Environmental Health
Protecting Pennsylvanians from Toxic Emissions, Air Pollution,
and Industrial Waste
Pennsylvania sits at the epicenter of energy and industrial development—and so do the people who breathe its air, drink its water, and work in its plants and well‑pads. PSR Pennsylvania’s Environmental Health program confronts these hazards head‑on, advocating for policies and practices that place public health, equity, and science above corporate profit.
*Photo is a landscape view of the Allegheny River in Deerfield Township, Pennsylvania.
From asthma in Philadelphia neighborhoods downwind of refineries to rare cancers in rural counties dotted with well sites, the burden of pollution is not shared equally. We work alongside frontline communities to expose the hidden costs of extraction, transportation, processing, and disposal, ensuring that health protections reach those most at risk.
Toxic Emissions & Air Pollution
Industrial stacks, compressor stations, and flare pits release a cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter, and hazardous air toxics. These pollutants drive respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and increased mortality while accelerating climate change.
Cradle‑to‑Grave Hazards
Fossil fuels and chemicals pose risks at every stage of their life cycle. From the blast of explosives used to open a shale formation, to the burning of plastics in an incinerator decades later, we tackle the full chain of harm.
Oil & Gas Waste
Each fracked well generates millions of gallons of radioactive brine, drilling muds, and chemical‑laden flowback. Improper storage, road spreading, and injection threaten aquifers, streams, and the health of workers who handle these wastes.
Community Safety
Explosions, spills, and truck traffic endanger residents living near drilling pads, pipelines, and petrochemical hubs. We help communities secure buffer zones, emergency plans, and the right‑to‑know information they need to stay safe.
Worker Safety
Roughnecks, truck drivers, and refinery operators face daily exposure to silica dust, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, tenorm and extreme heat. We advocate for stronger OSHA and state standards, medical surveillance, and whistle‑blower protections.
Key Environmental Health Threats
Our Approach
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Community‑Led Science – We equip residents with low‑cost air monitors and water testing kits, turning lived experience into actionable data.
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Policy & Legal Advocacy – From local ordinances to federal rulemaking, we mobilize health professionals to testify, comment, and litigate for stronger protections.
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Education & Capacity Building – Webinars, fact sheets, and health summits translate emerging science into plain language for families, media, and decision‑makers.
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Research & Publications – Partnering with universities and frontline experts, we publish peer‑reviewed studies and reports that spotlight under‑reported hazards.
Get Involved
Healthy environments are a human right.
Sign up for alerts, invite a PSR PA speaker to your community, or support our work with a donation today. Together we can hold polluters accountable and build a safer, more just Pennsylvania for all.