1fs. Severe Pollution EpisodesThough many of us live in places where
poor air quality is a disturbing fact of life, much progress in solving
the problem has been made in the developed world in recent decades,
with the result that the most disastrous types of smog events are a
thing of the past. Consider, for example, what is probably the most
famous air pollution episode in recent history—the one that hit London,
England, between December 5 and 9, 1952. In this five-day period, a
combination of stagnant, damp air and the burning of low-quality coal
produced a lethal mixture of smoke and fog. An estimated 3500 to 4000
people—mostly children, elderly, and the already infirm—died as a direct
result of the episode.The most famous air pollution disaster in North
America occurred in Donora, Pennsylvania, 50 km (30 mi) from Pittsburgh.
Between October 26 and 31,1948, sulfur, carbon monoxide, and heavy
metal dusts emitted from the American Steel & Wire's Zinc Works
mixed with a dense radiation fog to create what has been called the
“Hiroshima of air pollution.” Four days of intense smog took on even
greater proportions by Saturday, October 30. Fans at a high school
football game were unable to see the events happening on the field.
Others left the game early as word came that family members at home had
died or were hospitalized from respiratory problems brought on by the
smog. Those who tried to evacuate the town were unable to leave because
near-zero visibility completely stalled traffic. By Sunday morning
firefighters were bringing oxygen to people who were unable to breathe,
but relief was only temporary as the departing firefighters felt their
way over to the next victim requiring assistance. On Sunday morning,
officials finally closed down the Zinc Works, and later that day the
smog was finally washed away by rain—but only after 20 people had died
and 7000 people had been hospitalized. It is widely believed that the
Donora event was the principal catalyst in the enactment of
antipollution legislation in the United States (see Figure
14-1-1).FIGURE 14-1-1 Pittsburgh's Air Quality Like some other former
industrial centers, Pittsburgh's air quality has undergone a huge
improvement due to the closure of foundries and factories. These photos
show (a) Pittsburgh in 1906 and (b) the same scene in 1986....What
caused the 1952 London smog episode? Get solution
2fs. Severe Pollution EpisodesThough many of us live in places where poor air quality is a disturbing fact of life, much progress in solving the problem has been made in the developed world in recent decades, with the result that the most disastrous types of smog events are a thing of the past. Consider, for example, what is probably the most famous air pollution episode in recent history—the one that hit London, England, between December 5 and 9, 1952. In this five-day period, a combination of stagnant, damp air and the burning of low-quality coal produced a lethal mixture of smoke and fog. An estimated 3500 to 4000 people—mostly children, elderly, and the already infirm—died as a direct result of the episode.The most famous air pollution disaster in North America occurred in Donora, Pennsylvania, 50 km (30 mi) from Pittsburgh. Between October 26 and 31,1948, sulfur, carbon monoxide, and heavy metal dusts emitted from the American Steel & Wire's Zinc Works mixed with a dense radiation fog to create what has been called the “Hiroshima of air pollution.” Four days of intense smog took on even greater proportions by Saturday, October 30. Fans at a high school football game were unable to see the events happening on the field. Others left the game early as word came that family members at home had died or were hospitalized from respiratory problems brought on by the smog. Those who tried to evacuate the town were unable to leave because near-zero visibility completely stalled traffic. By Sunday morning firefighters were bringing oxygen to people who were unable to breathe, but relief was only temporary as the departing firefighters felt their way over to the next victim requiring assistance. On Sunday morning, officials finally closed down the Zinc Works, and later that day the smog was finally washed away by rain—but only after 20 people had died and 7000 people had been hospitalized. It is widely believed that the Donora event was the principal catalyst in the enactment of antipollution legislation in the United States (see Figure 14-1-1).FIGURE 14-1-1 Pittsburgh's Air Quality Like some other former industrial centers, Pittsburgh's air quality has undergone a huge improvement due to the closure of foundries and factories. These photos show (a) Pittsburgh in 1906 and (b) the same scene in 1986....What event was most responsible for the enactment of air pollution abatement laws in the United States? Get solution
2fs. Severe Pollution EpisodesThough many of us live in places where poor air quality is a disturbing fact of life, much progress in solving the problem has been made in the developed world in recent decades, with the result that the most disastrous types of smog events are a thing of the past. Consider, for example, what is probably the most famous air pollution episode in recent history—the one that hit London, England, between December 5 and 9, 1952. In this five-day period, a combination of stagnant, damp air and the burning of low-quality coal produced a lethal mixture of smoke and fog. An estimated 3500 to 4000 people—mostly children, elderly, and the already infirm—died as a direct result of the episode.The most famous air pollution disaster in North America occurred in Donora, Pennsylvania, 50 km (30 mi) from Pittsburgh. Between October 26 and 31,1948, sulfur, carbon monoxide, and heavy metal dusts emitted from the American Steel & Wire's Zinc Works mixed with a dense radiation fog to create what has been called the “Hiroshima of air pollution.” Four days of intense smog took on even greater proportions by Saturday, October 30. Fans at a high school football game were unable to see the events happening on the field. Others left the game early as word came that family members at home had died or were hospitalized from respiratory problems brought on by the smog. Those who tried to evacuate the town were unable to leave because near-zero visibility completely stalled traffic. By Sunday morning firefighters were bringing oxygen to people who were unable to breathe, but relief was only temporary as the departing firefighters felt their way over to the next victim requiring assistance. On Sunday morning, officials finally closed down the Zinc Works, and later that day the smog was finally washed away by rain—but only after 20 people had died and 7000 people had been hospitalized. It is widely believed that the Donora event was the principal catalyst in the enactment of antipollution legislation in the United States (see Figure 14-1-1).FIGURE 14-1-1 Pittsburgh's Air Quality Like some other former industrial centers, Pittsburgh's air quality has undergone a huge improvement due to the closure of foundries and factories. These photos show (a) Pittsburgh in 1906 and (b) the same scene in 1986....What event was most responsible for the enactment of air pollution abatement laws in the United States? Get solution
