The Deadly Fog That Rewrote Air Pollution

Donora’s 1948 smog killed 20 people.

View in Browser  DIGITAL ISSUES GEAR REVIEWS SUBSCRIBE The Story We Can't Stop Thinking About  The deadly smog in Donora. It looked like any other foggy weekend in a steel town. Then people started choking. In October 1948, a toxic cloud trapped over Donora, Pennsylvania killed 20 residents and sickened thousands, as industrial emissions mixed with the town’s geography and a freak weather inversion. While the disaster unfolded in just a few days, its impact stretched decades, helping spark the environmental movement that would eventually lead to the Clean Air Act. —Andrew Daniels, Director of News When a Toxic Fog Suffocated an American Town A confluence of geography, weather, and industrial pollution devastated Donora, Pennsylvania, and forced the government to take action. Read More The Secret Soviet Island Contaminated With Anthrax Vozrozhdeniya Island was a major test site for lethal viruses, plague bacteria, and anthrax spores. Read More What People Who Live Past 100 Do Differently Now they’re learning how these “markers of resilience” could help you live long too. Read More GEAR REPORT A High-Powered Pressure Washer at a Rare Discount Excellent timing. Read More This Outdoor TV Is Built to Survive the Elements Slim bezels matter more than you think. Read More Why Some Chernobyl Dogs Are Turning Blue But not for the reason you think. Read More Need Assistance? Contact Us. Follow Us Unsubscribe | Manage Preferences | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Popular Mechanics is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2026 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779