Protect PT presents early findings of air pollution monitors in Monessen

Protect PT offers air monitoring and data analysis in the Allegheny and Westmoreland county areas.

A year’s worth of air monitoring around Monessen is telling a troubling story — and community members now have hard data to back up long-standing concerns.

During Protect PT’s community meeting on Wednesday at Monessen High School for the Clean Air For All (CAFA) study, environmental scientists and advocates presented early findings showing spikes in air pollution tied to nearby industrial sources.

Residents heard directly from researchers and program leaders about what’s been found in the air — and what it could mean for their health.

The project team includes Yvonne Sorovacu, environmental scientist at Protect PT; Mina Kimak, environmental program assistant at Protect PT; and collaborators from the Environmental Health Project: Talor Musil, field manager, and Jennifer Palmquist, Appalachia Project coordinator. Musil led the bulk of the data presentation.

“We’ve been collecting air data since December 2024,” Sorovacu said. “We’re focused on helping communities understand what’s in their air, where it’s coming from, and what they can do about it.”

What they found

Two facilities are the focus of monitoring in Monessen: Cleveland-Cliffs (formerly Monessen Coke Works) and the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill located off of Tyrol Boulevard in Rostraver Township, near the Monessen border. Using six air monitors and canister sampling at three sites — two of them in Monessen — the team tracked particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Musil explained that while daily averages of PM2.5 stayed within EPA standards, the shorter-term measurements told a different story.

“We saw 15-minute spikes that reached up to 450 — more than 10 times higher than what you’d see on daily averages,” Musil said. “Those short-term bursts matter. They impact people’s health, especially if they’re repeated or combined with VOC exposure.”

Spikes in particulate matter were frequently traced back to Cleveland-Cliffs, based on wind direction and air dispersion modeling. VOC levels also showed troubling trends — including high readings associated with low wind speeds, indicating pollution from nearby sources.

Musil emphasized that exposure to both PM and VOCs at the same time is particularly concerning, as particles can carry chemicals deeper into the lungs.

Of the six air monitors deployed, two — near Cleveland-Cliffs and Ferrell Street — registered the highest pollution levels. Analysis of wind patterns and monitor readings pointed to multiple sources contributing to pollution events, with Cleveland-Cliffs showing up frequently in the data.

Though some readings were within federal limits, Musil cautioned against using regulatory thresholds as a clean bill of health.

“EPA standards are not always health-based,” she said. “Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

Officials from neither Cleveland Cliffs nor the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill could be reached prior to press time.

CAFA will continue through December 2026, with quarterly reports and another public meeting planned for next summer. Residents hosting monitors receive regular updates and personalized data. A workshop is also planned for spring 2026 on how to report environmental concerns effectively.

The overall goal, Sorovacu said, is to give residents information they can use — whether it’s to protect their families at home, talk to their doctors, or advocate for change.

“We want people to know what they’re being exposed to,” she said. “And we want to give you the tools to do something about it.”

For more information or to join the monitoring effort, residents can contact Protect PT or visit protectpt.org.