EPA Hazardous Air Pollution Rule to Go into Effect The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allowing the implementation of a 2024 hazardous air pollution rule that imposes new emissions controls and monitoring requirements on facilities like U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, a few months after seeking to delay and rework it. The hazardous air pollution […]
Air Testing Results After Clairton Coke Works Explosion
Air Testing Results After Clairton Coke Works Explosion A little more than a month after a deadly explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant, Allegheny County is sharing the results of its additional air quality testing in the area. Carnegie Mellon University and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection stationed mobile air units in […]
Alarming Amount of Microplastics Found in Homes and Cars
Alarming Amount of Microplastics Found in Homes and Cars A study has found that thousands of microplastics so small they can penetrate deep into the lungs are in your home and car. The particles are likely the result of the degradation of plastic-filled objects like carpets, curtains, furniture, and textiles and plastic parts of car […]
The Trump Administration is Delaying Mandates Requiring Steelmakers to Reduce Emissions
The Trump Administration is Delaying Mandates Requiring Steelmakers to Reduce Emissions The Trump administration is delaying mandates requiring steelmakers U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs to cut toxic admissions, drawing praise from the steelmaking industry and dismay from environmentalists. A July 1 order from the Environmental Protection Agency is postponed until April 2027, preventing stricter emissions standards […]
Class Action Settlement Benefits Residents Surrounding U.S. Steel Plant
Class Action Settlement Benefits Residents Surrounding U.S. Steel Plant Residents living near U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Steel Works plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, may soon receive compensation following a class action lawsuit alleging that emissions from the facility created a nuisance and contributed to air pollution. An Allegheny County judge recently granted preliminary approval for the […]
Smartwatch Bands Contain High Levels of PFAS Chemicals
Smartwatch Bands Contain High Levels of PFAS Chemicals Smartwatch and fitness tracker bands can contain high levels of PFAS forever chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin. A University of Notre Dame Study checked for PFAS, or markers of the substances, in 22 common brands. They were detected in 15 of the brands and […]
The Role of Benzene in Steelmaking: Environmental and Health Implications at Clairton Coke Works
The Role of Benzene in Steelmaking: Environmental and Health Implications at Clairton Coke Works Benzene plays a significant role in the steel industry, particularly in facilities where coke, a critical ingredient in steelmaking, is produced. While benzene is a byproduct of the coking process, its presence raises environmental and public health concerns due to its […]
Shell Cracker Plant Pollution Harms Locals
Shell Cracker Plant Pollution Harms Locals A 60-year-old woman lives near the Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemical Complex, which is a plant that cracks ethane, a byproduct of natural gas, to make millions of tons of plastic each year. The plant became operational in 2022. She was excited for the prospect of jobs, but this excitement faded […]
East Palestine Residents Want More Time to Decide to Accept Settlement
East Palestine Residents Want More Time to Decide to Accept Settlement Some East Palestine, Ohio residents want more time to decide to accept their share of a $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern over last year’s train derailment. It is not clear whether the judge will rule on the motion before Thursday’s deadline for people […]
The EPA Banned Methylene Chloride
The EPA Banned Methylene Chloride The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday a ban on most uses of methylene chloride. It is a toxic solvent used in paint stripping. It is linked to at least 88 accidental deaths since 1980. This final ruling strengthens the crackdown the Biden Administration is doing on different chemicals known to […]