Pittsburgh used to be famous for its air pollution, and as of this year, the area still has some of the lowest-quality air in the United States.
But few air pollution events in the nation’s history rival what happened an hour away, in Donora, Pa., in 1948. An atmospheric event turned the town’s already filthy air into a wall of smog that killed 20 people and sickened 40% of the community’s population.
On Tuesday, Brian Charlton of the Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum visited Bridgeville for a presentation explaining how the Donora Smog happened and its environmental legacy. Watch the full video above.
The Bridgeville Historical Society’s next presentation is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Chartiers Room. Handwriting expert Valerie Weil will explain how her skills help analyze history. As always, Historical Society presentations are free to the public.