GASP on Thursday joined national green steel organization Industrious Labs and fellow local environmental leaders outside the MetCoke World Summit in Pittsburgh to speak out against the health and environmental impacts of the steel industry and call for cleaner, safer production practices and stricter rules for the coke industry.
Just how much of an impact? According to a recent report from Industrious Labs, in communities like Pittsburgh, steel and coke facilities are part of a larger industrial landscape where cumulative pollution from multiple sources causes severe and extensive harm.
Research indicates that residents of Allegheny County experience significantly higher mortality rates from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution than other parts of the U.S., with PM2.5 exposure linked to an estimated 640-1,373 deaths annually.
Our Executive Director Patrick Campbell was among those who spoke at the rally. Here were his comments:
Good morning. My name is Patrick Campbell, and I’m the Executive Director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, or GASP—a nonprofit that’s been fighting for clean air since 1969.
We’re here today outside the MetCoke Summit to deliver a message that can no longer be ignored: our communities’ health and well-being must come before industry profits.
For far too long, the coke, coal, and steel industries have prioritized their bottom line over the health of our people. The pollution they release has exacted a heavy toll, causing untold suffering in communities that deserve far better.
The Mon Valley, once a proud emblem of American industry, has become a stark warning of what happens when profit takes precedence over responsibility. Places like Clairton and Braddock have paid the price for decades of environmental neglect.
A recent report by Industrious Labs has put hard data behind what we already knew: pollution in the Mon Valley is linked to an alarming number of excess deaths. These aren’t just numbers—they represent real people, our neighbors, friends, and families.
We’re here to demand a different future, one where the health of our communities and the health of our planet are non-negotiable. We need a steel industry that leads in innovation and reduces its emissions and carbon footprint.
To make this future a reality, we must:
Invest in Clean Energy: Transition to renewable energy and adopt sustainable industrial practices.
Hold Polluters Accountable: Enforce meaningful penalties for companies that break environmental laws and endanger our communities.
Prioritize Community Health: Fund initiatives for air quality monitoring and health screenings to safeguard public health.
To the attendees inside the MetCoke Conference, we ask this: listen to the voices of the people affected by your decisions. Commit to building a steel industry that is sustainable, equitable, and safe.
Thank you.