Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Unresolved Total Trihalomethanes Rule violation cited in 2025 (haloacetic acids (haa5)).
City · TRI 2024
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pollution
7 TRI facilities inside the city limits and 11 public water systems serving residents. In-city TRI releases rose modestly year over year (+6%). Toxic releases concentrations have fallen 39% since 2010.
FIPS 4261000 · population 303,843 · Allegheny County
Anomaly engine
Notable Signals
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Unresolved Total Trihalomethanes Rule violation cited in 2025 (total trihalomethanes (tthm)).
Contaminant 0300
Unresolved Long Term 1 Enhanced SWTR violation cited in 2025 (contaminant 0300).
Contaminant 0300
Unresolved Long Term 1 Enhanced SWTR violation cited in 2025 (contaminant 0300).
Showing the 4 most editorially weighted signals out of 13. Lower-severity signals fold into the chemical breakdown and history charts below.
Pollutant pathways
Pittsburgh Pollutant Multi-Year Trends
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 annual mean (NAAQS 9 µg/m³ (annual)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour))Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
PM2.5 24-hour 98th percentile (NAAQS 35 µg/m³ (24-hour)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour))Health riskGround-level ozone (smog) forms when vehicle and industrial emissions react in sunlight. Inflames the airways, triggers asthma attacks, and worsens heart and lung disease.
Ozone 8-hour 4th-highest daily max (NAAQS 0.070 ppm (8-hour)) concentrations have fallen 19% since 2010.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual))Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.
NO₂ annual mean (NAAQS 53 ppb (annual)) concentrations have more than halved since 2010.
Lifetime cancer risk all pollutants (100 in a million (EPA elevated threshold))Health riskEPA-modeled added cancer cases per million residents from a lifetime of breathing local air toxics. EPA flags 100-in-a-million as elevated.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Formaldehyde ambient mean (0.077 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic emitted by refineries, wood products, and combustion. EPA classifies it as a known human carcinogen — long-term inhalation raises cancer risk.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
Benzene ambient mean (0.13 µg/m³ (1-in-a-million URE))Health riskAn air toxic from gasoline, refineries, and tobacco smoke. A known human carcinogen — chronic exposure is linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
Single-vintage exposure modeling — EPA cadence is multi-year, so no trend line yet.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as released into the air — fugitive leaks plus smokestack emissions. Higher pounds means more inhaled exposure for nearby residents.
TRI air releases (5.1 fugitive + 5.2 stack) concentrations have fallen 50% since 2010.
TRI water releases (5.3)Health riskToxic chemicals reported by industrial facilities as discharged to surface waters (rivers, lakes, the ocean). Affects fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.
TRI water releases (5.3) volumes here are too small to anchor a multi-year trend; YoY movement is still shown above.
TRI land + off-site releasesHealth riskToxic chemicals released to land on-site or transferred off-site for disposal — landfills, deep-well injection, and similar. Risks groundwater contamination over time.
TRI land + off-site releases concentrations have fallen 34% since 2010.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023)Health riskGreenhouse gases reported by large industrial emitters under EPA's GHGRP, in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Drives climate warming and the heat-related health effects that follow.
Greenhouse gases (GHGRP large emitters, through 2023) concentrations have fallen 17% since 2010.
Top facilities · TRI 2024
Largest Emitters Inside The City
| Facility | Top chemical | Total releases | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcconway & Torley LLC Plt 1801Stellex Capital Management LLC | Manganese compoundsHealth riskExcess inhalation can cause manganism, a Parkinson-like neurological disorder. (ATSDR) | 18k lb | +35% |
| Matthews International CorpMatthews International CORP | CopperHealth riskInhaled copper fumes cause metal-fume fever; chronic ingestion above EPA's 1.3 mg/L action level damages the liver. (EPA) | 13k lb | -11% |
| Pressure Chemical COPressurekem | TolueneHealth riskCentral-nervous-system depressant. Chronic high exposure causes hearing loss and developmental effects. (EPA, ATSDR) | 4k lb | -12% |
| Sherwin-Williams COThe Sherwin-Williams Co | DiisocyanatesHealth riskLeading cause of occupational asthma; severe respiratory sensitizers. (OSHA) | 2k lb | -23% |
| Steel Dynamics INC. - Techs Div - Metaltech PlantSteel Dynamics INC | Lead compoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 0 lb | 0% |
| Steel Dynamics INC. - Techs Div - Galvtech PlantSteel Dynamics INC | Lead compoundsHealth riskNeurotoxin. Even low childhood exposure impairs cognitive development; chronic adult exposure damages kidneys and the cardiovascular system. (EPA, ATSDR) | 0 lb | -20% |
| Superior Forge & Steel CorpSuperior Forge & Steel CORP | ChromiumHealth riskHexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) is an IARC Group 1 carcinogen via inhalation, causing lung cancer; trivalent chromium is far less toxic. (IARC, EPA) | 0 lb | 0% |
Drinking water · SDWIS
Water Systems Serving Pittsburgh
16 unresolved violations on the SDWIS record across utilities serving this city.
11
Utilities serving
801,037
Population served
72
Health-based · 5yr
16
Unresolved
| Water system | PWSID | Population served | Health-based · 5yr | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspinwall Boro Water Dept Municipal | PA5020003 | 3,151 | 6 | UNRESOLVED |
| Blawnox Boro Water Dept Municipal | PA5020004 | 2,200 | 64 | Returned to compliance |
| Plum Boro Muni Auth Municipal | PA5020041 | 27,500 | 2 | Returned to compliance |
| Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Auth Municipal | PA5020038 | 520,000 | 0 | UNRESOLVED |
| West View Water Authority Municipal | PA5020043 | 200,000 | 0 | UNRESOLVED |
| Robinson Twp Muni Auth Municipal | PA5020045 | 16,354 | 0 | UNRESOLVED |
| Reserve Twp Water Dept Municipal | PA5020047 | 3,204 | 0 | UNRESOLVED |
| Carson Towers Private | PA5020082 | 266 | 0 | UNRESOLVED |
Showing the 8 systems with recorded health-based or unresolved violations. 3 additional systems are in compliance with no recorded health-based violations in the past 5 years and are not individually tabulated.
A public water systemis the regulated entity, not the city. EPA's SDWIS definition covers anything serving 25+ people for 60+ days a year or with 15+ service connections — that includes municipal utilities (City of Stockton), water districts, mobile home parks operating their own wells, schools, and small private subdivisions. Each system is independently monitored. Some systems serve multiple cities; some cities are served by many systems.
Equity context · ACS 2018-2022 · USEPA-clone EJ disparity
Who Lives In Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Census place block groups): 303,843 residents. City disparity score for pm2.5 (fine particulate) sits near the reference (108). Why we surface this →
19.4%
Low-income
36.9%
People of color
3.8%
Under age 5
15.1%
Over age 64
- PM2.5 (fine particulate)Health riskFine inhalable particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. They travel deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream — linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.73above the national median
- OzoneHealth riskGround-level ozone (smog) inflames the airways. Even short exposures trigger asthma attacks and worsen chronic lung and heart disease.66above the national median
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)Health riskA tailpipe and combustion gas. Concentrates near busy roads and industrial sites; raises risk of airway inflammation, asthma, and lower respiratory infections in children.80in the highest 20% nationally
- Diesel particulateHealth riskSoot from diesel engines (trucks, trains, ports, construction). EPA classifies it as a likely human carcinogen and a major driver of childhood asthma near freight corridors.76above the national median
- Toxic releases (RSEI)Health riskEPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators score — weights TRI chemical releases by toxicity, where they go, and how many people are nearby. Higher means greater modeled cancer and chronic-health risk.72above the national median
- Traffic proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to high-volume roads. Living close to heavy traffic raises exposure to PM2.5, NO₂, and diesel exhaust — and the cardiovascular and asthma risks that follow.82in the highest 20% nationally
- Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing)Health riskShare of housing built before 1960, when lead-based paint was common. Dust from deteriorating paint is the leading cause of childhood lead poisoning, which permanently impairs cognitive development.89in the highest 20% nationally
- Superfund site proximityHealth riskPopulation-weighted distance to NPL Superfund sites — the most contaminated waste sites in the country. Nearby groundwater, soil, and air can carry industrial solvents, metals, and other long-lived contaminants.56near the national median
- RMP-facility proximityHealth riskDistance to facilities holding chemicals at quantities large enough to require an EPA Risk Management Plan (refineries, fertilizer plants, etc.). These pose acute exposure risk during accidental releases.72above the national median
- Hazardous-waste site proximityHealth riskDistance to RCRA hazardous-waste handlers (treatment, storage, disposal facilities). Indicates potential exposure to industrial chemicals in air, soil, and groundwater.82in the highest 20% nationally
- Underground storage tanksHealth riskDensity of underground tanks (gasoline, heating oil, industrial fluids). Leaking tanks are a leading source of benzene and other volatile organic compounds in groundwater drinking-water supplies.80above the national median
- NPDES wastewater proximityHealth riskDistance to permitted industrial wastewater dischargers. Closer proximity raises exposure to pollutants released into surface waters used for fishing, recreation, and downstream drinking-water intakes.66above the national median
- Drinking-water non-complianceHealth riskEPA score for public water systems with health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Higher means more residents on systems that recently exceeded safe limits for contaminants like lead, arsenic, or nitrate.76above the national median
| Indicator | Disparity score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (fine particulate) | 108 | near the reference |
| Ozone | 118 | moderately above the reference |
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) | 111 | moderately above the reference |
| Diesel particulate | 108 | near the reference |
| Toxic releases (RSEI) | 103 | near the reference |
| Traffic proximity | 115 | moderately above the reference |
| Lead-paint risk (pre-1960 housing) | 117 | moderately above the reference |
| Superfund site proximity | 9 | well below the reference |
| RMP-facility proximity | 98 | near the reference |
| Hazardous-waste site proximity | 116 | moderately above the reference |
| Underground storage tanks | 90 | below the reference |
| NPDES wastewater proximity | 95 | near the reference |
| Drinking-water non-compliance | 5 | well below the reference |
Source: Census ACS 2018-2022 (5-year) + USEPA-clone EJ blockgroup stats (raw indicators + EJ disparity mirror).
Sources.
- EPA Toxics Release Inventory · retrieved 2026-05-07.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System · retrieved 2026-05-07.