Help for Glassport, PA Area Residents from our Environmental Air Pollution Lawyers: Clairton Coke Works Emissions Linked to High Cancer Risk Rates

Weitz & Luxenberg’s environmental lawyers are currently investigating cases of residents from Glassport and Clairton, PA who have developed cancer linked to exposure to air pollution emissions from the Clairton Coke Works.

Please complete the form on this page to obtain information about your legal rights to seek compensation from the companies responsible for polluting the air in your community.

On June 25, 2009, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on the results of report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that linked exposure to hazardous air pollutants in the Glassport and Clairton areas to the highest cancer risk rates in the nation.

The top four areas of the country noted in the EPA report were:

Los Angeles County, CA, where exposure to industrial and vehicle pollution put those in the area at a risk rate of 1,200 in one million;

Granite City, IL, where the area’s risk rate of 26 in one million is linked to the U.S. Steel Granite City Works;

Clairton, PA, with a risk rate of 762 in one million; and

Glassport, PA, where residents are at a cancer risk rate of 700 in one million.

The high risk rates in Clairton and Glassport are linked to exposure benzene, nitrates and other dangerous air pollutants from the Clairton Coke Works.

Breaking Down Cancer Risk Rate Statistics
Cancer risk rates are based on the number of residents in a particular area of the country that are at risk to develop cancer for every one million people in the region. The EPA’s risk assessment is also based on a 70-year exposure to 124 environmental air pollutants that are known to cause cancer and other serious respiratory or other health problems for individuals exposed to these substances.

Other Studies Link Coke Works Air Pollution to Illness
In April 2009, the American Lung Association released the results of their study on air pollution in the nation, and ranked Pittsburgh at the top of their list for soot pollution levels.

On a local level, a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University focused on wind speed and direction in terms of the areas that were affected by particle soot levels that were higher than the national health standards. One of the examples in the CMU study showed that when Pittsburgh area winds are from the southeast, both the Coke Works and the Edgar Thompson Works were the cause of unsafe levels of particle soot pollution were found in Oakland and Squirrel Hill.

One of the more chilling studies comes from a USA Today study on air pollution health risks in the nation’s schools. Allegheny County schools, including those in Clairton, Glassport, Natrona Heights and McKees Rocks were listed in the top percentile high risk category for exposure to air pollution hazards.

The Sto Rox School District schools were rated in 27th place out of over 127,000 schools nationwide in terms of environmental air pollution hazards, and the district's schools had the highest risk rates in Allegheny County. The Sto Rox elementary and middle schools, St. Clare Elementary School in Clairton and three schools in the Highlands School District in Natrona Heights are included in the top 10 schools in Pennsylvania for risks of exposure to environmental air pollution.

For more information about pollution risks at schools, click here to read the USA Today report.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help Your Family
If your health, or the health of a loved one has been adversely impacted by air pollutants from the Clairton Coke Works, our environmental lawyers would like to hear your story.

Even if you or a family member did not work for US Steel or at the Clairton Coke Works, you have the right to seek compensation for your illness, pain and suffering and for compensation to help defray other financial obligations by filing an environmental cancer lawsuit.

Complete the form on this page and a Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.

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Pollution Risk

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