From Oct. 26-31, 1948, a blanket of smog engulfed Donora, Pennsylvania.

According to an article by Jacobs, Burgess, and Abbott in the American Journal of Public Health, activities such as the Donora Dragons High School football game and the town's annual Halloween parade went on as normal despite the smog that had moved into the region.

This week is the anniversary of the 1948 Donora smog event. (Photo Credit: Bettman & Smithsonian Magazine)

The smog gradually worsened after arriving, and doctors warned those susceptible to health issues from the smog to leave. But it was too late as visibility made for dangerous travel conditions. Twenty people died in Donora and nearby Webster, with an additional 43% of the population affected by long-term health issues.

The main generating factor

See Full Page