The Most Toxic Towns In Pennsylvania: 9 Bucks County Towns Make The List

By Justin Heinze & Kara Seymour:

Toxic waste is an invisible problem across much of the United States, including Pennsylvania.

Toxic chemicals plague hundreds of municipalities in the Keystone State, and it’s not just in the places you would expect, with industrial refineries in sight.

Thanks to the Right-to-Know Network website, rtknet.org, the public now has a detailed look into exactly where toxic pollution is the worst, and exactly what that pollution is comprised of.

In Pennsylvania, 97.2 million pounds of these chemicals were released by 1,168 facilities required to report under the so-called “right-to-know law” in 2013, the most recent year for which full data is available.

The Right To Know Network website, or RTKnet.org, keeps a detailed Toxics Release Inventory, which provides details about the releases and transfers of all toxic chemicals, including manufacturing, waste handling, mining, and electricity generation.

Below is a complete list of all 385 Pennsylvania municipalities that have at least one pound of “on-site” releases of toxic chemicals. Thirteen different locales have over one million pounds of releases, including Philadelphia, which placed 12th overall.

Nine Bucks County Towns made the list.

According to RTKnet.org, these nine towns are among the state’s most toxic:

• Bristol - #34
• Warminster - #104
• Quakertown – #134
• Morrisville - #158
• Fairless hills - #171
• Southampton – #173
• Bensalem – #239
• Levittown - #356
• Perkasie - #381

Zinc was the most common toxin released, accounting for 29 million pounds, as much as the next three chemcials combined.

Horsehead Holding Corporation, a chemical manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, led the way among all businesses with 19 million pounds of pollutants.

They were followed by US Steel, NRG Energy, Aircraft Services Corp, and Allegheny Energy as Pennsylvania’s top five most toxic companies.

Most contaminants were released into the air or the water, and occurred during off-site transfers for disposal.

The most toxic town in Pennsylvania, Homer City in the mid-western part of the state, is home to a robust manufacturing industry. It is famously the home of NonLethal Technologie Inc, which produces the CS Gas that has been used to subdue protesters around the globe, according to Al Jazeera.

1. HOMER CITY - 5,893,194

2. NEW FLORENCE - 4,025,433

3. MASONTOWN - 3,552,987

4. CLAIRTON - 3,238,511

5. SHAWVILLE - 1,866,493

6. SHELOCTA - 1,846,058

7. READING - 1,587,825

8. BUTLER - 1,543,074

9. WYALUSING - 1,539,176

10. MIDLAND - 1,169,763

11. YUKON - 1,110,543

12. PHILADELPHIA - 1,025,887

13. SHENANDOAH - 1,022,942

14. COATESVILLE - 899,292

15. SPRING GROVE - 820,247

16. DANVILLE - 784,621

17. SOUDERTON - 781,557

18. MONACA - 781,300

19. SMETHPORT - 764,829

20. TREMONT - 665,644

21. FREDERICKSBURG - 636,859

22. TOWANDA - 592,292

23. PITTSBURGH - 515,885

24. SHIPPINGPORT - 513,746

25. NEW HOLLAND - 455,873

26. NEW WILMINGTON - 445,127

27. LANCASTER - 439,988

28. YORK HAVEN - 418,572

29. KENNERDELL - 417,678

30. EBENSBURG - 405,084

31. VANDERGRIFT - 401,807

32. MARION HEIGHTS - 393,069

33. COURTNEY - 359,437

34. BRISTOL - 356,863

35. WEST PITTSBURG - 351,332

36. KITTANNING - 350,650

37. ATGLEN - 336,494

38. JOHNSONBURG - 324,968

39. SPRINGDALE - 229,396

40. MOUNT BETHEL- 215,057

41. CHESTER - 211,811

42. NORTHAMPTON - 201,708

43. ROARING SPRING - 195,954

44. BRADFORD - 192,468

45. NAZARETH - 185,794

46. MC ADOO - 184,683

47. WYSOX - 181,914

48. ERIE - 181,132

49. SHAMOKIN DAM - 179,818

50. YORK - 176,981

51. TYRONE - 173,610

52. NESQUEHONING - 170,485

53. WARREN - 164,326

54. MARBLE - 156,242

55. ALLENTOWN - 154,853

56. FRACKVILLE - 154,734

57. MARIETTA - 147,378

58. WEST MIFFLIN - 134,524

59. CLARION - 130,503

60. MARCUS HOOK - 126,640

61. BOYERTOWN - 118,345

62. MOUNT UNION - 116,331

63. BIRDSBORO - 110,028

64. KREAMER - 107,534

65. CONSHOHOCKEN - 100,327

66. TRAPPE - 94,969

67. TRAINER - 94,122

68. BRADDOCK - 91,093

69. STEELTON - 90,770

70. JOHNSTOWN - 89,696

71. WHEATLAND - 88,432

72. MILTON - 87,550

73. PETROLIA - 78,100

74. CRESSONA - 74,230

75. BERLIN - 70,181

76. GREENVILLE - 69,517

77. BATH - 69,310

78. CENTRAL CITY - 69,190

79. HANOVER - 59,946

80. FLEETWOOD - 58,093

81. CHESWICK - 58,036

82. NEW CASTLE - 57,151

83. MOUNT JEWETT - 57,125

84. SCOTTDALE - 56,437

85. GLEN ROCK - 55,757

86. RIVERSIDE - 53,341

87. HARRISBURG - 49,808

88. BETHLEHEM - 49,427

89. SAYRE - 47,391

90. ANNVILLE - 46,212

91. THOMPSONTOWN - 45,448

92. SAEGERTOWN - 43,913

93. PULASKI - 41,986

94. SWIFTWATER - 39,420

95. WEST ELIZABETH - 39,165

96. PLEASANT GAP - 36,848

97. DONORA - 36,102

98. TAMAQUA - 35,926

99. FRANKLIN - 35,606

100. YOUNGWOOD - 35,448

101. PALMERTON - 34,533

102. MOUNT JOY - 33,406

103. BLANDON - 32,352

104. WARMINSTER - 31,754

105. WILLIAMSPORT - 31,660

106. GLASSPORT - 31,562

107. ROCHESTER - 30,270

108. BLAIRSVILLE - 29,935

109. ELRAMA - 29,309

110. WHITEHALL - 29,124

111. CABOT - 27,415

112. MANNS CHOICE - 26,922

113. SAINT MARYS - 26,789

114. LANGELOTH - 26,426

115. HERMITAGE - 25,874

116. MONROEVILLE - 25,850

117. MARLIN - 25,837

118. COCHRANTON- 24,863

119. PHOENIXVILLE - 24,850

120. EAST EARL - 24,471

121. CARLISLE - 24,396

122. MONONGAHELA - 24,162

123. GETTYSBURG - 21,332

124. UNION CITY - 21,144

125. SHIPPENVILLE - 21,043

126. WEST MIDDLESEX - 20,711

127. KLINGERSTOWN - 19,160

128. HAZLETON - 18,967

129. ALUM BANK - 18,830

130. LINESVILLE - 18,193

131. HARRISON CITY - 17,474

132. CURWENSVILLE - 17,423

133. MARTINSBURG - 17,346

134. QUAKERTOWN - 17,288

135. JEANNETTE - 17,069

136. BEDFORD - 16,311

137. EVANS CITY - 16,268

138. MACUNGIE - 16,014

139. WEST CHESTER - 15,759

140. EAST GREENVILLE - 15,421

141. KOPPEL - 14,998

142. SELINSGROVE - 14,774

143. BRACKENRIDGE - 14,454

144. EXPORT - 14,111

145. MILLERSBURG - 13,788

146. WAYNESBORO - 13,622

147. SUMMERVILLE - 13,588

148. WATSONTOWN - 13,084

149. MOUNT PLEASANT - 12,854

150. LEOLA - 11,997

151. LATROBE - 11,601

152. EMLENTON - 11,164

153. WASHINGTON - 10,395

154. LEWISTOWN - 10,296

155. DALLASTOWN - 10,277

156. CLARENDON - 10,166

157. SHADY GROVE - 9,752

158. MORRISVILLE - 9,528

159. BLOOMSBURG - 9,386

160. DANBORO - 9,100

161. CLEARFIELD - 8,790

162. BURNHAM - 8,672

163. SIMPSON - 8,633

164. COLUMBIA - 8,232

165. VALENCIA - 8,061

166. COLLEGEVILLE - 7,898

167. MC KEES ROCKS - 7,765

168. MORGANTOWN - 7,584

169. GIBSONIA - 7,510

170. FARRELL - 7,456

171. FAIRLESS HILLS - 7,354

172. KING OF PRUSSIA - 7,352

173. SOUTHAMPTON - 7,281

174. WEST CONSHOHOCKEN - 7,239

175. NORTH WALES - 7,200

176. STOCKERTOWN - 7,092

177. HORSHAM - 6,550

178. MILL HALL - 6,522

179. BELLEFONTE - 6,507

180. PARKER FORD - 6,351

181. NORTH EAST - 6,165

182. WAYNE - 6,022

183. HUGHESVILLE - 5,751

184. JEFFERSON HILLS - 5,521

185. QUARRYVILLE - 5,456

186. SHARON - 5,392

187. MIFFLINTOWN - 5,250

188. COLVER - 5,230

189. EMIGSVILLE - 5,176

190. CANONSBURG - 5,107

191. JENKINTOWN - 5,078

192. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP - 4,782

193. WEST GROVE - 4,722

194. AMBRIDGE - 4,477

195. TELFORD - 4,249

196. CORAOPOLIS - 4,227

197. DU BOIS - 4,207

198. ALLENPORT - 4,180

199. LYON STATION - 4,137

200. MONTGOMERY - 3,931

201. BRIDGEVILLE - 3,899

202. MC ALISTERVILLE - 3,869

203. HUNLOCK CREEK - 3,850

204. OIL CITY - 3,824

205. LINWOOD - 3,767

206. MONTGOMERYVILLE - 3,679

207. CONNELLSVILLE - 3,585

208. HATFIELD- 3,491

209. SHOEMAKERSVILLE - 3,331

210. MARS - 3,225

211. SCHAEFFERSTOWN - 3,219

212. PALM - 3,000

213. ALTOONA - 2,960

214. CRESSON - 2,820

215. HOLLSOPPLE - 2,818

216. ELLWOOD CITY - 2,817

217. SAXONBURG - 2,813

218. BURGETTSTOWN - 2,789

219. HARWICK - 2,761

220. CLARKS SUMMIT -2,743

221. ZELIENOPLE - 2,669

222. DELAWARE WATER GAP - 2,522

223. KIMBERTON - 2,512

224. MUNCY - 2,366

225. INDIANOLA - 2,320

226. JAMESTOWN - 2,124

227. SHARTLESVILLE - 2,105

228. WAYMART - 2,001

229. LEETSDALE - 1,921

230. ALBURTIS - 1,912

231. LEWISBURG - 1,859

232. STOYSTOWN - 1,802

233. MOUNTAIN TOP - 1,760

234. CASTANEA - 1,720

235. WEST FINLEY - 1,701

236. WEST POINT - 1,662

237. PORT ALLEGANY - 1,601

238. EASTON - 1,579

239. BENSALEM - 1,552

240. BUNOLA - 1,535

241. CLAYSBURG - 1,486

242. MIDDLETOWN - 1,467

243. ALCOA CENTER - 1,436

244. NATRONA HEIGHTS - 1,391

245. DUNMORE - 1,274

246. SARVER - 1,266

247. ROCKWOOD - 1,250

248. LEBANON - 1,152

249. JONESTOWN - 1,085

250. KUTZTOWN - 1,046

251. MC CONNELLSBURG - 1,042

252. KARNS CITY - 1,020

253. HERSHEY - 1,010

254. CORRY - 1,005

255. MOUNT CARMEL - 1,002

256. IRVINE - 937

257. STATE COLLEGE - 900

258. PITTSFIELD - 899

259. TRANSFER - 840

260. WILMERDING - 788

261. BELLE VERNON - 765

262. WELLSBORO - 763

263. YEADON - 760

264. CENTRE HALL - 750

265. NEW BRIGHTON - 727

266. MC DONALD - 613

267. EAST BUTLER - 613

268. LEECHBURG - 597

269. EAST STROUDSBURG - 585

270. MINERSVILLE - 562

271. MANHEIM - 531

272. MONTOURSVILLE - 510

273. BROOKVILLE - 503

274. NANTICOKE - 500

275. AVONMORE - 464

276. DARLINGTON - 450

277. PUNXSUTAWNEY - 448

278. SCRANTON - 437

279. COLMAR - 434

280. MIDDLEBURY CENTER - 427

281. RANKIN - 425

282. NORTHUMBERLAND - 425

283. CHARLEROI - 410

284. NEW BERLINVILLE - 408

285. FOGELSVILLE - 393

286. ARCHBALD - 387

287. ELVERSON - 378

288. EIGHTY FOUR - 368

289. MYERSTOWN - 360

290. WILKES BARRE - 358

291. ALLENWOOD - 328

292. BROCKPORT - 315

293. LUCERNEMINES - 314

294. MERCER - 300

295. ASPERS - 282

296. TURTLE CREEK - 280

297. HAMBURG - 270

298. LAURELDALE - 263

299. ROBESONIA - 256

300. VERONA - 255

301. CANTON -255

302. LYKENS - 253

303. MANSFIELD - 249

304. EDINBORO - 245

305. LANSDALE - 242

306. MEHOOPANY - 226

307. CHAMBERSBURG- 225

308. POTTSTOWN- 221

309. NEEDMORE- 220

310. OAKMONT -206

311. OAKDALE - 201

312. MEADVILLE - 183

313. TAYLOR - 172

314. DOWNINGTOWN - 137

315. BROCKWAY - 130

316. DENVER - 125

317. BLOSSBURG -120

318. BEAVER FALLS - 118

319. POTTSVILLE - 116

320. SHIPPENSBURG -115

321. COUDERSPORT - 109

322. EMPORIUM - 108

323. ASHLAND - 103

324. WALNUTPORT - 99

325. RIDGWAY- 83

326. DURYEA - 71

327. HARMONY - 62

328. WEST HAZLETON - 61

329. HOUSTON - 51

330. MEDIA - 50

331. TITUSVILLE - 41

332. HANOVER TOWNSHIP - 35

333. LAWRENCEVILLE - 34

334. AUBURN - 33

335. WRIGHTSVILLE - 32

336. SLIPPERY ROCK - 29

337. CLINTON - 27

338. REAMSTOWN - 27

339. DUNCANSVILLE - 25

340. CONNEAUT LAKE - 25

341. ALIQUIPPA - 25

342. MUNHALL - 24

343. LOYALHANNA - 23

344. HARLEYSVILLE - 23

345. CROYDON - 22

346. CHESTER TOWNSHIP - 22

347. GROVE CITY - 20

348. PITTSTON - 20

349. HATBORO - 18

350. KARTHAUS - 17

351. WILKES-BARRE - 17

352. KANE - 16

353. CAMP HILL - 16

354. NEW KINGSTOWN - 16

355. WELLSVILLE - 15

356. LEVITTOWN - 13

357. FORT LOUDON = 10

358. SYKESVILLE - 10

359. WYNDMOOR - 10

360. LEWIS RUN - 10

361. SINKING SPRING - 8

362. NEW SALEM - 5

363. LEESPORT - 5

364. VANPORT - 5

365. BIRD IN HAND - 5

366. MOUNT MORRIS - 5

367. FAIRVIEW - 5

368. GREENSBURG - 5

369. BIG RUN - 5

370. BENTON - 4

371. SMITHFIELD - 4

372. IRWIN - 4

373. MERTZTOWN - 4

374. LANDISVILLE - 3

375. HELLERTOWN - 3

376. HOPWOOD - 3

377. NEW COLUMBIA - 2

378. SENECA - 2

379. BERWICK - 2

380. MEYERSDALE - 1

381. PERKASIE - 1

382. MCADOO - 1

383. SOMERSET - 1

384. EDDYSTONE - 1

385. LIBERTY BOROUGH - 1