Donora Death Fog: Clean Air and the Tragedy of a Pennsylvania Mill Town

by Andy McPhee

— Nonfiction Account of the Worst Air Pollution Disaster in US History —
In October 1948, a seemingly average fog descended on the tiny mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania. With a population of fewer than fifteen thousand, the town’s main industry was steel and zinc mills—mills that continually emitted pollutants into the air. The six-day smog event left twenty-one people dead and thousands sick. Even after the fog lifted, hundreds more died or were left with lingering health problems. Donora Death Fog details how six fateful days in Donora led to the nation’s first clean air act in 1955, and how such catastrophes can lead to successful policy change. Andy McPhee tells the very human story behind this ecological how wealthy industrialists built the mills to supply an ever-growing America; how the town’s residents—millworkers and their families—willfully ignored the danger of the mills’ emissions; and how the gradual closing of the mills over the years following the tragedy took its toll on the town.  

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Environment

324 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2023

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in the Mon Valley and my mother (and her family) all grew up in Donora. However, I was an adult before I realized that the smog even happened or the impact that it had not just here, but nationwide and even through the world.

Even with how strongly corporations control the world today, it’s hard to imagine the times of the 1940s, when an industry/plant literally employed almost the entire town. Added with the general lack of understanding of the truly weird weather conditions that would trap those toxins in a small valley, and it just have been terrifying.

This book does a fantastic job not of just discussing the events of October 1948, but also explaining the rise of this small city well outside Pittsburgh. That information really brings the area alive, and gives emotional resonance to the tragedy that can be dulled by the passage of time.

This tragedy serves as a reminder of what can happen when corporations run unchecked—something we need to remember today as admittedly different industries are amassing power.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Donora I only ever heard the version of the story where it was only the old and sick who died. This book gave the background on how that side got it's story, but more importantly the truth of the matter. Enjoyed it greatly.

[John Danek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donora PA is my home town. The author has done his homework. I deem this book a “Good Read”.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donora Death Fog is not only an historic reference of the tragedy of October 1948. The science is surrounded by the lives of the people involved - those who died and those who survived. The book is very readable and well written by a man who cares.

I expected to like this book because it is about my hometown. And, because Andy McPhee is such a gentle soul who cares about people - even those he doesn't know and those who have gone before.

I didn't expect to learn so much! - About the people (some I knew and some I did not) and about the history, the science and the medicine.

[Damon Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best non fiction books I’ve read. You not only get a history of Donora and the smog incident but also learn about the different smelting processes and how the plants damage the environment. My father in laws grandmother was one of the victims and this book filled in a-lot of blanks that I don’t think even her father who grew up there knew. I wish I would have visited the fig museum while we were there a few years ago for a family reunion. Donora is an unusual town and can’t wait to go back and see more with all that I learned from this book.

[Bj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy McPhee gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the early days of Donora, and the hard-working, hard-living immigrants who populated the town to operate the mills. It's a harrowing story of the days of the crisis. The amazing thing is that everything (from the medicine, to the housing, to the role of government, to the omnipotence of the corporation) seems so primitive! It's hard to believe that this disaster took place in 1948, after WWII. The birth of environmental regulations and clean air began in Donora.

[Fred Pandrok · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up in Donora, specifically Cement City, I’ve always been surrounded by stories about the infamous Smog that left an indelible mark on our town. This book is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive and impactful account I’ve ever read on the subject.

The author’s meticulous research is evident, filling gaps that oral histories and fragmented recollections often leave behind. Every detail, every nuance of the Smog story, has been pieced together with incredible care, offering a fuller, richer understanding of an event that shaped our community’s identity.

Beyond the tragedy of the Smog, the book serves as a fascinating deep dive into the history of Donora. Reading about the names, places, and families I grew up knowing brought back memories. The historical context painted a vivid picture of life in Donora during that era, from the industries that powered the town to the tight-knit relationships that defined its character.

What struck me most was the portrayal of the individuals caught up in the tragedy—people whose names and families I recognized. While their stories are heartbreaking, the book shines a light on the resilience and humanity that emerged in the face of adversity. The courage and determination of the heroes who did everything they could to save lives profoundly impacted me. Their sacrifices and bravery are a testament to the strength of the Donora community.

This book is more than just a recounting of history—it’s a tribute to a town and its people. It captures the pain and the pride of a community that has endured and persevered. This is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in Donora’s story or for those who want to understand how communities grapple with tragedy and emerge stronger.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of a temperature inversion in 1948 that affected the mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania over the Halloween weekend killing over 20 people in the area around the U. S. Steel Zinc Smelter.

I found this so interesting. I never knew about it. I liked how Mr. McPhee gave a history of the area and how Donora came into existence. I liked how he explained the temperature inversion so a lay person could understand. He then tells of the people who lived in the area and how they were affected by the inversion and the smoke from the smelter that was caught under the inversion and lingered for 6 days. He talks of the doctors, first responders, and the people who lived either in Donora, up the river from it, or across the river from it. He explained how the smelter affected their lives, property, and jobs. It was not pretty before, during, or after the temperature inversion.

I am glad I read this. I learned so much. I was readine it at the same time there was an explosion at the U. S. Steel plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania in which two people were killed. It was timely and I thought how not much was changed. Steel working is a dangerous job.

[Kelly Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for readability but 5 for content. I like books about disasters so how could I not read one with the title DENORA DEATH FOG? I usually like books about natural disasters more than man-made but this was a clear case of both. I am always appalled at the wanton disregard for human safety exhibited by big industry and the "robber barons" of the late 19th/early 20th century. Although great strides have been made I fear not enough to save the world and especially with the current industry friendly administration in the US. There is much more to this book than just the disasterous events of late October 1948. I learned way more than I think I need to know about the steel making business, lol, but I did enjoy the background info on the people of Denora and was intrigued with Cement City. Thank you to the University of Pittsburgh Press for publishing this important piece of Pennsylvania history.

[Jack Waite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book that was very informative. I live 30 miles from Donora and have lived here for 40 years and had never heard of the Donora Death Fog. As the author did, I heard about it referred to in the Netfix show, The Crown. It was a interesting read covering the history of Donora. It explained a lot about steelmaking and zinc production to me. It also dealt with the plight of the workers in the industry and life in a small mill town in Pennsylvania.

[Linda Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about the US tragedy that lead to the clean air act and the need for government oversight to provide independent research on impacts of industry. Hats off to the community, medical professionals and firefighters who fought to save their neighbors.

[Lori Hvizda ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best non-fiction books I’ve read. McPhee does a terrific job of describing the workings of the mills and the circumstances that led to this environmental and health disaster. He engagingly tells about the lives of the ordinary mill workers as well as the wealthy owners.

[Leslie Reiber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great book but an important one in terms of information and historical perspective, particularly for those who spent their childhoods in the industrial Mid-Atlantic. The narrative was often annoyingly disjointed, but I'm really glad I read it.

[Donna Burtch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strong portrait of the horrible 1948 "smog." Covers in terrific detail the backstory and I really valued the human component the author developed. A true deep dive.

[Maria Rubin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always interesting to read about an event that happened close to where you live that you weren't aware of. Although I wasn't alive at the time this murderous fog happened, knowing that it in large part contributed to the Clean Air Act is enlightening. The fact that it happened and so many of the victims and their families accepted it as part of daily living is scary, but understandable considering their reliance on the mill as their source of income. The real heroes were the medical professionals and first response workers who saved so many lives during the 4 days that the black fog hung over the city, making it almost impossible to breathe.