Understanding Potential Harms in your Community
Nippon Steel's acquisition of US Steel can lead to further harms to the health of residents and the environment because of the reinvestment into US Steel production.
US Steel's Influence
The US Steel Industry has been a major part of many American city’s history and economic growth. Steel mills were and still continue to be a huge part of the identities of cities like Pittsburgh, PA, Cleveland, OH, Gary, IN and more.
Data Source: Plant-level Data, Global Iron and Steel Tracker, Global Energy Monitor
From Disinvestment to Reinvestment
At the end of the 20th century, there was a major decline in the reliance on and the efficiency of the steel industry in the country. In the early 2000s the US became a large importer of steel, moving away from the manufacturing process.
In 2025, Japan’s largest steel manufacturer, Nippon Steel, acquired the US’ largest steel manufacturer, US Steel, for $14.9 million.
This marks a reinvestment into the steel industry in the US, with plans to keep the company in the US, the headquarters in Pittsburgh, and guarantee at least a
$4 billion investment in new steel mills.
Steel Production Poses Health Risks Through the Release of Air Pollutants
The growth and success of steel industry comes with a cost. The human and environmental health of the surrounding communities can be compromised at the expense of steel production.
The Clean Air Act identifies 187 substances as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) such as benzene, mercury, lead, and chromium. Steel mills release multiple HAPS into the atmosphere, including manganese, lead, benzene, and carbon disulfide. The release of these HAPS contribute to negative environmental impacts like poor air quality.
Human Health Risks
These air pollutants also harm the health of people that breathe them in. The health risks from exposure to HAPs from steel production include but are not limited to
chronic and acute disorders of the blood, heart, kidneys, reproductive system and central nervous system.
Steel mills also emit criteria air pollutants, which are six commonly found air pollutants. Criteria Air Pollutants include ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Exposure to sulfur dioxide and particulate matter from steel production can cause
respiratory and cardiovascular problems like asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease.
Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash
Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash
Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash
Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash
Photo by CNordic Nordic on Unsplash
Photo by CNordic Nordic on Unsplash
Photo by CNordic Nordic on Unsplash
Photo by CNordic Nordic on Unsplash
Asthma Capitals in the US
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA ) released an Asthma Capital Report for 2025 in September. The report ranks 100 cities as Asthma Capitals in the US based on three factors: asthma prevalence, emergency department (ED) visits for asthma, and deaths due to asthma. Of the top 50 ranking Asthma Capitals found in this study, 15 cities contain traditional steel manufacturing facilities. The steel mills in these cities can be a significant contributor to asthma prevalence and the severity of asthma experienced by residents.
Data Source: AAFA 2025 Asthma Capitals, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Let's take a closer look at some health risks in Southwestern PA, specifically in Allegheny County.
Allegheny County is among the worst 1% of counties nationwide for cancer risk from emissions of HAPs from industrial point sources like coke ovens, steel mills, and factories, according to the EPA's latest National Air Toxics Assessment.
Cancer rates in the seven Southwestern Pennsylvania counties are up to 50% higher than the rest of the United States.
Bladder cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia happen more commonly here than in other places in the U.S., and they are all strongly associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in our environment. Childhood cancer rates are significantly higher in Greene, Westmoreland, and Washington County.
Let's continue looking at US Steel operations in Allegheny County.
Now we'll look at Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) enforcement and lawsuits against US Steel in the last five years. Enforcement is measured in the amount of US dollars fined to US Steel.
In the last five years US Steel has acquired
$64,164,140 in violation fees
from ACHD and lawsuits from nonprofit organizations like PennEnvironment.
These fines can be attributed to lawsuit settlements, exceeding allowable HAPs emissions, visible emissions violations, failed compliance tests, etc.
A closer look at the quarterly variation of fines from ACHD
The spike in penalties against US Steel in Q1 of 2022 is due to the
$6.1 million class-action lawsuit settlement
regarding dust and other noxious emissions from its Edgar Thompson facility in North Braddock.
Explosion at Clairton Coke Works
Two workers killed and five workers hospitalized because of this explosion
On August 11, 2025 at approximately 10:46am there was an explosion at the US Steel facility Clairton Coke Works. The explosion occurred during maintenance activities involving a gas isolation valve in Battery 13 and 14.
Less than a minute after the verbal and radio evacuation call was issued, the explosion occurred. Two US Steel workers were killed and five workers were hospitalized, four of them being US Steel Workers and one being an employee of Veolia Water North America Operating Services.
Video Source: Breathe Cam by Breathe Project and CREATE Lab
Violations and explosions release more harmful air pollutants into the atmosphere.
With Nippon Steel's billions of dollars investment into US Steel and the significant support from the federal government, US Steel can ensure the health and safety of its residents and the environment.
US Steel now has the resources to put protective measures in place to keep the health and wellbeing of its workers, community members and environment.
Keep Your Residents Safe!
To address these potential harms to human and environmental health,
You
as elected officials and local policymakers should to set strict emissions standards and regulations to ensure the health and safety of residents in your community.
Images via Unsplash
Lets do what we can do keep our cities from looking like this...
...and keep them looking like this!
References
“AAFA 2025 Asthma Capitals Report September 2025.” n.d. Accessed October 3, 2025. https://aafa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/aafa-2025-asthma-capitals-report.pdf.
“Enforcement Actions.” Accessed October 7, 2025. https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Services/Health-Department/Air-Quality/Enforcement-Regulations-and-Compliance/Enforcement-Actions.
IMAA. “Nippon Steel Acquires US Steel in $15B Deal | What It Means.” IMAA – Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances, June 25, 2025. https://imaa-institute.org/blog/nippon-steels-acquisition-of-us-steel/.
Jacobs, Molly, Polly Hoppin, and Maggie Kuzemchak. Environmental Chemicals and Cancer A Science Companion Document. n.d.
“NATA-Factsheet.Pdf.” n.d. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://censwpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/NATA-Factsheet.pdf.
Pollution, Group Against Smog &. “#ICYMI: U.S. Steel to Pay $6.1 Million to Settle Lawsuit Over Dust, Noxious Odors from Edgar Thomson Facility.” GASP, March 5, 2025. https://www.gasp-pgh.org/icymi-u-s-steel-to-pay-6-1-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-dust-noxious-odors-from-edgar-thomson.
Scott, Caitlyn. “Update on Fatal U.S. Steel Clairton Plant Explosion Investigation Cites Valve Failure.” WTAE, September 30, 2025. https://www.wtae.com/article/fatal-clairton-plant-explosion-gas-isolation-valve-failure-chemical-safety-board/68123250.
US EPA, OA. “Environments and Contaminants - Hazardous Air Pollutants.” Overviews and Factsheets. May 8, 2015. https://www.epa.gov/americaschildrenenvironment/environments-and-contaminants-hazardous-air-pollutants.
US EPA, OAR. “Criteria Air Pollutants.” Other Policies and Guidance. April 9, 2014. https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants.
US EPA, OAR. “Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.” Other Policies and Guidance. December 23, 2015. https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/integrated-iron-and-steel-manufacturing-national-emission.
What Are the Negative Health Effects of Pollution From Steel Mills? “What Are the Negative Health Effects of Pollution From Steel Mills?” Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.colianni.com/pittsburgh-accident-injury-lawyer/what-are-the-negative-health-effects-of-pollution-from-steel-mills.
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