Donora

Autopsies of animals in the Meuse Valley, Donora, and London episodes described in Chapter 16, Section III, revealed evidence of pulmonary edema. Breathing toxic pollutants is not, however, the major form of pollutant intake for cattle ingestion of pollution-contaminated feeds is the primary mode. 

A severe episode of atmospheric pollution occurred in Donora, Pennsylvania, during the period Ocotober 25-31, 1948 (3). Twenty persons died, 17 of them within 14 hours on October 30. 

Discuss the simularities of the three major episodes of polluhon (Meuse Valley, Donora, and London). 

Sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (London, Donora)... 

Certain areas are unusually susceptible to air pollution disasters. One during 1930, in the Meuse Valley of Belgium, caused the premature death of over 60 people. Another in 1948 at Donora, Pa., caused 20 deaths. A third resulted in the deaths of 22 people at Poza Rica, Mexico. The greatest occurred Dec. 5-9, 1952, in London, England. Over 4,000 people are estimated to have died from respiratory ailments as a result of the smog. Each of these occurred in an industrial valley at the time of a temperature inversion.16... 

Carthage, Mo — Dynamite, water gel Donora, Pa — Ammonium nitrate, nitric acid Hercules, Cal - N204 nitric acid, ammonium nitrate... 

Most of the information on the effects of air pollution on humans comes from acute pollution episodes such as the ones in Donora and London. Illnesses may result from chemical irritation of the respiratory tract, with certain sensitive subpopulations being more affected (1) very young children, whose respiratory and circulatory systems are poorly developed, (2) the elderly, whose cardiorespiratory systems function poorly, and (3) people with cardiorespiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and heart disease. Heavy smokers are also affected more adversely by air pollutants. In most cases the health problems are attributed to the combined action of particulates and sulfur dioxides (SO2) no one pollutant appears to be responsible. Table 4.2 summarizes some of the major air pollutants and their sources and effects. 

The mechanism by which an animal can become poisoned in many instances is completely different from that by which humans are affected. As in humans, inhalation is an important route of entry in acute air-pollution exposures such as the Meuse Valley and Donora incidents (see the paragraph on humans below). However, probably the most common exposure for herbivorous animals grazing within a zone of pollution will be the ingestion of feed contaminated by air pollutants. In this case, inhalation is of secondary importance. 

The first death occurred on the third day and on the fourth day, the number of deaths increased so that a temporary morgue had to be set up. The town s eight physicians were too few in number to attend to all who were affected. All during this period, the plants continued to spew pollution, containing particulates, sulfur dioxide/sulfuric acid, zinc, lead and cadmium, into the air. It was not until the morning of the 30th that the Donora Zinc Works shut down and later that afternoon, rains finally arrived and washed the smog from the air. 

However, the great London fog of 1952 that resulted in 4000 deaths refocused attention on the public health consequences of air pollution and the lessons from Donora. The tremendous death toll in London made it clear that air pollution was more than just a nuisance and led to the enactment of legislation on both the state and federal level to control this type of environmental insult. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed a state Clean Air Act in 1955, the first such law to control air pollution. This was followed in 1970 by the passage of the Federal Clean Air Act hearings on this bill were marked by references to the events that happened in Donora in 1948. 

Ciocco A and Thompson DJ (1961) A follow-up of Donora ten years after Methodology and findings. American Journal of Public Health 51 155-164. 

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