1948 DONORA SMOG

By: Yenssi Williams

Industrial History

◦Modern Donora began in 1900 with heavy industry

◦American Steel was constructed along the river

◦In 1915 the Donora Zinc Works began production.

◦Such industrial expansion required more effective transportation facilities than the river barges and short-line railroads could provide.

◦The Pennsylvania Railroad expanded rail service, resulting in immigration.

Cause ◦Steel mills and a zinc smelting plant

◦Sulfuric acid

◦Nitrogen dioxide

◦Hydrogen flouride

◦Chemicals were emitted for years prior to the disaster

The chemicals

were trapped in the warm air layer and couldn’t get out

Effect

◦Killed 20 people

◦Thousands were left seriously ill

◦800 animals killed

◦Both plants were closed soon after

◦Triggered the clean air movement in the US

◦Business district remains empty with decayed buildings

Summary◦With growing industrial businesses more people migrated to the town of Donora, PA, resulting in more pollution. With the build up of these chemicals for years the smog finally came from being trapped in the warm air layer of the Monongahela River Valley, and lasted for five days. The disaster killed 20 people and 800 animals and left 14,000 seriously ill. Also, it changed the city’s reputation forever with it basically being abandoned today. With all the bad it sparked the clean air movement who’s greatest accomplishment is the Clean Air Act of 1970.

References

◦http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKDpNTNm1Cc◦http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/killer-smog-cl

aims-elderly-victims◦http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Donora_smog◦http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-

gang/wp/2013/10/25/u-s-once-had-air-pollution-to-match-chinas-today/

◦http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/us/02smog.html?_r=0

◦http://www.calu.edu/business-community/teaching-primary-sources/donora-digital-collection/smog-smoke/index.htm

◦http://www.jhu.edu/jhumag/0603web/smoke.html