EPA-600/1-77-014
February 1977
THE PITTSBURGH AIR POLLUTION EPISODE OF
NOVEMBER 17-21, 1975; AIR QUALITY
Douglas W. Baty
Jose M. Sune
David 0. Hinton
Exposure Assessment Branch
Population Studies Division
Health Effects Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
HEALTH EFFECTS RESEARCH LABORATORY
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. 27711
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DISCLAIMER
This report has been reviewed by the Health Effects Research
Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and approved for
publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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FOREWORD
The many benefits of our modern, developing, industrial society are
accompanied by certain hazards. Careful assessment of the relative risk
of existing and new man-made environmental hazards is necessary for the
establishment of sound regulatory policy. These regulations serve to
enhance the quality of our environment in order to promote the public
health and welfare and the productive capacity of our Nation's population.
The Health Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
conducts a coordinated environmental health research program in toxicology,
epidemiology, and clinical studies using human volunteer subjects. These
studies address problems in air pollution, non-ionizing radiation,
environmental carcinogensis and the toxicology of pesticides as well as
other chemical pollutants. The Laboratory develops and revises air quality
criteria documents on pollutants for which national ambient air quality
standards exist or are proposed, provides the data for registration of new
pesticides or proposed suspension of those already in use, conducts research
on hazardous and toxic materials, and is preparing ^he health basis for
non-ionizing radiation standards. Direct support to the regulatory function
of the Agency is provided in the form of expert testimony and preparation of
affidavits as well as expert advice to the Administrator to assure the
adequacy of health care and surveillance of persons having suffered imminent
and substantial endangerment of their health.
The recent air pollution episode of November 1975, in which a cloud
of pollution literally descended on the valleys around Pittsburgh, Penn-
sylvania, presented the Health Effects Research Laboratory with a real-life
situation in which our various technologies could be applied. Our recently
developed computerized air monitoring system, The Community Health Air
Monitoring Program (CHAMP), was able to be utilized during the Pittsburgh
episode. This was done by using one of the mobile laboratory vans sent
from HERL in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to the scene to
characterize and study the pollution levels. Such study is essential to
epidemiologists and other health scientists in determining the health
effects in populations from pollutants. This Report describes and dis-
cusses HERL's monitoring efforts during and after the pollution alert.
Much valuable information and experience was gained by our staff which
will be used in future situations requiring such technical expertise.
H. Knelson, M.D.
iP'roct or,
iieaUh tJ I ,(..ts Research Laboratory
in
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ABSTRACT
In November 1975 a serious air stagnation problem developed over
Western Pennsylvania, with extremely heavy air pollution in the Pittsburgh
area. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Health Effects
Research Laboratory (HERL) immediately mobilized a team of air monitoring
and epidemiological personnel to verify the nature of pollutants and to
determine the possible health effects from this pollution. By Wednesday,
November 19, pollution levels reached emergency stage, as determined by the
standards of the Allegheny County Health Department, with particulate con-
centrations measuring 7.0 COH/1000 feet for a 24-hour average. HERL sent
an EPA Community Health Air Monitoring Program (CHAMP) mobile monitoring
laboratory van from Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to provide in-
dependent verification of the Allegheny County monitoring data. School
children were tested for pulmonary function near the site of monitoring
facilities.
This Report describes and discusses EPA's monitoring effort during
and after the pollution alert. It concludes that HERL's monitoring con-
firmed data collected by the local health department, that air stagnations
such as this one are likely to recur, that different pollutants do not
increase uniformly during an air inversion, and the Benzo-Alpha-Pyrene
and suspended sulfates significantly contributed to the pollution problem.
The Report includes tables and figures on relevant data gathered regarding
the episode, illustrations, and a map showing monitoring sites.
TV
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions and
cooperation received in gathering data for this report. The use
of data furnished by personnel of the Bureau of Air Pollution
Control, Allegheny County Health Department was especially help-
ful. We would particularly thank Dr. Arvid Ek, Administrator of
Technical Services of the Bureau, for his assistance and patience
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THE PITTSBURGH EPISODE
In trod uc t i o n
On Monday, November 17, 1975, an air stagnation advisory
was issued for western Pennsylvania. It was later extended to
Friday, November 21. By Uednesday, pollution levels reached
emergency stage with particulate concentrations measured 7.0
COH/1000 feet (24-hour average) at the Allegheny County Liberty
Borough site outside Pittsburgh. The Environmental Protection
Agency's Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL) in Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina, then mobilized a team of air
monitoring and epidemiological personnel to verify the nature of
pollutants and determine the possible health effects from these
high pollution levels. HERL was also needed by EPA's legal staff
for possible medical testimony to curtail major industrial
operations.
An EPA Community Health Air Monitoring Program (CHAMP)
mobile monitoring laboratory was sent from North Carolina and
arrived Thursday. However, the mobile lab was not yet fully
operating when a cold front dispelled the inversion layer early
Friday morning, November 21. But pollution levels during the
episode were measured in detail by Allegheny County's eight auto-
mated stations. Later data gathered by the mobile van did provide
independent verification of the Allegheny County data.
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Schoolchi1dren's pulmonary function was tested in the
parochial school nearest the site of the mobile monitoring labora-
tory and in five other area schools. South Allegheny County High
School, the location of the Liberty Borough monitoring site, was
not used because of inability to get necessary pulmonary testing
authorization. The tests continued for one week to determine how
quickly lungs recover from high air pollution. A separate report
2
details results of these tests.
Background
Pittsburgh produces one-fifth of the entire nation's
steel and is also the country's largest aluminum production cen-
ter. Because of the heavy concomitant production and use of coke
in Pittsburgh's leviathan steel industry, Pittsburgh historically
has had an air pollution problem. The city of Pittsburgh, real-
izing the serious gravity of this problem, has, since 1946,
attempted to improve the ambient air with a number of programs.
One such program was to establish an extensive air monitoring
network with a staff delegated emergency powers to protect public
health.
Geography
Pittsburgh, situated in the valleys formed by the junc-
ture of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, has a topography
especially susceptible to air pollution episodes. The city is in
sort of a "trough-box," with the banks of the rivers rising to
150 meters (approximately 500 feet) on two sides, which are fur-
ther bordered by the 2000-feet-high Allegheny Mountains.
2
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Meteorology
Stagnant air is a common phenomenon in river valleys,
particularly during the colder seasons when there is not enough
sunshine for vertical mixing. Air inversions such as those in
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County during November 1975 keep air
within these river valleys, which sets the stage for very high
accumulation of pollutants.
At 12 noon on Monday, November 17, 1975, the National
Weather Service Forecast Office at Pittsburgh Airport issued an
Air Stagnation Advisory for western Pennsylvania, the adjoining
eastern Ohio counties of Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont and Mon-
roe, and for the adjacent West Virginia Northern Panhandle
counties of Brooke, Ohio, Hancock and Marshall.
During the severe episode recorded in Allegheny County
(November 16-20, 1975), winds were limited to 10 m/s. Wind
speeds averaged 1.1 m/s (2.5 mph) the morning of the 19th, the
day air pollution concentrations reached emergency levels (Table 1)
Vertical mixing heights reached 1455 meters above ground surface on
November 16, but then failed to rise above 310 meters for the next
four days, creating an inversion. (Throughout the episode, verti-
cal mixing heights stayed below 500 meters while wind speeds held
5 m/s for 3 days.) High winds, precipitation, and a passing cold
front dispelled the air inversion on the 21st. These meteorologi-
cal conditions closely match those Holzworth found to occur once
previously at Pittsburgh during the five years, 1960-64.
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Site Selection
Because of existing high pollution levels, the Liberty
Borough, 18 kilometers (km) southeast of downtown Pittsburgh,
was chosen for air sampling by EPA's mobile monitoring laboratory.
Figure 1 shows the location of the monitoring site. The mobile
laboratory was less than 100 meters from the Allegheny County
monitoring site at Liberty Borough so EPA and Allegheny data could
be compared for accuracy. This site consistently records one of
the highest pollution index levels of all Allegheny County locations
monitored. Holy Cross and St. Joseph's Schools, 2 of the 6 schools
used in the epidemic logical study, were within one kilometer of the
Liberty Borough site. In addition, U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works,
3 kilometers southwest of the site, was one of the most serious
pollution emission sources.
Figure 2 is a photograph of the mobile laboratory at the
Liberty Borough site, showing South Allegheny High School, the
monitoring site. The RSP sampler inlet, gaseous sample inlet,
and hi-vol shelter are mounted from left to right on top of the
van. Monitoring instruments and computer are housed inside the
van .
Synopsis of Pollution Levels in Pittsburgh during 1966 and 1967
The National Air Sampling Network (NASN) collected air
pollution data in the Pittsburgh area before the November episode.
NASN's sampling site is located in a commercial section of down-
town Pittsburgh (see Figure 1). Data from this site indicates
that Pittsburgh has long had a problem with high participate
concentrations.
4
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Figure 3 is a graph showing Total Suspended Particulates
(TSP) for the years 1966 and 1967. The dashed lines across the
graph at 140 and 134 micrograms per cubic meter (yg/m ) are the
geometric means for the samples taken in 1966 and 1967. This
exceeds the present National Primary Air Quality Standard of
75 yg/m , indicated by the dotted line.
The frequency distribution graph of Suspended Sulfates
(SS) for the years 1966-67 is given in Figure 4. The arithmetic
3
mean for this period is 13.1 yg/m . While there are no standards
pertaining to SS, the concentrations can be compared to total TSP
for reference. For the years shown, arithmetic mean SS levels
were 9.6 percent of geometric mean TSP concentrations. The
arithmetic mean for SS during this time period and the ratio of
SS to TSP will be compared to data taken during the episode.
Suspended Nitrates (SN) for the 1966-67 period are shown
in Figure 5, The arithmetic mean is 2.1 yg/m . This mean level
will be used to compare with episode levels.
Benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) concentrations for the years 1966-67,
the first years of detailed BaP records in Pittsburgh, are graphed
by quarters in Figure 6. The national average in the 1966-67
period of all urban areas tested is 2.7 nanograms per cubic meter
(ng/m3), as indicated by the dotted line. As this graph demon-
strates, downtown Pittsburgh has had a history of higher-than-
average BaP concentrations. However, none of the quarters in
this period had BaP concentrations. However, none of the quarters
in this period had BaP levels as high as the concentrations
recorded during the episode.
5
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A frequency distribution plot of Sulfur Dioxide (S0?),
Figure 7, was made from 1967 data from the NASN downtown site.
The data arithmetic mean, 66 yg/m , is lower than the present
3
National Primary Standard for S0? , 80 yg/m . The maximum recorded
24-hour concentration, 164 yg/m , is much less than the 24-hour
National Primary Standard of 365 yg/m .
Nitrogen Dioxide (N0?) concentrations in downtown Pitts-
burgh in 1967 averaged well above the National Primary Standard
of 100 yg/m , as seen in Figure 8. The data arithmetic mean,
3
141 yg/m , represented by the dashed line, is 40 percent more than
3
100 yg/m , the dotted line. Maximum daily concentration standards
have not been established.
Analysis of Recent 1974 Data at Liberty Borough Site
The three graphs (Figures 9-11) present the TSP and S0?
data for the 1974 calendar year. The TSP graph (Figure 9) has
both the National Primary Annual Standard and the corresponding
observed mean indicated on the plot. The observed geometric mean,
115 micrograms per cubic meter, is well above the standard of
3 3
75 yg/m . The maximum observed value, 473 yg/m , greatly exceeds
3
the maximum primary 24-hour standard of 260 yg/m .
From the daily TSP plot in the months of November 1973,
1974 and 1975 (Figure 10), the past three years can be easily
compared. Although the 1975 data (squares) obviously exceeds the
other two years, in both November 1973 and November 1974, the
maximum national 24-hour standard was exceeded. If TSP had been
sampled daily instead of every 2-4 days, more data points both
above and below the standards would appear on the graphs.
6
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The SOr, concentrations in 1974 were also high. As indi-
cated by the graph (Figure 11), 50 percent of the values exceeded
the National Primary Standard of 80 yg/mJ, with a resultant
3
average of 142 yg/m . This high average concentration approaches
twice the standard.
Neither SN, N0?, nor carbon monoxide are routinely sam-
pled at the Liberty Borough site. Data pertaining to these
pollutants were obtained during the episode and are presented in
the next section.
Analysis of TSP/COH, SS, SN Data during Episode
EPA's mobile van did not become fully operational until
shortly after the weather frontal passage caused wind and precipi-
tation to cleanse the air over Pittsburgh. EPA data, therefore,
are available only for the week following the episode. These
data do provide independent verification of Allegheny County
data although EPA data are limited to the lower concentrations
present after the episode. An EPA National Air Surveillance Net-
work (NASN) station located within Pittsburgh samples every
twelfth day. Unfortunately the sampling period bracketed the
episode.
Allegheny County Health Department maintains seven con-
tinuous telemetering stations in and around Pittsburgh. Data from
one of these sites, the Liberty Borough site, is graphically
represented by Figures 12-15 and 17-19.
TSP concentrations at the Liberty Borough site from
November 10-November 29 are shown in Figure 12. The highest con-
3
centration recorded during the episode, 921 vg/m , represents a
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15-hour average during Wednesday, November 19, 1975. This peak
value, 921 yg/m , does not show in Figure 12 because concentra-
tions are graphed as 24-hour values. Sampling time was reduced
from the usual 24-hour collection period because air flow through
the high volume sampling instrument was being significantly
reduced by the build-up of particles on the filter. Thus, the
770 yg/m value shown on the graph is a time-weighted average of
the two samples taken November 19, 1975. This value greatly
3
exceeds the maximum national primary daily standard of 260 yg/m ,
as shown by the dotted line on the graph. Graphed TSP concentra-
tions after November 20 from both EPA and Allegheny County indi-
cate more modest pollution levels. Correspondence between the
two data sets may have been improved if sampling frequency could
have been the same: EPA's daily sampling indicated slightly
lower concentrations.
Coefficient of Haze (COH), for which there is no national
standard, was used as an indicator to declare an emergency epi-
sode. COH is compared with total suspended particulates through
the formula: 1 COH -100 (TSP) yg/m3, at the Liberty Borough site
2
only. Because of the ratio of fine to coarse suspended particu-
lates and participate composition vary geographically, the above
ratio will not necessarily apply outside the Liberty Borough
area. A graph of the COH values at Liberty Borough (Figure 13)
may be compared to that of TSP (Figure 12) for the episode period.
The extreme peak on the TSP graph appears as a more gradual rise
with COH. Using the above conversion formula, an expected TSP
value for Wednesday, November 19, would be average daily COH (7.37)
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times 10°CQH/rT1 equals 737 yg/m3 TSP. The measured value of 921
3
yg/m is within the 30 percent accuracy attributed to this con-
version by Allegheny County.
Very high suspended sulfate (SS) concentrations were
present in the hi-vol samples collected at the Liberty Borough
site as shown in Figure 14. The dotted line at the very bottom
of the graph is the mean sulfate concentration for the 1966-67
period as seen in Figure 4. The uncommonly high concentration of
3
191 yg/m recorded on November 19 is the time-weighted average
from two hi-vol samples taken that day. SS averaged 10 percent
of TSP values during 1966-67, 19 percent during the week of the
episode, and 25 percent of TSP values on November 19, 1975, the
day SS and TSP values peaked. Unfortunately, comparison between
SS determinations on EPA and Allegheny collected TSP samples is
only possible on November 21. As the graph shows, the two hi-vol
sample values nearly coincide. The same laboratory conducted
both sample analyses.
Suspended Nitrate (SN) concentrations at Liberty, depicted
in Figure 15, did not appear to be unusually affected by the
3
inversion. The peak concentration recorded, 10 yg/m , occurred
on November 18, a day before concentrations peaked for SS and TSP.
Six days later, November 24, another peak was recorded, this one
3
reaching 7.6 yg/m . The SN levels during the episode are little
higher than SN levels after the episode. Most of the data shewn
in Figure 15 is far above the mean 1966-67 concentration of 2.1
yg/m - This may be due to the differences in the pollution levels
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between the commercial downtown site in 1966-67 and the industrial
Liberty Borough site with which it is being compared in the graph.
As in SS, comparisons between Allegheny County and EPA SN data is
limited to one day, with that day coinciding on the graph. One
laboratory also analyzed both samples.
Analysis of Benzp-a-Pyrene (BaP) Data during j^pi sode
Hi-vol samples collected by Allegheny County were sent to
EPA to analyze SS, SN and BaP. Figure 16 presents the BaP results.
A number of samples are usually composited to increase chemical
analysis accuracy due to the small quantity of BaP in hi-vol sam-
ples. Batch #1 is a combination of 20 hi-vol samples taken from
several different sites in the Pittsburgh area during the week
before the episode. Batch #2 is of 25 samples taken during the
episode week. Batch #3 is composed of 11 samples taken the week
after the episode. The national average computed for urban areas
is the dotted line at the bottom of the graph at 2 nanograms/cubic
meter. An exceptionally high value of 184 nanograms per cubic
meter was recorded for Batch #2. This high value is flanked by
3 3
18 nanogram/m from Batch #1 taken before and 21 nanograms/m
from Batch #3 taken after the episode. While there is no national
standard established concerning BaP concentrations in ambient air,
BaP is a suspected carcinogen. More samples need to be collected
to substantiate these very high recorded concentrations,.
Comparing the 1975 BaP concentrations (Figure 16) with
those of earlier years (Figure 6) shows little correlation between
past and present pollution levels. Some discrepancies would be
expected because of site differences since the 1966-67 years' data
10
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were taken from one downtown site, while the 1975 data is a con-
glomerate of 12 sites in the Pittsburgh area. The industrial
sites, such as Liberty Borough, would be expected to yield higher
BaP concentrations than the more commercial downtown sites. As
BaP emissions are strongly associated with coking operations,
high concentrations during an air inversion would be expected in
Pittsburgh. However, since "emergency" episodes are a rare occur-
rence, duplication of the high BaP results would be difficult. A
previous EPA publication reported annual average BaP concentra-
3
tions in Pittsburgh of 6, 14 and 6 nonograms/m for the years
5
1968-70. A hi-vol sample collected at Liberty Borough on July 11,
1976 gave the following results: TSP, 113.7 ug/m3; BaP, 98.66
, 3 2
ng/m .
Analysis of SQp-N00-CO Data during Episode
For S02» high readings are apparent at the Liberty Borough
site two days before the air stagnation advisory was issued on
Monday, November 17, 1975, as seen in Figure 17. The maximum
3
24-hour average concentrations, 325 yg/m occurred on November 16,
but this value does not exceed the National Primary Daily Standard
2
for S0?, 365 yg/m (dotted line on graph). Highest one-hour aver-
age (for which there is no standard) was recorded two days later
3
as 812 ug/m .
Unexpectedly high S0? hourly averages were recorded by
EPA on the weekend following the episode as presented in Figure 18.
Concentrations briefly exceeded the range setting of the instru-
ment, 524 ng/m (0.2 ppm) in two separate hours on the morning of
the 23rd. Allegheny County data do not show these peaks, but
11
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otherwise the data follow the same curve pattern as EPA data. A
consistent bias between the two data sets can be seen on the graph
(Figure 18). This is probably attributed to the difference
between the sampling sites or the instruments themselves.
Allegheny's sampling intake was two stories above ground level,
while EPA's was one story. Inlet sampling lengths were different
for the two sites. Separation between the sites was approximately
100 meters, with South Allegheny County High School in between.
Because sudden rises and falls of S0? concentrations are charac-
teristic of this geographical area, the separation is significant..
EPA used a flame photometric S0? monitor, while Allegheny County
used a coulometric monitor for S0? sampling. No differences
between the two instruments were found when a quick calibration
check was conducted. However, the calibration check did not
include response time or sampling inlet differences.
3
N 0 2 hourly levels exceeded 100 yg/m , the national stan-
dard arithmetic mean, on Sunday, November 23, 1975, for about 10
4
hours (Figure 19). The daily average did not exceed 100 yg/m ,
indicating that annual averages would probably fall below national
standards. This differs from the results in 1967 (Figure 8) when
the average exceeded 100 yg/m . This difference may be caused by
the different N0? pollutant levels present in the downtown site
(1967 data) versus the industrial Liberty site (1975 data). The
limited quantity of data available for NO,, at the Liberty Borough
site limits the data comparisons. The only N0? monitor in Pitts--
burgh during the episode was a bubbler operated under NASN.
12
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Sampling is on a regular schedule which, unfortunately, missed the
epi sode .
Figure 20 is a plot of the CO concentration during the
episode month at a downtown site within the city limits. The line
of arrows across the top of the graph is the National Standard for
3
maximum one-hour average concentrations, 40,000 yg/m . At no time
did the highest hourly concentrations exceed this value. However,
3
the daily 24-hour averages did exceed 10,000 yg/m (the National
Primary Standard for maximum 8-hour concentrations) for a three-
day period during the episode. This can be seen by comparing the
solid line, representing average daily concentrations, with the
dotted line near the bottom of the graph. A standard for CO 24-
hour averages or 8-hour data averages, if available, should show
more striking differences.
Conclus ions
1. HERL's monitoring program in Pittsburgh confirmed data col-
lected by Allegheny County, permitting greater confidence in
local data used to determine health effects.
2. Air pollution concentrations in the Pittsburgh area exceeded
National Primary annual Standards for both S0? and TSP at the
Liberty Borough site before the November episode.
3. Air pollution concentrations showed marked increases before
and during the stagnation advisory.
4. Air stagnations of similar magnitude to November 1975 are
likely to reoccur in the future.
5. Different pollutants do not increase uniformly during an air
inversion.
13
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6. Benzo-Alpha-Pyrene and suspended sulfates significantly con-
tributed to the Pittsburgh pollution problem.
Recommendations
Benzo-Alpha-Pyrene should be routinely analyzed from hi-vol
filters in the Pittsburgh area to verify and help control their
contribution to local air pollution.
References
1. Allegheny County Health Department, "Rules and Regulations,
Article XVII, Air Pollution Control," June 15, 1972.
2. Stebbings, James, Diane G. Fogleman, K. E. McClain and T. C.
Towrisend, "Effect of the Pittsburgh Air Pollution Episode
Upon Pulmonary Function in Schoolchildren." APCA Journal
Vol. 26, No. 6 (June 1976), pp. 547-553.
3. Holzworth, G, C., "Mixing Heights, Wind Speeds and Potential
for Urban Air Pollution Throughout the Contiguous United
States," Preliminary Document, May 10, 1971, Environmental
Protection Agency.
4. "Air Quality Data for 1967 from the National Air Surveillance
Networks and Contributing State and Local Networks," revised
1971, Environmental Protection Agency Publication No. APTD/
0741 .
5. "Preferred Standards Path Report for Polycyclic Organic Mat-
ter," Strategies and Air Standards Division, Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection
Agency, October 1974.
14
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PITTSBURGH WEATHER INFORMATION
tn
Date
1975
11/15
11/16
11/17
11/18
11/19
11/20
11/21
11/22
0700
Mixing Height*
(meters)
670
130
186
115
144
no inversion
0.14" precipitation
0.01" precipitation
0700 EST
Wind**
(dir/kts/m/s)
270-
300-
310-
190-
210-
250-
270-
10-
13-
10-
5-2
10-
20-
20-
5
7
5
.
5
1
1
m/s
m/s
m/s
6 m/s
m/s
0 m/s
0 m/s
1900 EST
Mixing Depth
( me te rs )
1455
874
125
122
236
no inversion
no inversion
1900 EST
Wind
(dir/kts/m/s)
290-
250-
251-
250-
170-
250-
10-
15-
10-
10-
20-
30-
30-10-
5
8
5
5
10
15
-5
m/s
m/s
m/s
m/s
m/s
m/s
m/s
Temperatur1
Hi gh/Low
44/25
55/34
62/35
63/36
63/35
63/35
56/35
37/27
*Height above ground level at airport. Airport is 360 meters above sea level.
**Wind speed measured at height of 10 meters above ground level.
Table 1
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16
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EPA mobile monitoring laboratory at Liberty, Pennsylvania; November 22, 1975
17
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;A_ REi'ORT DATA
R E D O R T \'">
EPA-600/1-77-014
|3 RECIPIENT'S ACCESSIOf*NO
THE PITTSBURGH AIR POLLUTION EPISODE OF NOVEMBER 17-21
1975: AIR QUALITY
5 REPORT DATE
February 1977
o PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
A U T H O P v 5 '
Douglas W. Baty, Jose M. Sune and David 0. Hinton
8 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
£ PERFORMING OH -A NATION N.-'I-' AMD ADDRESS
Population Studies Division
Health Effects Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protect'on Agency
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
HERL,RTP,NC
12 SPONSOR' \G AGENCY !MAPv':L AIVC1 "-\DDREbS
Health Effects Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, N.C. 27711
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
1AA601
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO
IN-HOUSE
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
14 SPONSORING AGENCr CODE
15 SUPPLEMFNTAR' NOTES
16 ABSTRACT
In November 1975 a serious air stagnation problem developed over Western
Pennsylvania, with extremely heavy air pollution in the Pittsburgh area. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Health Effects Research Laboratory (HERL) immediate-
ly mobilized a team of air nonitoring and epidemiological personnel to verify the
nature of pollutants and to determine the possible health effects from this pollution.
By Wednesday, November 19, pollution levels reached emergency stage, as determined by
the standarub of the Allegheny County Health Department,with participate concentration
measuring 7.0 COH/1000 ft. for a 24-hr, average. HERL sent an EPA Community Health Air
Monitoring Program (CHAMP) mobile monitoring laboratory van from Research Triangle Darl<
North Carolina to provide independent verification of the Allegheny County monitoring
data. School children were tested for pulmonary function near the site of monitoring
facilities. This report describes and discusses EPA's monitoring effortduring and
after the pollution alert. It concludes that HERL's monitoring confirmed data collec-
ted by the locan health department, that air stagnations such as this one are likely
to recur, that different, pollutants do not increase uniformly during an air inversion,
and that Benzo-Alpha-Pyrene and suspended sulfates significantly contributed to the
pollution problem. This report includes tables and figures on relevant data gathered
regarding the episode, illustrations, and a map showing monitoring sites.
-;E ' WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
Air Pollution
Monitors
Smog
Sulfates
Lung
h IDtNTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
Pittsburgh
air inversion
Benzo-Alpha-Pyerene
Lung function
13 DiSFRIBUT, j!J C1, ATEMt N1
RELEASE TO PUBLIC
19 SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
L UKCLASSIFIErj
j 20 SECURITY C'.ASS { :/us page I
COS AT I Liold/Group
13 B
06 F, A
21 NO. OF PAGES
41
122 PP'CE
EPA Fern ?220-1 (9-73)
36
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