Pennsylvania ranks 49th in the nation for percentage growth in total solar, wind and geothermal generation over the past decade, according to new data released on May 7, 2025 by PennEnvironment.

Debates over the importance of “lifestyle” versus “environment” contributions to cancer have been going on for over 40 years. While it is clear that cigarette smoking is the most significant cancer risk factor, the contributions of occupational and environmental carcinogens in air, water and food remain controversial. In practice, most cancer prevention messaging focuses on reducing cigarette smoking and changing other personal behaviors with little mention of environmental chemicals, despite widespread exposure to many known carcinogens. To inform decision-making on cancer prevention priorities, we evaluated the potential impact of smoking cessation on cancer rates.

Below is a summary of key findings from the second quarterly report on data collected from five Aeroqual AQM-65 air monitors in Beaver County, PA from March 2025 through June 2025. The Environmental Health Project (EHP) collected this data with the Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) as a part of the AirSense Community Monitoring Project funded by Shell penalty dollars from the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund. These results reflect a 91 day monitoring period of air quality in Beaver County.

People exposed to higher levels of air pollution may be more likely to develop meningioma, a typically noncancerous brain tumor, according to a large study published July 9, 2025, in Neurology^®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. This common type of brain tumor forms in the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The findings do not prove that air pollution causes meningioma; they only show a link between the two.

A new report from Industrious Labs finds that Cleveland’s ability to meet recently announced goals in the city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) depends on transitioning its largest climate polluter, Cleveland-Cliffs’ Cleveland Works steel plant, to clean technology. Without swift and decisive action from city and county leaders, Cleveland’s climate goals, along with forthcoming plans from Cuyahoga County and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, will remain out of reach.

Cumulative risk assessment (CRA) is key to characterizing health risks in fence line and disadvantaged communities, which face environ-mental pollution and challenging socioeconomic conditions. Traditional approaches for inclusion of mixtures in CRA are limited and only assess the most sensitive target organ system for each chemical.

ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to examine the influence of air quality (PM2.5, SO2, O3, and
NO2) on daily school absenteeism rates in students with and without asthma in an
underserved community with elevated exposure risk. This retrospective study analyzed
daily attendance and OAP exposure data from 2015/16 to 2017/18 in an environmental

justice area located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For students with asthma, both long-
term (28-day) and short-term (previous day) exposure to these PM2.5 levels 10.0–12.0 μg/

m3 significantly increased absenteeism compared to days with levels below 10 μg/m3
(RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.10, 1.45 and RR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.03, 1.42, respectively, p < .05).
Exposure to unhealthy SO2 levels (≥75 ppb) also contributed to increased absenteeism
(RR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.17–2.92, p < .05). These findings suggest that, while the EPA’s recent
reduction in the PM2.5 good air quality standard threshold to 9 μg/m3 represents an
important step toward protecting sensitive groups, it does not fully safeguard children in
areas prone to frequent exceedances. The study underscores the importance of reducing
exposure to outdoor air pollutants in at-risk populations, as inequities in childhood
exposure can persist throughout life and disproportionately impact marginalized
communities.

The American Lung Association analyzes and compares air quality across the nation.

This New England Journal of Medicine article analyzes how to fight polluting industries.

A Guide To Local Regulatory Approaches That Let Utility-Scale Solar Grow from Greenlight America.