Study details health risks of coal-based steel

Industrious Labs estimates that it resulted in up to $1.4 billion in medical bills for 2020, along with $16 million in lost economic activity.

A report released Monday by an environmental nonprofit links pollution emitted from coal-based steel and coke plants around the country, including here in the Mon Valley, to premature deaths, asthma symptoms and decreased economic activity.

Advocacy group Industrious Labs analyzed the health and economic risks associated with coal-based steelmaking. According to data retrieved from the Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 50 to 92 premature deaths in residents living near U.S. Steel’s plants in Clairton and Braddock and Cleveland-Cliffs’ Monessen plant during 2020 are linked to emissions from the facilities.

In the same year, the three plants were also associated with 54 emergency room visits for respiratory issues, 24,950 asthma symptoms, 3,988 work absences and 6,965 school absences. That resulted in estimated health costs between $800 million and $1.4 billion, along with $16 million in lost economic activity.

“To me, that means regulators, operators of these companies themselves, the federal government, all have a responsibility to get us off coal-based steel production as soon as possible,” said Patrick Campbell, executive director of the Pittsburgh- based Group Against Smog and Pollution. “That takes time, so in the meantime, strengthening environmental regulations is critical as well as incentivizing transition for these companies.”

The study included data from 17 steelmaking facilities across six states — Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. Industrious Labs’ report concluded that an estimated 892 premature deaths, 250,500 cases of asthma symptoms and $13.2 billion in health costs every year are associated with pollution emitted from coal-based steel production.

The report also ranked the steelmaking facilities against other top polluters from their respective states. U.S. Steel’s Clairton plant ranks in the top of five Pennsylvania’s nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide polluters.

Some of the statistics don’t come as a surprise to many residents and advocates in the Valley and greater Pittsburgh area, as many people have called for imposing stricter regulations on polluters in the region for years.

“We’re finding that a lot of people are feeling like they have to move because of how it’s affecting their families, like many people are trying to move because their children are getting sicker, and they really can’t live in their house without their child suffering for it,” Breathe Project communications manager NaTisha Washington said.

The report also points out that many of the residents who live within a 3-mile radius of the plants in Monessen, Clairton and Braddock, along with facilities from the other five states, are people of color and have a low income.

Industrious Labs calls on the EPA and state agencies to strengthen regulations in order to take action against the polluters, while suggesting the industry turn away from coal-based steelmaking, which is a transition that could be decades away.

“Steel communities have been sounding the alarm on harmful air pollution for years, and this report quantifies just how devastating and far-reaching the consequences are,” Hilary Lewis, steel director at Industrious Labs, said in a statement. “The EPA has consistently failed to safeguard the health of these communities from the dangers of coalbased steelmaking. It’s time for stronger regulations that recognize the opportunity of cleaner steelmaking technologies and tougher enforcement of penalties on polluters to truly protect public health.”