Children with asthma living near U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works in Allegheny County are significantly more likely to miss school on days when fine particle pollution spikes, a new study finds.
Kiley Bense reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- A new study shows that students with asthma in Clairton, Pennsylvania, faced an 80% higher risk of school absenteeism on days with elevated PM2.5 levels, a harmful form of air pollution.
- U.S. Steel, operator of the 120-year-old Clairton Coke Works, has faced millions in fines for air quality violations, yet remains active and has sought regulatory exemptions under the Trump administration.
- Public health experts warn that poor air quality is harming children’s health and education in the Mon Valley, especially in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods close to industrial sources.
Key quote:
“It was an 80% higher risk of absenteeism on higher-pollution days. That’s a pretty strong signal. When the pollution is bad, it’s keeping kids out of school.”
— Matt Mehalik, study co-author and executive director of the Breathe Project
Why this matters:
Fine particulate matter like PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, worsening asthma and increasing the risk of heart and lung disease. In industrial corridors like the Mon Valley, these invisible particles come from decades-old plants that still burn coal to make steel. The Clairton Coke Works, in particular, emits toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, premature death and respiratory illness. Children, whose lungs are still developing, are especially vulnerable. As climate change drives up temperatures and amplifies allergens, the burden on children with asthma is expected to worsen.
Read more: Air pollution causes up to 33 million ER visits for asthma annually
