World History air pollution
Analysis of ice from Greenland shows that greenhouse gases started to rise almost 2000 years ago, the rise correlates with the introduction of agriculture and metallurgy as well as the historical use of wood burning stoves.
The residents of ancient Rome referred to their city’s smoke cloud as gravioris
caeli (“heavy heaven”) and infamis aer (“infamous air”). Several complaints about its effects can be found in classical writings. “No sooner had I left behind the oppressive atmosphere of the city [Rome] and that reek of smoking cookers which pour out, along with clouds of ashes, all the poisonous fumes they’ve accumulated in their interiors whenever they’re started up, than I noticed the change in my condition,” wrote the philosopher and statesman Seneca in A.D. 61.
By the 1200s significant deforestation in London causes a rise in sea coal use
(so named because it washed up on the beach).
“The immoderate use of, and indulgence to, sea-coale in the city of London exposes it to one of the fowlest inconveniences and reproaches that can possibly befall so noble and otherwise incomparable City... Whilst they are belching it forth their sooty jaws, the City of London resembles the face rather of Mount Aetna, the Court of Vulcan... or the suburbs of Hell [rather] than an assembly of rational creatures...”
John Evelyn
1930 Meuse Valley Fog Belgium
- The Meuse Valley near Liege was one of Belgium’s leading steel industry sites, with a high concentration of iron mills and smelters. In December of 1930, a thick smog that contained multiple pollutants, including sulphur, covered the densely populated valley for several days and caused the death of up to 60 persons, as well as several thousand cases of pulmonary attacks. The Meuse Valley incident triggered multiple scientific studies and became one of the earliest cases showing a connection between acute air pollution and severe health problems.
http://www.environmentandsociety.org/tools/keywords/smog-disaster-meuse-valley-belgium
1948 industrial smog in Donora, Pennsylvania
- Donora, Pennsylvania October 1948
- The city had more than a dozen steel furnaces and a zinc works factory
- A temperature inversion trapped the smog over 20 people died and 6,000 were sickened the city for days
- To this day it is the worst air pollution disaster in the United States
- But it was also a watershed moment for the American public an policy makers
- In 1950 President Truman held the first national air pollution conference
- Subsequent research showed an elevated risk from cardiovascular disease and an almost double risk of cancer in the years following the smog
- Elevated levels of cadmium, lead, zinc can still be found in a nearby lake and represent a continued risk
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5922205/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1522458/?page=9
Great London Smog of 1952
- London experienced frequent “pea soupers” as the thick smog from burning cheep coal and coal fired power plants became known.
- In December 1952 a temperature inversion and lack of wind caused polluted cold air to be held close to the city by a layer of warm air above.
- Pollution was so bad people had to feel their way through the streets during the day.
- The fog was so thick outdoor games had to be stopped because the players couldn’t see the balls.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2012/dec/05/60-years-great-smog-london-in-pictures
- At least 4,000 people died. Possibly closer to 8,000.
- 100,000 were sickened.
- The great smog lead to the clean air act of 1956 in Britain. For the first time smoke emissions were regulated.
Recent History
- China with 18% of the world’s population and India with 17.5 % of the world’s population have some of the worst air quality on the planet.
- In 2017 1.24 million deaths in India were attributable to air pollution.
- In New Dehli in 2019 the air quality deteriorated to the point flights had to be canceled and the air pollution monitors ran out of digits to measure the pollution.
November 19, 2010 Beijing China
- Air pollution so severe it exceeds the monitoring ability.
- US Embassy calls it “crazy bad”.