Donora of pennsylvania in usa is a small mill town dominated by a steel mill, a zinc smelter and a sulphuric acid plant. The 1948 donora smog was a historic smog event that killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 6,000 people of the 14,000 population of donora, pennsylvania, a mill town on the monongahela river 24 miles 39 km southeast of pittsburgh. Red soil, dust and sand from central and southeastern australia was swept up in high winds and carried southeast through victoria. Editorials roholmscontributiontotheairpollutionproblem one. Donora smog disaster phmc our documentary heritage. B the ambient level of air pollutants below the primary standard levels. Natural pollution volcanic eruptions, forest fires, biological decay. Air pollution tragedy lesson plan ventura county air pollution. Public health service investigated the donora tragedy and in 1949 issued a report titled air pollution in donora, pa epidemiology of the smog episode of october 1948.
On this day, the 63rd anniversary of the donora death fog, lets. In 1948, the people of donora, pennsylvania experienced the worst pollution disaster in the history of the united states. Noted as the most severe air pollution disaster in history, the incident took place over 4 days in london. Case study of air pollution episodes in meuse valley of. The great air pollution disasters 3 major history episodes. The smog may have been an environmental disaster, but in the end, it helped save more people from air pollution. In this story from our archives, the allegheny fronts jennifer szweda jordan visited the town to talk with survivors. Environmental protection agency sets and enforces air quality standards only for ambient air. Dec 12, 2016 this feature is not available right now.
The presence of one or more contaminants like dust, smoke, mist and odor in the atmosphere which are injurious to human beings, plants and animals. An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and history. The anniversary of the worst recorded industrial air pollution accident inus history which occurred 50 years ago this october in donora,pennsylvania will go virtually unmarked. Other air pollution disasters through the world 1983 melbourne dust storm. Brian charlton of the donora smog museum talked about the origin of the 1948 donora air quality crisis and how it led to changing perceptions of air pollution and industrialization. In addition to air pollution, this industry also causes impairment to the health of the workers, and is classified as a unit carrying on hazardous process. Air pollution episodes and disasters linkedin slideshare. In late october, 1948, donora was hit with an environmental disaster that would. The donora smog disaster and the clean air act of 1970. The air is certainly a lot cleaner today than in the days of the smogs of the 1950s, when factory chimneys belched out smoke and nearly everyone had a coal fire. According to the united states census bureau, the borough has a total area of 2. During that period, emitted air pollutants were trapped in the air inversion layer of the atmosphere about 100m above ground level. May 24, 2012 the tragedy and loss of life of the donora smog tragedy and the shock of awareness it created greatly contributed to the legislative drive that created the clean air act.
Published by the arab school for science and technology asst. Apr 19, 2017 hourly records of air pollutants were collected from air pollution monitoring stations and managed in microsoft excel files by the lab experts of isfahans department of environment. Top 10 environmental disasters environmental facts kids. The anniversary of the worst recorded industrial air pollution accident in us history which occurred 50 years ago this october in donora, pennsylvania will go virtually unmarked. In 1955 congress finally passed the nations first clean air act. Inmany details, the donora disaster paralleled that of the meuse valley. In the film, we present the air pollution disasters in. The notable among the air pollution episodes are meuse valley episode in 1930, episode in donora in pennsylvania of usa, london episode in 1952, bhopal episode in india that occurred in 1984, chernobyl episode in 1986, southeast asian haze of 1997. Valley disaster fell into oblivionshortly after it appeared.
Nov 15, 2015 case study of 1948 donora, pa, smog emergency which killed 20 people, sickened thousands more and helped launch modern pollution reforms. The donora smog disaster attracted attention to this problem. Case study of 1948 donora, pa, smog emergency which killed 20 people, sickened thousands more and helped launch modern pollution reforms. The donora death fog, as it is sometimes called, aroused major concern about air pollution in the united states. Apr 14, 2011 other air pollution disasters through the world 1983 melbourne dust storm.
The acute effects of air pollution on human health have been proven in the twentieth century, as the severe air pollution in europe meuse valley and london and in the united states donora, pa. Although smogs effect on the people in and around donora on october 30 and 31, 1948 was extreme, residents of other communities also suffered from environmental contaminants. It eventually led to the clean air act and state and federal. Again, the geographical location of london lies in a wide valley that was heavily populated 8. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are introduced. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page. A secret history of americas worst air pollution disaster. Sixty years later, the incident was described by the new york times as one of the worst air pollution disasters in the nations history. The investigation into donora smog disaster was essential to the first federal cleanair act, passed in 1955. Cleaner air is legacy left by donoras killer 1948 smog. Kagawa, jun encyclopedia of life support systems eolss so2 was from 9. The donora smog event was devastating to the community, however this event helped create the air pollution control act in 1955 and further developed the clean air acts. Cite journal requires journal bryson, chris fall 1998. Hourly records of air pollutants were collected from air pollution monitoring stations and managed in microsoft excel files by the lab experts of isfahans department of environment.
Air pollution and its effects on health case studies, india. Had the medical profession and scientists interested in air pollution given ittheattention which it deserved, the worst u. The tragedy and loss of life of the donora smog tragedy and the shock of awareness it created greatly contributed to the legislative drive that created the clean air act. Chronic exposure to urban air pollution affects lung function, increases the risk of cvd and lung cancer, alters immunity, induces dna and. Air pollution problems at the zinc works were recognized as early as 1918, when the plant owner. The next year, president harry truman called for the first national air pollution conference. An air pollution disaster over the two southwestern pennsylvania towns of donora and webster in october 1948 took dozens of lives, left thousands literally gasping for breath, and motivated the united states public health service phs to enter the arena of air pollution policy. These laws are intended to prevent air from being polluted.
The air pollution control act in india was passed in 1981 and the motor vehicle act for controlling the air pollution, very recently. President harry truman cited donora as an example of the need for a national air pollution conference he convened in 1950. The tagline at the donora smog museum is clean air started here, denoting that their suffering played a big part in opening the eyes of americans to the hazards of air pollution and spurred political action that has carried forth through today and will continue into the future. Mar 22, 2015 on top of that, after the 3 air pollution disasters, the public became aware and concern which pushed their government for more research and legislation into preventing similar disasters from happening in future. While todays air pollution problems do not approach the severity of the 1948 donora. Apr 22, 2009 the donora smog event, the worst air pollution disaster in u.
Air pollution and cardiovascular and respiratory disease. A pollution disaster unprecedented in american history, the donora death fog, made air pollution a national concern. The event is commemorated by the donora smog museum. Environmental protection agency, office of air and radiation. The 1948 donora smog was a historic smog event that killed 20 people and caused respiratory. This could also influence the collection of pollutants as the air coming off the river. I case study of air pollution episodes in meuse valley of belgium, donora of pennsylvania, and london, u. Everyone in pittsburgh remembers the donora disaster from 1948. But if you are concerned about air pollution, there is a free and easy to use service that allows you to check levels in your area.
Report to congress on indoor air quality, volume ii. Industrial air pollution, public health, and federal policy, 19151963. Unesco eolss sample chapters environmental toxicology and human health vol. Sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matter were found to. A secret history of americas worst air pollution disaster, chris bryson explains that the records containing that information are missing from the u. When it was over, the local funeral home ran out of caskets. The donora smog helped raise awareness of air pollution and its deadly effects on human beings and has even been credited with jumpstarting the clean air movement in the united states.
Sixty years ago, the nations worst air pollution disaster occurred in the monongahela river valley town of donora. The donora incident, which killed 20 and left hundreds seriously injured and dying, was caused by fluoride emissions from the donora zinc works and steel plants. Below is a list of the top 10 environmental disasters, which impacted human life, animals, wildlife, air and water quality, and more. C levels of air pollutants to 150% of the primary standard levels. Link to air the search for one clean breath from executive. The event is commemorated by the donora smog museum sixty years later, the incident was described by the new york times as one of the worst air. In addition, reports regarding air pollution have indicated that levels of. This dissertation explores how investigations of donoras smog reflected and contributed to the power of. The donora smog event, the worst air pollution disaster in u. When smoke ran like water in the the opening chapter of her recent book, when smoke ran like water,a the distinguished epidemiologist devra lee davis gives a riveting account of the notorious air pollution disaster that occurred in her home town of donora, pennsylvania, in 1948. This dissertation explores how investigations of donora s smog reflected and contributed to the power of.
Consequently in 1949, the state government established the division of air pollution control to study the. On october 30 and 31, 1948, atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of donora. Donora the day after a deadly smog cleared over donora, the local newspaper lobbied for a full investigation into the poisonous air that had just killed 20 people. Industrial air pollution, public health policy and the politics of expertise, 19481949, written by lynn page snyder of the university of pennsylvania, describes the disaster and its consequences. But if you are concerned about air pollution, there is a free and easy to use service that allows you to. Also introduced are a brief history of air pollution. As donoras residents inhaled the poisonous chemicals trapped inside the smog, more than 7000 people suffered respiratory distress. Outdoor air pollution acute health effects of air pollution three classic incidents meuse valley, belgium 1930 65 deaths donora, pennsylvania 1948 20 deaths london, england 1952 4000 deaths noaa begin by giving a little of the history of outdoor air pollution. This site has the entire 5,672 page text of the 2008 clean air act in pdf format.
The content of the brochure is divided into an introduction, biologic studies, atmospheric studies, which include many subheadings, such as a collection of the atmospheric pollutants, determination of the nature of these pollutants, a description of the various plant operations in the donora area, as well as the consideration of the pollution. Measurement of air pollution was done in this case. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. The report indicates that the death rates for the period 194548 for donora and nearby pittsburgh were 826 and 1,086 per 100,000 people, respectively. Aug 22, 2015 the notable among the air pollution episodes are meuse valley episode in 1930, episode in donora in pennsylvania of usa, london episode in 1952, bhopal episode in india that occurred in 1984, chernobyl episode in 1986, southeast asian haze of 1997, and fukushima daiichi nuclear disaster of 2011. The plants located in the valley began to close in the 1950s a downward economic. Public debate and corporate diplomacy in donoras fight for clean.
What was described as a killer fog blanketed this small company town in 1948. Man made activities thermal power plants, agricultural activities. A temperature inversion sets the stage for the donora. The changes were positively associated with pm 10 and pm 2. This pledge must be kept until it is redeemed by a true bill of health which donora must now earn out of its tragedy, the heraldamericans frontpage editorial stated. Top 10 environmental disasters humans havent always been kind to the earth, particularly in the last century, and in some cases, their actions have been devastating. The greatest industrial disaster leading to serious air pollution took place in bhopal where extremely poisonous methyl isocyanide gas was. Assessment and control of indoor air pollution, pp.
The 1948 donora smog was a historic smog event that killed 20 people and caused respiratory problems for 7,000 people of the 14,000 population of donora, pennsylvania, a mill town on the monongahela river 24 miles 39 km southeast of pittsburgh. What are the causes of air pollution pollutant description and main uk sources potential effects on healthenvironment particulate matter pmpm 10 and pm 2. For environmental health science students air pollution mengesha admassu, mamo wubeshet university of gondar in collaboration with the ethiopia public health training initiative, the carter center, the ethiopia ministry of health, and the ethiopia ministry of education august 2006. The kinds of papers i would expect to find are the correspondence files, the. Donora residents remember the deadliest air pollution disaster. Oct 27, 2011 the tagline at the donora smog museum is clean air started here, denoting that their suffering played a big part in opening the eyes of americans to the hazards of air pollution and spurred political action that has carried forth through today and will continue into the future. This paper discusses the health impacts arising from ambient and household air pollution globally and at the national level india and recommends policy measures to reduce the health impact from air pollution in the national context. Donora gained major national attention, for it revealed the severe effects of industrial air pollution on public health. Aug 20, 2008 the disaster is historically significant because it helped usher in federal air quality measures. In 20 th march 2010, to 19 th march 2012, pm 10, co, no 2, o 3, and so 2 levels were automatically measured and recorded every hour. In this june 9, 2018, file photo, jockey mike smith smiles after guiding.