Emerson Venable was a local chemist and a member of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) from 1960-1993. He served on many committees in the ACHD including the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee and the Bureau of Air Pollution Control Variance Board. Air pollution had been a topic studied by Venable since 1935. He was a member of the Air Pollution Control Association, American Public Health Association, Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and was a founding member of the United Smoke Council and American Industrial Hygiene Association. The United Smoke Council was responsible for successfully lobbying the City of Pittsburgh to adopt effective smoke control methods in the 1940's. He continued to fight against air pollution after being appointed to the ACHD in 1960 as part of the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee. After the passage of the National Clean Air Act in 1970, he was appointed to serve on the Board of Appeals and Variances for Air Pollution in the BAPC. He retired from his activities with the ACHD in 1993. He passed away on March 17, 1996.
From the description of Emerson Venable papers 1889-1996 bulk 1960-1975. (Historical Society of W Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 50296297
