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Is this smell or industrial pollution not measured in the Air Quality Index? This is not at all scientific, but I just looked at AQI for Pittsburgh, Palo Alto,

by et2o 7y ago

Is this smell or industrial pollution not measured in the Air Quality Index? This is not at all scientific, but I just looked at AQI for Pittsburgh, Palo Alto, and NYC: * PGH: 34 * Palo Alto: 32 * NY region: 50 List of City rankings from American Lung Association: https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-r...

thundergolfer 7y ago
I'm living in New South Wales, Australia right now, which is currently famous for being on fire. Depending on the winds, some days we have excellent air quality and some days it is terrible. Something similar could be happening here with Pittsburgh. After a quick google, this article supports the idea that air quality in Pittsburgh is awful. https://www.ehn.org/pittsburghs-air-quality-continues-to-decline-new-report-finds-2635280543.html https://www.ehn.org/pittsburghs-air-quality-continues-to-dec...
darksaints 7y ago
The most common sources of smelly and health-affecting industrial pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, are included. However, Hydrogen Sulfide is not, and it is a common one found specifically in both petroleum engineering. He mentioned that the smell was similar to the petroleum cracking plants in the north Salt Lake valley, so I'm assuming that is it. Regardless, AQI measurements are relatively aggregate, and if the pollution is produced very locally, it might be off the charts in that location, but diffuse down to a moderate measurement on a broader scale.
- dgacmu 7y ago
  The smell is mostly from a coke plant in Clairton, PA that has been violating emissions rules for decades.
fiblye 7y ago
I’m pretty sure it isn’t. I used to live in Pittsburgh and would wake up with a metallic taste in my mouth if I left the windows open. Going outside almost always smelled like burnt tires or some small hint of coins, even when I’d walk around in parks early in the morning before there was any traffic. I had friends from Beijing complain about the foulness of Pittsburgh’s air. Visiting Beijing, I realized they weren’t joking. It’s visibly smoggy over there, but in Pittsburgh, clear days will reek worse than even smoggy cities.

by et2o 7y ago

thundergolfer 7y ago

I'm living in New South Wales, Australia right now, which is currently famous for being on fire. Depending on the winds, some days we have excellent air quality and some days it is terrible. Something similar could be happening here with Pittsburgh. After a quick google, this article supports the idea that air quality in Pittsburgh is awful. https://www.ehn.org/pittsburghs-air-quality-continues-to-decline-new-report-finds-2635280543.html https://www.ehn.org/pittsburghs-air-quality-continues-to-dec...

darksaints 7y ago

The most common sources of smelly and health-affecting industrial pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, are included. However, Hydrogen Sulfide is not, and it is a common one found specifically in both petroleum engineering. He mentioned that the smell was similar to the petroleum cracking plants in the north Salt Lake valley, so I'm assuming that is it. Regardless, AQI measurements are relatively aggregate, and if the pollution is produced very locally, it might be off the charts in that location, but diffuse down to a moderate measurement on a broader scale.

dgacmu 7y ago
The smell is mostly from a coke plant in Clairton, PA that has been violating emissions rules for decades.

fiblye 7y ago

I’m pretty sure it isn’t. I used to live in Pittsburgh and would wake up with a metallic taste in my mouth if I left the windows open. Going outside almost always smelled like burnt tires or some small hint of coins, even when I’d walk around in parks early in the morning before there was any traffic. I had friends from Beijing complain about the foulness of Pittsburgh’s air. Visiting Beijing, I realized they weren’t joking. It’s visibly smoggy over there, but in Pittsburgh, clear days will reek worse than even smoggy cities.