Industrial Revolution's Dark Legacy: Air Pollution's Birth

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 1700s and stretched into the early 1800s, brought about enormous changes in Europe and America. The shift to a manufacturing-based economy, driven by new technologies, transformed societies and led to rapid economic growth. However, this progress came at a cost, with the Revolution marking the start of intensive fossil fuel use and the large-scale carbon emissions that continue to drive climate change. The widespread use of coal and oil-powered machinery in factories and homes led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions, with cities like Manchester, the first industrial city, becoming heavily polluted and causing respiratory illnesses and increased mortality among its residents.

The use of fossil fuels

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 1700s and stretched into the early 1800s, marked a significant shift in energy usage, with the introduction and intensive use of fossil fuels as a dominant energy source. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, played a pivotal role in powering the heavy machinery central to industrialization. This shift had a profound impact on the environment, leading to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and air pollution.

Coal, in particular, was extensively used during the early phases of the Industrial Revolution. As cities began to develop and expand, there was a rapid growth in coal combustion, which substantially increased emissions of harmful gases such as SO2, NO2, and NH3. The burning of coal released significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, contributing to what we now know as climate change. The use of coal not only impacted the environment but also had severe consequences for human health, as air pollution in urban areas became a growing concern.

The Second Industrial Revolution, from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, further intensified the use of fossil fuels. This phase, often referred to as the Technological Revolution, introduced advancements such as electricity, steel production, and the internal combustion engine. Countries like the UK, Germany, and France rapidly industrialized, resulting in exponential increases in energy consumption. The shift towards mass production and the growth of heavy industries led to a further increase in fossil fuel usage and a corresponding rise in air pollution.

The reliance on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution had far-reaching consequences that continue to be felt today. It set in motion a pattern of high emissions and unchecked resource exploitation, with long-term environmental and public health impacts. The burning of fossil fuels remains a significant contributor to local air pollution and has been linked to millions of premature deaths annually. Additionally, the Industrial Revolution's environmental impact marked the start of large-scale carbon emissions, which continue to drive global warming and climate change.

While the use of fossil fuels has evolved since the Industrial Revolution, with a combination of oil and gas now playing a more significant role, the negative impacts of this energy source persist. Today, there is a growing recognition of the need to transition away from fossil fuels towards low-carbon and renewable energy sources to mitigate their harmful effects on the environment and human health.

The combustion of coal

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 1700s and stretched into the early 1800s, was a period of enormous change in Europe and America. It brought about significant advancements in terms of increased production and efficiency, and it transformed largely rural societies of farmers and craftsmen into fast-growing industrial cities.

One of the key aspects of this transformation was the shift to fossil fuels, particularly coal, as the primary source of energy. The combustion of coal played a major role in causing air pollution during the Industrial Revolution. As coal was burned to power steam engines and machinery in factories and mills, it released large amounts of carbon emissions and other pollutants into the atmosphere. This led to a sharp increase in air pollution, especially in urban areas, with cities like Manchester in the UK becoming known for their "smoke nuisance". The air was filled with noxious, sooty coal smoke, leading to respiratory diseases and increased mortality among residents and workers.

The effects of coal combustion on air pollution were not fully realized until decades after the second Industrial Revolution. However, the environmental impact of this period set in motion a pattern of unchecked resource exploitation and high emissions that continue to have consequences today. The widespread use of coal during the Industrial Revolution marked a turning point in our intensive use of fossil fuels, which has become the driving force behind climate change.

Overall, the combustion of coal during the Industrial Revolution had far-reaching effects on air pollution, contributing to the deterioration of air quality, the depletion of natural resources, and the long-term damage to the environment and public health.

Urban overcrowding

The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the 1760s, brought about a wave of urbanisation as people moved from the countryside to cities in search of jobs. This migration of populations led to urban overcrowding, with cities across Europe and America, such as Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham, expanding rapidly to accommodate the growing workforce needed for factories.

The overcrowding of cities resulted in unhealthy and squalid living conditions, with poor sanitation and air quality. The widespread use of coal for powering machinery and residential heating in these urban centres contributed to thick smog and increased carbon emissions, further exacerbating the air pollution problem. The impact of air pollution on the health of urban populations was significant, leading to respiratory illnesses and higher death rates in areas with higher coal burning.

The rapid urbanisation also put a strain on public services, which struggled to keep up with the influx of people. Elementary public services such as water supply, sanitation, street cleaning, and open spaces were overwhelmed, leading to filth in the streets and epidemics of cholera and typhoid. The close proximity of residential areas to industrial sources of pollution further exacerbated the health risks for working families.

The overcrowding and pollution in cities during the Industrial Revolution highlighted the negative consequences of rapid urbanisation and the need for improved urban planning and infrastructure to ensure healthy and sustainable living conditions for growing urban populations.

Poor sanitation

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 1700s and stretched into the early 1800s, was a period of rapid economic growth and transformation. However, it also introduced acute hardships for workers and caused environmental degradation and pollution. The shift to a manufacturing-based economy led to the intensive use of fossil fuels, primarily coal, which caused a sharp increase in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution.

The lack of sanitation and proper drainage systems contributed to the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid, and cholera. Cholera epidemics ravaged India and reached Europe in the early 1830s, with a 50% fatality rate. Despite the efforts of some towns to set up quarantine boards and promote cleaning practices, the underlying issues of poor sanitation and drainage remained unaddressed. It was not until the return of cholera to Britain in 1848 that the government passed the first Public Health Act, creating a central Board of Health to address these issues.

The sanitary report of 1842 by Edwin Chadwick highlighted the disparities in health between urban and rural dwellers and brought attention to the need for sanitary reforms. However, government attitudes and the prevailing laissez-faire system initially hindered significant progress. It was only with the 1866 cholera epidemic that the government adopted a more interventionist approach, leading to the 1866 Sanitary Act which forced towns to appoint inspectors for water supplies and drainage.

The Industrial Revolution's legacy of poor sanitation and environmental pollution continued to have lasting impacts, with each phase of industrialization exacerbating the problem. The Second Industrial Revolution, from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, introduced electricity, steel production, and the internal combustion engine, further intensifying mass production and heavy industrialization. The cumulative effects of these revolutions have resulted in the ongoing challenges of air pollution, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions that the world continues to grapple with today.

Depletion of the ozone layer

The Industrial Revolution marked a shift towards manufacturing based on heavy industrial machinery, powered primarily by fossil fuels like coal. This shift led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution, contributing to climate change and environmental degradation. One of the significant but lesser-known consequences of the Industrial Revolution was the depletion of the ozone layer.

The ozone layer, located between 10 to 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface, plays a vital role in protecting life on Earth by absorbing most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UVB) radiation. This radiation can cause skin cancer, sunburn, permanent blindness, and cataracts, as well as harm plants and animals.

During the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, human activities emitted large amounts of substances that depleted the ozone layer, primarily manufactured chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and halons. These ozone-depleting substances (ODS) were used in various industrial processes, such as refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foam-blowing agents. As a result, the total amount of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere decreased steadily, and the formation of ozone holes, particularly over the Antarctic, was observed.

The issue of ozone depletion gained significant attention in the 1980s, and international efforts to address it culminated in the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987. The protocol aimed to phase out the production of ODSs and reduce the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer. As a result of this global agreement, emissions of ozone-depleting substances have fallen by more than 99%, and the protective layer above the Earth is slowly being replenished. The Antarctic ozone hole is expected to close by the 2060s, and the efforts to repair the ozone layer demonstrate the positive impact of international cooperation and scientific consensus.

Frequently asked questions