Breathe Easy, Stay Healthy Campaign for reducing toxic air pollution in Pittsburgh

Today, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), joined by leaders from the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and Clean Water Action, along with Dr. Evelyn O. Talbott of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Allegheny County Council President Richard Fitzgerald, announced a major new campaign to reduce the fine soot pollution responsible for Pittsburgh’s number one ranking for dirtiest air for two years running.

The Breathe Easy, Stay Healthy Campaign, which will build on the ongoing work of GASP in reducing pollution from diesel engines and of CWA in organizing citizens in communities with toxic air pollution, will include citizen outreach; research; ensuring the federally-required regional clean air plan will actually result in cleaner air; targeted legal and legislative action, and public education.

“For the past two years, the American Lung Association has ranked the Pittsburgh region dead last in the struggle for clean air,” said Dr. Joylette Portlock, PennFuture’s outreach coordinator for western Pennsylvania. “Unfortunately, the primary response by many here has been to challenge the ranking, and go merrily along, making no changes in the enforcement of our clean air regulations. Now it’s time to move beyond denial and recognize that we all must act to clean up our region’s air. Every day, we find more proof that this fine soot is extremely dangerous, especially to the elderly and young children.”

Much of that research is being done in Pittsburgh, by Evelyn O. Talbott, Dr. P.H., M.P.H, a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. "The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health is committed to the study of the relationship of health effects of air pollution in the Pittsburgh region, specifically asthma and cardiovascular disease," said Talbott. “The two projects we are currently working on include: 1) a CDC project partnering with the Allegheny County Health Department on Asthma Real time Surveillance using data on daily Emergency Room visits and smog and soot levels as well as 2) the Pittsburgh Aerosol Research and Inhalation Epidemiologic Study (PARIES) which will be the first ever large scale characterization of health effects from airborne fine particulates in the Pittsburgh region."

"While our region's air quality has improved dramatically over the last fifty years, pollutants like fine particulates, ground-level ozone, and air toxics, pose serious health risks that our region must address by tackling both stationary and mobile sources of pollution," said Rachel Filippini, executive director of GASP. “We must take action now.”

Tom Hoffman, Western Pennsylvania Director, Clean Water Action, agreed. "Our poor showing in so many reports on air quality are a real deterrent to development in this region. Companies are just not going to come here if we continue to get bad press for the state of our air. Cities as diverse as Louisville, Kentucky and Los Angeles have come together as communities and made major improvements in their air - we can too."

“We are working to continue to improve air quality in Allegheny County, said Council Richard President Fitzgerald. “Whether working with US Steel and their coke works in Clairton, or looking at the potential for natural gas buses in Port Authority operations, I view improving air quality and clean energy as an economic development issue as well as a health and quality of life issue.”

Pittsburgh City Councilmember William Peduto will also be working as part of the Breathe Easy, Stay Healthy Campaign. Following up on the Climate Action Plan developed by the Pittsburgh Climate Initiative, Peduto will be greening the city’s laws, introducing amendments that will legally require Pittsburgh to implement the Climate Action Plan. These amendments will not only cut the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming, but will also cut other sources of our dirty air.

Portlock pointed out that government action is not enough — that citizens must make sure that they do their part and also help others clean up. Holding up a copy of the sign required by state law to be posted anywhere large diesel vehicles are used, she said, “This sign seems to be something of a rare sight here in Allegheny County. Many people don’t realize that as of last year, with a few exceptions, large diesel vehicles are not allowed to idle for more than 5 minutes. If you drive a truck or a bus, of course, keep this in mind. And, according to the state law, anywhere these diesel vehicles load or unload, or anywhere more than 15 large diesel vehicles park, a sign like this one must be posted. We’re calling on our businesses to be good corporate citizens, follow the law, and post a sign. The same goes for our schools. So we are also asking everyone -- if you see, for instance, a loading dock without a sign, report it to the owners. Not idling those engines will make our air cleaner; reduce contributions to global warming pollution; and save truckers a bit of green, too.

“Through this campaign, we will work for better policy, and use legal work and citizen actions to clean up our air -- and we will also create a network of organizations supporting one another and working towards the same goals of cleaner air,” continued Portlock. “We hope other organizations and leaders in the region will join our campaign, because it will take all of us to make clean air happen. Together, we must be persistent, tenacious, and work together to make sure our air becomes and stays clean, that we can all stay healthy, and breathe a little easier.”