Donora Death Fog: Clean Air and the Tragedy of a Pennsylvania Mill Town

Price: $24.95
Format: Softcover and Digital
Publisher: The University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date: March 28, 2023
Pages: 324
ISBN-13: 978-0822966715

Donora Death Fog is a true, highly detailed account of the worst air pollution disaster in US history. In October 1948, a seemingly average fog descended on the tiny mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania. With a population of fewer than fifteen thousand, the town’s main industry was steel and zinc mills – mills that continually emitted pollutants into the air. The six-day smog event left twenty-one people dead and thousands sick. Even after the fog lifted, hundreds more died or were left with lingering health problems.

Donora Death Fog details how six fateful days in Donora led to the nation’s first clean air act in 1955, and how such catastrophes can lead to successful policy change. Andy McPhee tells the very human story behind this ecological disaster: how wealthy industrialists built the mills to supply an ever-growing America; how the town’s residents—millworkers and their families—willfully ignored the danger of the mills’ emissions; and how the gradual closing of the mills over the years following the tragedy took its toll on the town.

Amazon customers give the book 4.8 out of 5 stars and “find the book engaging, with one describing it as a fascinating historical page-turner. Moreover, the meticulously researched account receives praise for its factual components, and one customer notes how the author describes events and buildings geographically. Additionally, the writing quality is well-received, with one review highlighting the careful scripting of details.”

Skillfully highlighting the bravery of the men and women who aided the afflicted and prevented the calamity from claiming more lives, McPhee offers a retelling of real-life drama that’s both compelling and horrific from beginning to end.
—Booklist

In a well balanced and nuanced dissection of a slice of the Mon Valley, Andy McPhee has provided an astute and engaging compilation of a bleak but beautiful snapshot of history. He truly honors the victims, families, and first responders that were affected by the deadly smog. His work revealed a methodology where public/private partnerships came together to assess and improve-and possibly avoid- future losses. In his telling, Andy has conveyed what is often lost in the forgotten Mon Valley- the community and fellowship of families working together to help each other.
—Amazon reviewer Cobor Life

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well-researched, well-written, and well-paced–it was hard for me to put down. My mother grew up in Donora and was a young child when the Smog hit. Her father set up an emergency aid station at the community center when the severity of the situation became apparent. I knew little of the details before reading this excellent book. Well done.
—Amazon reviewer Jorge Orta forever

Available at

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