1948day.year
Ecological disaster in Donora, Pennsylvania.
A severe smog event in Donora, Pennsylvania, results in dozens of deaths and hundreds of illnesses, raising awareness of air pollution hazards.
On October 27, 1948, Donora, Pennsylvania, became shrouded in a thick, toxic smog that lingered for five days. The smog originated from industrial emissions combined with weather conditions that trapped pollutants in the Monongahela River valley. Visibility dropped significantly, and residents experienced coughing, difficulty breathing, and eye irritation. The event claimed the lives of 20 people and sickened over 7,000. Medical studies linked the disaster to sulfur dioxide and particulate matter from local zinc and steel plants. The Donora smog incident spurred public demand for air quality regulations and contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Clean Air Act in 1963.
1948
Ecological disaster
Donora, Pennsylvania