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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

For 10 years now the SmellPGH App (by CMU's CREATE Lab) has helped community members crowd-source vital air quality information. Join the a celebration of the 10 year anniversary of SmellPGH on 9/30/26 4:00-7:00p.m., Schenley Plaza! RSVP: forms.gle/deAzQce3zFtq... #airquality

Image shows hand holding cell phone showing SmellPGH app, with small triangles on a cell phone screen indicating air quality complaints. Text says "SmellPGH IS TURNING 10 - Learn how air quality affects your health, help shape SmellPGH's future, and celebrate with us over refreshments. Wednesday, 9/30, 4-7pm, Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15620. CREATE Lab. Background image is in black and white showing industrial facility and plumes going up.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Keep an eye out for wildfire smoke arriving in Pittsburgh late Thursday into Friday of this week. It could add a lot of pollution to our airshed if the forecast holds. #airquality@breathe-project.bsky.social @gasp-pgh.bsky.social

Map shows visualization of plume of orange to red to purple wildfire smoke forecast stretching from NY, through Pittsburgh, and into northern Minnesota (with the worst in Canada north of MN).

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

And the SmellPGH reports from residents. Notice the wind direction pointing from Edgar Thomson into the SmellPGH reports. #AirQuality

Shows SmellPGH screen shot and a variety of dark purple, orange, and red triangles indicating SmellPGH reports in the East End of Pittsburgh traveling south to West Mifflin.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Major pollution spike this AM and stench as expected. Plume(s) from Edgar Thomson appear to align with a significant rise in PM2.5 levels nearby. Video starts around 4:17am. (Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage) #Stinkburgh #Pittsburgh #Airquality

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Two separate plume incidents at US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, including dark grey material. US Steel wants to⬆️pollution from from ET via the new hot strip mill.🤮We have to require them to do better. (Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Three more plumes at Nippon/US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant. And USS wants to *increase* pollution at the plant with new equipment powered by fossil fuels during a climate emergency. (Thx to CMU CREATE Lab and @breathe-project.bsky.social for BreatheCam footage.) 🧵1/2

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

As expected, plenty of SmellPGH reports today: (shows report indicating "Nausea, headache, sore throat" and smell description of "Sulfur". Also shows Pittsburgh filled with orange, and red and purple triangles indicating smell complaints)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🚨#Stinkburgh Alert! Conditions appear to be ripe for overnight/AM elevated pollution and stench. Stay alert, filter your air if you can, and submit smell complaints to the ACHD and SmellPGH app. #AirQuality

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

And you can see how a high-pollution zone was created just downwind of Edgar Thomson Plant here:

Red circles indicating high PM2.5 readings on PurpleAir monitors around Swissvale

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

And look at what community members have to say about the smells via SmellPGH (thx @cmucreatelab for that app!) "eggy, industrial" and "burnt plastic" "rotten eggs" "sulfur" "coal smoke and dust" #AirQuality #Pittsburgh

Smell Description: Like burning p**p and rotten eggs

Smell Description: Sulfur, rotten eggs, coal smoke and dust

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

And the plume in the BreatheCam video got going a little before 8am, which corresponds to this major spike on PurpleAir monitors downwind of Edgar Thomson Plant: [spike of around 142.3 µg/m3 pm2.5 on VCAN 12 PurpleAir]

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Elevated hydrogen sulfide, or H2S (rotten egg smell) in Braddock and Clairton this AM: [ACHD H2S reading of 5 ppb in Braddock and 7 ppb in Clairton]

H2S reading in Clairton of 7ppb and Braddock of 5ppb this AM at 5am.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Major pollution and complaints this AM. Also a plume at US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant feeding right into a low air mass ~8am. Spike in PM2.5 via PurpleAir monitor, elevated H2S, and many SmellPGH complaints. #AirQuality #Pittsburgh (Thx to @BreatheProject & @cmucreatelab for BreatheCam footage)🧵

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Yesterday at Nippon/US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant. Plumes coming out of multiple stacks. #AirQuality #Pittsburgh (Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage.)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Lots going on at US Steel's Edgar Thomson plant this evening. #Pittsburgh #AirQuality (Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

🤮 Goodness. I hope the workers in/around that building are wearing respiratory protection. #AirQuality #Pittsburgh (Thx to the @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage showing U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Mill facility emitting a cloud of something TODAY 5/30/26.)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

What is this? Nearly an hour of emissions from US Steel Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock yesterday. #airquality #Pittsburgh (Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social & CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

#Stinkburgh Alert! Likely stench and elevated pollution tonight and early next week. Send smell complaints to SmellPGH app and ACHD. This video is this AM at Edgar Thomson mill -- a hazy plume emerging this building. Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social & CMU CREATE Lab for BreatheCam footage.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

I spotted seven major plumes coming out of US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant in a single day. TODAY. 🤢 Thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATE Lab for the BreatheCam footage. #airquality #Pittsburgh

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

We've had elevated H2S and large numbers of SmellPGH reports the last couple days in Allegheny County. Not cool. We've hit twice the number of 24-hr exceedances of the H2S standard compared to this time last year. It really stinks around here. @gasp-pgh.bsky.social @breathe-project.bsky.social

Chart showing days over the 24-hr standard in 2026 YTD at 30, vs. Same period in 2025 at 13.

Chart shows H2S levels at 14ppb at the Liberty monitor. There's a red line at 5ppb.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

🚨‼️#Stinkburgh Alert! Strong inversion forecasted for tomorrow morning. Wind from the south. I anticipate that some areas will experience elevated pollution and stench overnight and tomorrow morning. Stay alert. Report smells via ACHD and SmellPGH if you smell something.

Air Quality Forecast and Dispersion Outlook for Allegheny County showing that there will be a Strong surface inversion tomorrow, with Moderate overnight.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

🚨🚨#Stinkburgh Alert‼️🤮 It's just awful outside. Loads of SmellPGH reports. Elevated VOC's, particles, and H2S pollution. The foul sulfur odor woke me up early this morning. Submit complaints to ACHD & SmellPGH app if you smell it. #AirQuality @gasp-pgh.bsky.social @breathe-project.bsky.social

Lots of red PurpleAir dots on map of Pittsburgh and Mon Valley showing elevated PM2.5 pollution.

Elevated VOC readings on an Awair monitor for this morning and yesterday morning.

Many, many dark purple SmellPGH reports in Pittsburgh, with several going into the Mon Valley.

ACHD console showing elevated H2S many times in the last several days, including today at the Liberty monitor.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

And the ACHD dispersion report. Not good.

Air Quality Forecast and Dispersion Outlook for Allegheny County, PA on February 9, 2026. Shows forecasted unhealthy air at 104 AQI today, moderate tomorrow at 80 AQI tomorrow, and strong surface inversion expected this morning, tonight, and tomorrow morning. Weak inversion this evening.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

‼️#Stinkburgh Alert! ACHD is already reporting a Mon Valley Air Pollution Warning. Particles, VOC’s, and H2S levels are high. Elevated pollution expected into tomorrow, too. Please be careful out there and report smells to the ACHD and SmellPGH if you encounter them.

Image shows H2S levels above the red line of 5ppb today, with some higher spikes in the past few days.

PurpleAir monitor map shows red, purple, orange, and yellow dots, and a few green - but the green are mostly indicated as indoor dots. This shows air pollution is relatively high in the region, particularly the Mon Valley area.

SmellPGH app showing triangles in the Pittsburgh region, more purple in the area around Jefferson Hills, more orange near Pittsburgh. Orange and red pollution monitors in Clairton and Liberty, respectively.

Image shows graph of VOC levels rising into orange today.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) levels have been elevated this AM. And it smells like it STILL at my house. The stench hasn't broken. Weather forecast indicates to my eyes that it might blow out by 1pm today. Until then, I'm holding my nose. @gasp-pgh.bsky.social @breathe-project.bsky.social

Hydrogen Sulfide levels graph in Allegheny County, showing high levels for the past 24 hours, higher than nearly all days since September.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

‼️#Stinkburgh Alert!! 🚨 I woke up around 5am with a headache and the noxious foul odor of sulfur in my bedroom. VOC levels outside were super high overnight. Particles are also up. Just intolerable. I feel violated. #Pittsburgh @breathe-project.bsky.social

SmellPGH app showing red triangles in the Mon Valley area around Pittsburgh, indicating stench reports.

PurpleAir map show with lots of orange red and purple levels in and around the Mon Valley near Pittsburgh.

High VOC levels per an Awair monitor graph.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

🎼🎶It's beginning to look a lot like a weather inversion. Image shows Edgar Thomson Plant engulfed in low lying clouds. Pollution also gets trapped with the low-lying air. We have inversions often in Pittsburgh, but not usually so visually clear. 🎼🎶

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

#Stinkburgh Alert ‼️ I haven’t smelled it this bad in a long time. Amazing sulfur and burnt plastic smell. And my Awair VOC sensor is *really* high. 🤮

Graph showing spikes in morning and evening. Evening spike goes to purple.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

What is this big bright light? This video mostly shows Nippon/US Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant, but I can't tell if the bright light is actually inside the plant grounds. Happened at about 8:53pm on 10/19/2025. (BreatheCam footage via @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU Create Lab)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

‼️#Stinkburgh Alert! Walked out my front door a few minutes ago and learned that the "moderate inversion" had yielded awful industrial smells at my house, but not until about 9am. Looks like I'm not the only one reporting. Hopefully clearing out soon, but tomo might also be bad.

PurpleAir graph showing elevated levels of PM2.5 starting around 9am.

SmellPGH app image showing lots of triangles in Pittsburgh today - triangles indicating smell reports.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Here you can see the spike on the Kennywood Hills B monitor. Anybody in that area encounter this in real-time?

PurpleAir map showing graph of particles spiking at monitor site between 9am and 9:30am.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

This morning there was a massive plume emitted from Nippon/US Steel's Edgar Thomson Mill in the greater Pittsburgh area. There was a massive spike in particles across the river about that time. The Allegheny County Health Dept needs to investigate. @breathe-project.bsky.social @gasp-pgh.bsky.social

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

‼️#Stinkburgh Alert! Strong inversion predicted for tomorrow morning in Pittsburgh. Looks like it might get worse over the weekend. Submit #SmellPGH complaints and @HealthAllegheny complaints as you encounter stench! @GASPPgh @BreatheProject @cmucreatelab

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

‼️#Stinkburgh Alert! Stench is widely reported across the Pittsburgh region today. VOC and particle levels elevated in certain areas. I decided against my morning walk because of the stench. 💩

Map of Pittsburgh with red and orange triangles across much of the eastern end of the city.

PurpleAir nap of air pollution showing elevated levels moving up the Mon Valley int Pittsburgh.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

And a monitor a little further away (this was a PurpleAir monitor - not an EPA monitor - but is on the EPA map) shows even higher levels.

AirNow.gov monitor graph showing a spike to orange last night in Rankin, PA.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Even the local EPA regulatory monitor showed a notable spike last night.

AirNow.gov monitor graph showing a spike to orange last night in Braddock, PA.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Here are local PurpleAir monitors near the plant showing significant particle pollution around that time. Winds were very slow.

PurpleAir graph showing emissions starting to rise a little before 2am, spiking high around 3am and gradually ramping down into the morning.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

What in the world happened at Nippon/US Steel's Edgar Thomson facility last night? #AirQuality Footage thanks to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREATELab. It went on for about 3 HOURS. Local air monitors seem to correlate. @gasp-pgh.bsky.social also reported high H2S last night. 🤬 🧵

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

And here is some BreatheCam footage from US Steel's Edgar Thomson Mill between about 8am and 8:30am. Not sure if it has any relation to the smells, but something was emitted from that plant about an hour before the levels spiked. (Footage thx to @breathe-project.bsky.social and CMU CREAT Lab)

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

🚨#Stinkburgh Alert! Suffocating burnt plastic smell in Squirrel Hill South right now. Winds coming from the south per my new little Tempest weather station. Not sure what it is. Ugh. SmellPGH shows I’m not the only one smelling it.

SmellPGH map showing a few triangles in Squirrel Hill South and Swissvale.

Wind readings from a Tempest weather station showing wind direction lately floating north.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

🚨#Stinkburgh Alert! Last night and much of today was pretty stinky. My house saw high VOC's, too. How about for you? Report smells to the SmellPGH app and ACHD website. Tonight isn't looking much better. Ugh. 🤢 #airquality

Allegheny County Health Department dispersion report and forecast for tomorrow. Strong inversion this AM. Another strong inversion for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow will see moderate PM2.5 at 58 AQI in Pittsburgh, 55 in Liberty-Clairton area.

SmellPGH image showing triangles clustered near Dormont but also widely spread across the region.

Awair readings showing a peak last night and this morning into red/orange territory, before dropping down to green levels by later in the morning.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

🚨#Stinkburgh Alert! Lots of stench reported last night. How are you doing?

SmellPGH image showing many dark red triangles across the eastern end of Pittsburgh.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

I visited the area near US Steel's Clairton Coke Works today after the #explosion. Lots of emergency vehicles and press all over the place. Not to mention haze above the plant and what appeared to be semi-opaque emissions coming out of a couple of stacks. www.flickr.com/photos/96025...

Ambulance driving towards scene. News truck in foreground. Crowd gathered in distance for what appears to be a press conference at Clairton Coke Works.

White plumes emerging from two smokestacks at Clairton Coke Works.

Press camera, newswoman, and multiple ambulances at Clairton Coke Works. "Clairton Plant" is painted on the roof of a building in the distance.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Explosion reported at Clairton Coke Works today. See the #BreatheCam footage below (footage courtesy of the CMU CREATE Lab and Breathe Project @breathe-project.bsky.social). #AirQuality #safety

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Another Inversion Doc pre screening event! I'll be showing clips I've shared at other pre-screening events this year. Protect PT is hosting this Lunch & Learn event on August 26 at noon on Zoom. See you there! secure.everyaction.com/6v-EYfEhh0Gu...

August Lunch & Learn Webinar: 20 Minute Preview of Inversion: The Unfinished Business of Pittsburgh’s Air. Hosted by Mark Dixon. Presented by ProtectPT. Kyle Zboran, Project Coordinator, Protect PT. Join us for a 20 minute preview of Mark Dixon's upcoming film: Inversion: The Unfinished Business of Pittsburgh's Air. Tuesday, August 26 at 12:00 PM.

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

Just saw this on my drive home today. When will US Steel/Nippon Steel be forced to stop doing this? 😢🏭 #airquality Video credit to BreatheCam by the CREATE Lab at CMU and @breathe-project.bsky.social

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Inversion Documentary @inversion-doc.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

🚨#Stinkburgh Alert! Elevated particles and stench today. And it’ll be extremely hot later today with elevated ozone. Be careful out there!

Purple air map of the Pittsburgh region showing elevated pollution from Clairton to Braddock.

Smell Pgh map of the Pittsburgh region showing triangles indicating stench around the eastern side of the city.

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