of suspected asbestos-containing materials by an unlicensed contractor as well as uncertified workers. According to the letter, the companies failed to obtain a final inspection prior to opening to the public. The department also issued a notice of violation letter to Stanfield Allen of Allen Demolition Co. for commencing the demolition of 243 West Eighth Ave. in Tarantum – and removing containment barriers – prior to ACHD conducting a final inspection of the property. In each of the letters, ACHD requested a meeting with the companies to discuss the violations. Editor’s Note: Did you know that you can view enforcement orders on the ACHD website here? The page is updated periodically. Along with the above-mentioned actions, ACHD issued Notice of Violation letters against Eastman Chemical and SteelServ for minor infractions of their installation permits. The department also posted an enforcement order it issued against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for air quality permit violations at its Clinton printing facility.

We wanted to thank everyone again for joining us last week for our, Making the Connection: Food Waste & The Environment event featuring some local food waste warriors from 412 Food Rescue, Ecotone Renewables, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, and Worm Return. Couldn’t fit the event into your schedule? No worries – we’ve got the recording right here:

We have blogged several times about dust pollution created by Harsco, Inc.’s facility in Natrona Heights, which processes slag from ATI Flat Rolled Products’ steel plant in Brackenridge. Dust from Harsco’s slag-handling activities regularly drifts out into the surrounding residential neighborhood that sits between Harsco’s operations and ATI’s plant, and lands on neighbors’ cars and other property, much to the neighbors’ chagrin. Fortunately, much of that fugitive dust pollution could soon be a thing of the past. About The Dust Issue The dust issue came to light in March of 2017, when the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued notice of violation letters to Harsco and ATI after inspectors noted dust on children’s toys, playground equipment, and cars in Opal Court on three separate occasions in February of 2017. The department ultimately determined the company was in violation of regulations regarding fugitive emissions. Harsco in June of 2017 submitted an action plan to address the violations, committing to operational changes and enhanced training designed to mitigate those dust issues. Despite implementing that compliance plan, ACHD noted that residential complaints about dust deposits continued to pour in: Between May 2017 and May 2018, inspectors noted 13 days on which deposits of particulate matter from Harsco were discovered nearby—spurring the health department to issue another administrative order against the company May 29, 2018. That order required the company to submit and implement a compliance plan that would eliminate all fallout of particulate matter. The Fix Harsco tried to fix the issue with the installation of a spray header system that became fully operational on Aug. 6, 2018. Despite this, ACHD continued to receive complaints about fugitive dust from nearby residents. A subsequent investigation determined that particulate matter deposits were noted in the community on 20 days between July 2018 and Dec. 2019. As a result, ACHD determined that the plan was not adequate—which led to the January 2020 agreement, which included a $107,000 civil penalty. We are pleased to report that Harsco has done so. On April 15, ACHD published notice of a draft installation permit for an enclosure as well as new work practices at Harsco’s facility. What Happens Next? Once the work required by the installation permit is completed, all of Harsco’s slag processing operations will be conducted inside a building. Further, Harsco will allow hot slag to cool in the air, rather than cool it by quenching it with water (dust can be created when water is poured or sprayed on hot slag). The company will further control the dust its operations create by spraying cooled slag with water while the slag is being crushed (spraying cooled slag with water during crushing helps limit the creation of dust). “It appears that as a result of the enclosure and new work practices, the allowable amount of dust emitted by Harsco’s operations will be reduced from just less than 8 tons per year to just less than 1 ton per year,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie explained. “Hopefully, the improvements to Harsco’s operations will bring the long-standing dust problem in Natrona Heights to an end.”

UPDATE: Public comments on the Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode regulations will be accepted May 10 through 11:59 p.m. June 9. The Allegheny County Board of Health will convene a public hearing at 5 p.m. June 10 to take testimony on the modifications. GASP is reviewing the changes and will be providing analysis to help residents craft their own public comments. The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve long-sought episodic weather regulations go out for public comment. Allegheny County Health Department worked for more than a year to craft the regulations following pressure from residents and clean air groups like GASP to establish procedures intended to stem industrial pollution during periods of bad weather like the area experienced in December 2019. Folks may recall that a days-long inversion resulted in local air quality exceeding the federal air quality standard for fine particulate matter six days in a row. During that same period, the region’s air quality exceeded the Pennsylvania state standard for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) eight days in a row. GASP is taking a close look at the draft regulations and will be not only submitting our own public comments, we will also provide all the details you need to fully understand and submit your own input. Until then, here’s what we can tell you about the draft regulations: The episodic weather regulations which would require the ACHD Air Quality Program to issue Mon Valley Air Pollution alerts. A “watch” would be issued when atmospheric conditions are expected to cause an exceedance of the national health-based standard for PM2.5 in any of the 32 municipalities in the affected area, with those conditions expected to last for another 24 hours. A “warning” would be issued once that standard has been exceeded and the weather forecast indicates that atmospheric conditions causing the exceedance are expected to persist for at least another 24 hours. For their part, major and minor sources of fine particulate matter pollution like U.S. Steel would be required to create and submit to ACHD for approval a two-tiered action plan to be implemented when these watches and warnings are issued. The “watch” plan must include procedures that ensure the source is “operating in a manner consistent with good engineering and all air pollution control equipment is maintained in good working condition.” During the warning phase, sources will be required to take certain actions to reduce their emissions. ACHD Air Quality Program officials said that could mean reducing transportation, switching or decreasing fuel use, delaying nonessential activities, or reducing, modifying or ceasing certain operations. The regulations would also ban open burning on days where ACHD issues a Mon Valley Air Pollution watch or warning. “We’re happy that the Board approved putting these long-awaited draft regs out to public comment,” said Rachel Filippini, executive director of GASP. “But the real proof is going to be in the plans submitted by industry.  What actions will they take to reduce emissions and will those actions be enough to make a difference?” Check back to the GASP website for information on the public comment period once those details are posted on the ACHD website. Until then, check out these slides presented at the BOH meeting: In other business: The Board of Health unanimously approved a $200,000 Clean Air Fund request from ACHD to support community outreach to significantly increase participation in  the Allegheny Alerts system. Getting residents in the Mon Valley Air Pollution alert area signed up will be a priority, ACHD Deputy Director of Environmental Health Jim Kelly said. The department expects to issue a request for proposals from local nonprofits this month, with contracts to be issued in June. The outreach activities will take place during the first quarter of 2022. The board also approved ACHD’s PM10 Maintenance Plan, which is part of the county’s State Implementation Plan (SIP). The plan now goes to the state Department of Environmental Protection before being finally approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

In an “Open Letter to our Pittsburgh Family” company President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt wrote: “U. S. Steel is setting aside this project as we step forward to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. In this world – a world that still needs steel – we need to find aggressive decarbonization solutions. The project we had planned in 2019 would have decreased our carbon footprint, but we must now move farther and faster. Just as steel transformed the world, the world is now transforming steel.” After playing the blame game and bemoaning what the company deemed as permit delays by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), Burritt acknowledged that those scheduling setbacks, “allowed for a consequential window of time during which we expanded our understanding of steelmaking’s future in a rapidly decarbonizing world.” To that end, U.S. Steel also announced that it would be permanently idling Batteries 1, 2, and 3- considered three of its dirtiest, most-polluting batteries – at its Clairton Coke Works facility by 2023. If that’s true, air quality in the Mon Valley should improve. Did you notice the qualifier we threw in there? “If that’s true.” Because we really don’t know, do we? In fiction and reality, bad romances are marked by a lack of trust and transparency, and the one between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County is really no different. Over the years – decades, even – U.S. Steel has broken too many promises for any of us to take the company at its word. Especially when it comes to air quality. Let’s not forget: U.S. Steel is not, and never was a poster child for air quality compliance, despite the company’s claims about being a responsible environmental steward. We can say that speaking from over 50 years of personal experience fighting U.S. Steel over its ongoing emissions issues. We’re not the only ones fighting with the steel-making giant. While some industries struggle with compliance from time to time, ACHD, EPA, and US Steel have been engaged in court battles or settlement negotiations continually for the past 48 years.  Major settlements with US Steel occurred in 1979, 1993, 2007, 2008, 2014, and 2016. In fact, after the 2016 judgment, ACHD said emissions from the plant actually got worse. Right this very minute, U.S. Steel is the subject of a joint enforcement order from the EPA and ACHD for air pollution problems at its Edgar Thomson plant. Just last month the company was issued a Notice of Violation for exceedances of the state hydrogen sulfide standard at its Clairton Coke Works. And that’s to say nothing of the high-profile 2018 fire at the Clairton Coke Works that knocked out pollution control devices for 100 days, or the recent University of Pittsburgh study showing that the ensuing air pollution sickened local residents, exacerbating asthma symptoms. Meanwhile, local and regional leaders spent the past few days finger-pointing and asking, “What went wrong?” Some pointed the finger at regulators. Some placed the blame squarely on “extreme” environmental groups (yes, GASP was called out by name). At GASP, we don’t know and won’t speculate about what led to U.S. Steel’s decision to pull the plug on the billion-dollar Mon Valley Works upgrade. We don’t know the timeline for the shutdowns of Batteries 1, 2, and 3. We don’t know how many jobs might be affected or what the company’s ultimate plan is for steel production in the Mon Valley. This is what we do know: If it’s “extreme” environmentalism to work to ensure the public has healthy air to breathe and that U.S. Steel and other polluters are held accountable for their role in causing health and quality-of-life issues for residents – if it’s “extreme” environmentalism to promote transparency, public involvement and commenting on air quality permits and regulations, then we guess we’re OK with the moniker. “It is never extreme to think people have a right to breathe clean, healthy air that doesn’t cause asthma, heart attacks, lung cancer, and other health problems. Or to think that polluting industries should meet basic permit parameters and follow local, state, and federal rules and regulations,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “What’s extreme is U.S. Steel’s track record. U.S. Steel has steamrolled the community, their employees, the health department, and most local officials for years, all while saying that they’re part of the Pittsburgh ‘family.’”

A new study co-authored by one of GASP’s board of directors confirms what many in the Mon Valley have long suspected: That a 2018 fire that knocked out air pollution controls at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works for more than three months sickened local residents. The collaborative study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, showed asthma exacerbations rose following the catastrophic Christmas Eve fire. “In addition to verifying that people living within a 10-mile radius of the Coke Works had higher rates of asthma exacerbations and use of albuterol rescue medication than those living outside the radius, we learned that nearly half of the people with asthma closest to the fire were unaware of the pollution problem and, therefore, unable to take steps to avoid exposure,” lead author Brandy Byrwa-Hill, a doctoral student in Pitt Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, said. Before we get into the ins and outs of the study, we wanted to share a little background on the Clairton Coke Works. The facility produces highly refined coal (also called coke) that is used as fuel in the manufacture of steel. Creating coke results in the emission of myriad air pollutants, which are minimized through the plant’s pollution controls. On Dec. 24, 2018, a fire destroyed some of the pollution controls, and, for 102 days, the plant emitted sulfur dioxide at levels 25 times greater than typical emissions. But back to that study: The Pitt Public Health team used the Pitt Asthma Institute Research (AIR) registry to collect information from 39 asthma patients living within 10 miles of the coke works and 44 patients living beyond that radius during the six-week span after the fire. During the pollution-control breach, participants who lived closest to the plant had an 80 percent increased risk of worsened asthma symptoms compared with those furthest from the plant. The difference normalized after the plant was repaired. Despite news reports and alerts from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) following the fire urging people with certain health conditions to take precautions, 44 percent of the participants were unaware of the excessive pollution. “When we asked the participants if they would want to know about an environmental disaster, of course they said they would,” said senior author and GASP board member James Fabisiak, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Center of Healthy Environments and Communities at Pitt Public Health. “Our study reveals that there is a need for a more robust notification system that uses many modes of communication so people can make informed, timely decisions to protect their health.” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini agreed. “GASP and fellow clean air advocates have implored the health department for the past several years to improve its public health messaging around air quality issues,” she said. “People need to be able to depend on ACHD to provide guidance on how they can protect themselves from exposure to unhealthy levels of air pollution. The evidence that we need more robust communication from our health officials – and the consequences when there’s a lack thereof – has never been more clear.” In addition, the study highlighted the benefit of having a pre-existing registry of well-characterized, geographically identified asthma patients willing to participate in research, said co-senior author Sally Wenzel, M.D., chair of Pitt Public Health’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. “I’d encourage any city or county that is home to a significant point source of air pollution to create a similar registry,” said Wenzel, who also directs Pitt’s Asthma and Environmental Lung Health Institute at UPMC – an organization that collaborated on the study. “People with asthma are particularly sensitive to air pollution, and their experience can be informative to all of us when it comes to maintaining healthy air quality.” GASP congratulates our board member Jim and his colleagues on the publication of this report. Want to learn more? You can read the entire study here. For even more information, check out some of the associated media coverage: Study Finds 2018 Clairton Coke Works Fire Impacted Asthma Patients, by the Post-Gazette Pitt Study Confirms Clairton Coke Works Fire Sickened Residents, by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Christmas Eve 2018 Clairton Coke Works Fire Made Asthma Worse for Suffers Nearby, by WTAE Pitt Study: Fire at Clairton Coke Works Resulted in Breathing Issues, by Mon Valley Independent Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Board of Health will meet at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 5. Several air-quality-related items are on the agenda. Among them: ACHD’s updated episodic weather regulations we mentioned earlier. The BOH will vote on whether or not to send them out for public comment. The virtual meeting is open to the public.

April ended with three more H2S exceedances in the Mon Valley. Hydrogen sulfide (or H2S) is a colorless gas most commonly recognized by its “rotten egg” smell. The average concentration of H2S at the Liberty monitor on both Tuesday and Wednesday was 0.007 ppm, according to preliminary health department data. The state 24-hour standard is 0.005 ppm. There was also an exceedance at the North Braddock monitor Wednesday, with a 24-hour concentration of 0.010 ppm – twice the state standard. That made nine H2S exceedances at the Liberty monitor and three at North Braddock last month – exceedances that come in the wake of a Notice of Violation issued by ACHD to U.S. Steel regarding H2S emissions. The NOV issued on April 1 covers 25 exceedances that occurred in 2020 and seven in the first quarter of 2021 at the Liberty monitor. Eight exceedances of the state’s 24-hour H2S standard that occurred at the North Braddock monitor December 2020 through March 2021 were not included. The notice is the first step for any enforcement action – including civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation per day – for air pollution sources. U.S. Steel had 14 days to schedule a meeting with ACHD to discuss the NOV before ACHD may proceed with further enforcement action. No further information about the notice or U.S. Steel’s response is available on the ACHD website.