Being a good neighbor

I'm proud to call Lawrenceville my home. One of the things I love most about my neighborhood is its rich history and diversity — from its pioneering role in the transcontinental railroad, to the small-business successes along Butler Street, to the families that have raised generation after generation on our blocks.

But there's one thing we all need to acknowledge: The air we breathe in Lawrenceville and across Pittsburgh is dirty and it's making us sick. Just last week, the American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report found that, once again, Pittsburgh was one of the worst in the nation for air quality. In fact, we were one of only seven regions in the country to land on all three of the report's “worst of” lists.

Of course, the McConway & Torley steel foundry isn't solely responsible for the poor air quality. But the foundry, by the very nature of its work, does emit toxic pollutants into the air.

Some of the toxins emitted from the foundry include soot, benzene and manganese. Manganese is a neurotoxin that can cause cognitive impairment, mood disturbances and impaired memory, balance and coordination. Benzene is a carcinogen and there are no known safe exposure levels. Other toxins can exacerbate asthma and even lead to premature death.

Are these health problems you want your child or elderly parent dealing with? We all deserve to breathe clean air and that's why the Allegheny County Health Department has recommended some commonsense measures that ensure the foundry can continue its rich history of operating in Lawrenceville, while taking steps to clean up some of the toxins it regularly emits.

Last weekend, I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather by heading to Arsenal Park. It was bustling with residents, including families spending time together and enjoying our historic landmark. But in the back of my mind, I was worried about the emissions coming from the foundry just 10 blocks away.

We shouldn't worry about whether it's safe for our kids to play outside. We can and should work together as a community to take steps that allow Lawrenceville to continue to flourish. Unfortunately, the owners of the foundry prioritize their bottom line over the health and safety of their employees and the people living in the community.

The ACHD's action is evidence-based. Over a three-and-a-half-year period, from 2011–14, manganese emission levels from the foundry were 57 percent higher than EPA levels meant to benchmark the impacts on human health from exposure to toxic pollutants. The owners of this foundry owe their workers more than that and they owe it to all of us to be good neighbors.

The steel foundry is a central part of our community and no one's trying to change that. What we are trying to do is have an honest conversation about the quality of air we breathe, how it's negatively impacting our health and what we can do to change it so Lawrenceville can continue to prosper. The foundry should be a good neighbor and play an active role in that conversation, not seek to spread fear and misinformation.

Cassi Steenblok lives in Lawrenceville. She works for Clean Water Action.