Air Pollution: History and Recent Events

1264 Words3 Pages

Air Pollution
One of the most dangerous environment issues Southern California is facing today is air pollution. This includes the burning of fossil fuels and natural disasters. Los Angeles is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the most polluted city in the United States. I will research information about the causes, the effects, and the history of air pollution in the Los Angeles. For my research, I have relied mostly on, the school’s database and library, as well as current events.

History:
Air pollution is not something new; in fact, air pollution has been even documented as far back as the 16th century. During the industrial revolution the sights of smoke coming out from factory were a sign of prosperity. This might have been prosperity in the economic point of view, but as we can see now, in the environmental point of view it was not prosperous at all.
The beast attacks in London:
During the winter of 1952-1953, London came face to face with the “heaviest winter smog episode known to men.” (Environmental disasters) During the weeks leading to this even London had been experiencing colder than usual weather. Because of the cold weather, households were burning more coal to keep their families warm. This caused “additional coal combustion and many people travelled only by car, which caused the occurrence of a combination of black soot, sticky particles of tar and gaseous sulphur dioxide.” (Environmental disasters) During this event the numbers of deaths per day increased to a nine times the normal number in some cities. The smog approximately killed 12,000 people. Most of the victims were children and elderly people.
This was a big blow for not only England but for the world. After such event, it was obvious tha...

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... 2014, from http://www.businessinsider.com/china-pollution-is-blanketing-americas-west-coast-2014-1
Serna, J. (2014, May 16). San Diego County wildfires send smoky air across Southern California. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-san-diego-fire-smoke-20140516-story.html
Sechrist, D. (2009). Air pollution. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (Calif.). (1997). The Southland's war on smog. Diamond Bar, Calif: South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Verdnik, J. (2014, May 6). Air Pollution Is Killing Millions. Guardian Liberty Voice. Retrieved May 21, 2014, from http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/air-pollution-is-killing-millions/
Withgott, J., & Laposata, M. (2012). Essential environment: The science behind the stories. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

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