Residents of Allegheny County, particularly in the Mon Valley, suffer higher mortality rates from fine particulate pollution than the national average.
Andy Sheehan reports for CBS News.
In short:
- A study by Carnegie Mellon's Breathe Project reveals that 640 to 1,370 residents of Allegheny County die annually due to PM2.5 pollution.
- The most affected areas are poorer, predominantly minority communities in the Mon Valley, with mortality rates 33% higher than the rest of the county.
- Despite U.S. Steel's investment in pollution controls, advocates demand further modernization of industrial sites like Clairton Coke Works.
Key quote:
"People who have lived in these impacted communities have been saying this for years. This backs up their story, and it's time for injustice to end."
— Matthew Mehalik, executive director of the Breathe Project
Why this matters:
The Mon Valley serves as a poignant example of environmental injustice. Industrial areas with high pollution levels are often home to lower-income communities and marginalized groups who may lack the resources to advocate for cleaner environments.
