What is that smell? Advocates Say Allegheny County Isn’t Doing Enough About Air Pollution – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Air pollution and quality continue to be a concern for many people across Allegheny County.

Some environmentalists, as well as activists, say the county is just not doing enough to improve air quality, and that was passed at a town hall meeting on Wednesday.

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Several speakers both made the same two statements:

One of those tools is Carnegie Mellon University’s “Generation Lab” and its “Smell PGH” app.

It is designed to collect reports from residents.

Between January 3 and 8 alone, the app received more than 100 reports of odors in the county.

Many people describe the air as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur.

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That smell is caused by an excess of hydrogen sulfide in the air, and it’s an issue the county previously cited US Steel at Clairton Coke Works.

The Smell PGH app’s technical lead says you shouldn’t ignore your sense of smell.

“Research shows that the human nose can detect more than a trillion different odors, so if the air around you smells, you’re reacting to it, then you’re most likely inhaling something,” he said. something harmful”.

For its part, the county health department said it has been very active in enforcement and legal action against polluters.

It cited US Steel for nine violations in just the past two years.

They also said the Liberty Air Quality Monitor, about 2 miles from the coke production facility, has shown fine particle pollution levels to drop 32 per cent over the past 10 years.

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However, environmental advocates say they want more information and openness about regulation enforcement and prevention.