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• Some of the most polluted US cities are home to coal-based steel plants.
• Seven factories with blast furnaces remain, contributing to poor air quality in their cities.
• These cities rank among the top 25 in the U.S. for ozone and particulate matter pollution, according to the American Lung Association.
• A strong correlation exists between emissions from blast furnaces and the pollution levels.
• Transitioning to cleaner alternatives could help these communities improve their air quality.
• Industrious Labs published a breakdown of emissions from each coal-based U.S. steelmaking plant, measuring NOx and PM2.5.
• Northwest Indiana’s steel plants ranked high for NOx and PM2.5 emissions, impacting the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Cleveland-Cliffs’ plants in Middletown and Cleveland also contribute to pollution in their respective regions.
• U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works facility in Pennsylvania is linked to high particle pollution in the Pittsburgh area.
• There are concerns that potential cuts to federal funding could hinder the transition to cleaner steel production.
• The EPA issued new rules to address unmeasured fugitive emissions from steelmakers.
• The Trump administration has offered exemptions from these rules, with U.S. Steel being the first to accept.
• Emissions from U.S. Steel’s Gary Works plant are linked to premature deaths, emergency room visits, and asthma attacks.