Denora Smog

Question 1

background info on Denora, PA

Answer 1

Steel town with history of problems and suffering due to smelters and factories

Question 2

Zinc Works

Answer 2

belched out various chemicals for many years the public and the law saw them as an environmental pollutant

Question 3

October 1948

Answer 3

temperature inversion occurred trapping all the pollutants

thick blanket of chemicals smothered the town and within days hundreds were ill and 20 dead

Question 4

Initial Response

Answer 4

blame the Zinc works

Question 5

PHS investigation

Answer 5

1st denied plea to investigate stating “freak weather incident”

Zinc works also hired their own company to say people died due to pre-existing conditions

Question 6

PHS finally intervenes; 3 prong approach

Answer 6

weather modeling
air sampling
epidemiological study about the effects

FINAL results of the PHS investigation: it was a result of multiple sources not just Zinc Works:
weather conditions
pre-exsisting conditions (may have weakened some)

Reaction to report: some said the investigation was flawed due to economic bias. Responsibility could be deflected by stating topography and weather were to blame. AND many residents feared wreath of plant so they minimized reporting illness)

Question 7

Long term impact

Answer 7

Stimulated legislation

Shift from source based research to more broad health effects

potential to improve air quality by holding manufacturers to standards