Top 10 Industrial Plants Creating Toxic Emissions in Allegheny County

 Posted on June 15, 2022 in Personal Injury

Pittsburgh consistently ranks as one of the most polluted areas in the United States. A study performed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that Allegheny County is in the top 2 percent of counties in the U.S. where residents are at risk of cancer from air pollution. The Pittsburgh area is home to prominent companies in the steel industry, as well as multiple other types of industrial plants. With so many facilities working with toxic chemicals, emissions of these dangerous substances can significantly affect the health of the region’s residents. People who have been affected by these dangerous chemicals may be able to take legal action against companies that have violated environmental regulations through toxic torts.

Industrial Facilities Responsible for Toxic Chemical Emissions

PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center has identified the top sources of air pollution in Allegheny County:

1. ATI Flat Rolled Products - This plant in Brackenridge has been responsible for more chromium emissions than all other facilities in Allegheny County combined. Chromium is a cancer-causing substance that can also cause damage to the respiratory and reproductive systems. The facility has also been responsible for emissions of lead, nickel, cobalt, manganese, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

2. Harsco Metals - This facility in Natrona has been cited for releasing airborne dust that has affected homes and vehicles in the nearby area. It has also released chromium, manganese, and lead emissions.

3. U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works - This plant is the largest manufacturer of coke (refined coal) in the United States, and it has been responsible for emissions of sulfur dioxide, benzene, lead, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, phenol, toluene, and multiple other toxic substances.

4. Universal Stainless and Alloy Products - This Bridgeville facility has released multiple types of metal-containing compounds, including chromium, lead, nickel, manganese, and copper, and many of these compounds have been linked to cancer and nerve damage.

5. Thermal Transfer Corp. - This plant in Duquesne releases large amounts of chromium and nickel, which can cause cancer and respiratory problems, as well as developmental problems for children who are exposed to these substances.

6. Holtec Manufacturing - This facility in Turtle Creek is one of the largest emitters of chromium in the area, and it is also responsible for emissions of lead, nickel, and manganese.

7. Cheswick Power Plant - This coal-fired electrical generation plant is located in Springdale, and it has been responsible for emissions of sulfur dioxide, which can cause respiratory problems for children or people with disorders such as asthma. It has also emitted barium, lead, mercury, and ammonia.

8. U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works Edgar Thomson Plant - This facility, located in Braddock, has been cited for sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emissions. It is also responsible for emissions of benzene, beryllium, chromium, lead, nickel, manganese, mercury, and ammonia.

9. Carpenter Powder Products, Inc. - This Bridgeville plant is responsible for cobalt emissions, which can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and cause cancer. It also emits chromium and nickel.

10. PPG Industries, Inc. - This facility in Springdale is responsible for emissions of naphthalene and ethylbenzene, which can cause cancer and damage the nervous system. It has also emitted chromium, cobalt, nickel, styrene, toluene, antimony, and copper.

Contact Our Allegheny County Toxic Chemical Exposure Lawyers

With so many sources of pollution in the Pittsburgh area, residents may be exposed to multiple different types of harmful chemicals. When companies that operate industrial plants and facilities fail to take the correct steps to prevent toxic substances from being released and affecting the public, they should be held responsible for the injuries and health issues that people experience as a result. At Colianni & Leonard LLC, we can help victims of toxic chemical exposure determine their legal options, and we will advocate on their behalf as they pursue compensation from companies that caused them harm. Contact our Pittsburgh toxic tort attorneys at 412-680-7877 to schedule a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://toxicten.org/

https://www.toxicten.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Toxic-10-Appendix-and-Methodology.pdf

https://frontiergroup.org/sites/default/files/reports/PA_cuttingsmoke_final_scrn%20revd.pdf