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, was a period of rapid economic growth and technological advancement. However, it also had significant negative consequences, including severe air pollution caused by the widespread use of coal and oil-powered machinery, which led to increased carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution. This, in combination with poor sanitation and waste management, resulted in serious public health issues, particularly in overcrowded urban areas. The impact of the Industrial Revolution on air pollution was so significant that it set in motion a pattern of high emissions and resource exploitation that continues to affect the world today.

Fossil fuels and carbon emissions

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. The shift to a manufacturing-based economy, driven by new technologies, led to increased production and efficiencies, advanced transportation systems, and the transformation of rural societies into fast-growing industrial cities.

However, these advancements came at a cost. The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of our intensive use of fossil fuels, which has become the driving force behind climate change. Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas, were the primary energy source for powering the heavy machinery central to industrialization. This reliance on fossil fuels led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions, with coal combustion substantially increasing emissions of SO2, NO2, NH3, and smoke.

The widespread use of coal, and later oil-powered machinery, had a significant impact on air quality. As cities grew, they became heavily industrialized and increasingly polluted. Urban areas suffered from overcrowding, poor sanitation, and poor air quality, which led to serious public health issues. The rapid growth of industry outpaced the ability to manage waste and emissions, resulting in long-term environmental and public well-being damage.

The First Industrial Revolution, which lasted from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century, marked the start of a new uptick in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. This was due to a combination of burning coal and the hastening of deforestation, particularly in America. The Second Industrial Revolution, from the late 19th century to World War I, further increased carbon dioxide emissions, and by 2022, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was over 50% higher than in the pre-industrial period.

The environmental consequences of the Industrial Revolution were severe and far-reaching. It set in motion a pattern of unchecked resource exploitation and high emissions that continue today, with the majority of the world's population living in locations where ambient PM2.5 concentrations exceed the WHO guideline value. The roots of today's environmental crisis can be traced back to the systems of mass production and fossil fuel dependence established during this era.

Urban overcrowding

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the UK in the late 18th century and spread through Europe and North America, brought about tremendous changes in the economy, society, and urban conditions. As the country shifted from an agricultural to an industrial economy, people moved from the countryside to the cities in search of work, leading to a rapid process of urbanisation. This resulted in urban overcrowding, with people jammed into squalid inner-city neighbourhoods as more affluent residents fled to the suburbs.

The rise of mills and factories drew an influx of people to the cities, placing new demands on urban infrastructure. Cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and London experienced rapid urban growth and severe overcrowding. In the 1830s, a survey in Liverpool, England, found that a third of the city's population lived in cellars with earthen floors, no ventilation, and no sanitation. As many as 16 people were living in a single room, and diseases spread quickly in these crowded spaces with poor sanitation and air quality.

The Industrial Revolution's environmental impact was profound, marking the start of our intensive use of fossil fuels, which has driven climate change. Powering the heavy machinery central to industrialization required vast amounts of energy, primarily derived from fossil fuels like coal. This reliance on fossil fuels led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution.

The Second Industrial Revolution (late 19th to early 20th centuries) introduced electricity, steel production, and the internal combustion engine, driving mass production and the growth of heavy industries. This phase further intensified urbanization, with cities expanding rapidly to accommodate the growing workforce needed for factories. While the Industrial Revolution brought economic growth and advancements, it also had significant downsides, including urban overcrowding, environmental degradation, and the depletion of natural resources.

Poor sanitation

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 1700s and stretched into the early 1800s, brought about significant advancements and progress. However, these improvements came at a cost, severely impacting the environment and public health. The shift to a manufacturing-based economy, powered by fossil fuels, led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution.

The water supplies were often contaminated, and open spaces were filled with rubbish, further exacerbating the sanitation issues. The air and water pollution from factories and slaughterhouses added to the unsanitary conditions, leading to various health issues such as tuberculosis, typhus, and cholera. The working conditions in factories were also detrimental to health, giving rise to occupational hazards such as lung disease and bone deformities.

The social reformer Edwin Chadwick's 1842 report, "Report on the Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population of Great Britain," highlighted the disparity in life expectancy between urban and rural dwellers, underscoring the impact of poor sanitation on public health. Despite the initial resistance to change, the cholera epidemics and growing public health concerns eventually prompted governments to take action. The first Public Health Act was passed in 1848, and subsequent acts, such as the 1866 Sanitary Act, aimed to improve water supplies and drainage systems.

The Industrial Revolution set in motion a pattern of unchecked resource exploitation and high emissions, and the consequences of this era continue to be felt today in the form of environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Industrial machinery

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. This shift to a manufacturing-based economy, with its emphasis on increased production and efficiency, had a profound impact on the environment, particularly air quality.

The widespread use of coal, and later oil-powered machinery, led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions. Urban areas became overcrowded, with poor sanitation and air quality, causing serious public health issues. The rapid industrial growth outpaced the ability to manage waste and emissions, resulting in long-term environmental damage and adverse effects on public well-being.

The reliance on fossil fuels during the Industrial Revolution set the stage for large-scale carbon emissions that continue to drive global warming today. The environmental impact of this period, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and the continuous rise in greenhouse gases, remains a significant global challenge.

The introduction of electricity, steel production, and the internal combustion engine during the Second Industrial Revolution (late 19th to early 20th centuries) further intensified mass production and the growth of heavy industries. This phase, often referred to as the Technological Revolution, led to exponential increases in energy consumption and resource extraction, adding to the cumulative environmental strain.

Environmental degradation

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 in Europe and America. However, this progress came at a significant environmental cost, with the Revolution marking the start of intensive fossil fuel use and large-scale carbon emissions, driving climate change and global warming.

The shift to a manufacturing-based economy, powered by heavy industrial machinery, led to a sharp increase in carbon emissions and harmful environmental pollution. Fossil fuels, especially coal, became the fuel of choice, with coal-powered steam engines driving machinery in factories and mills. This resulted in massive smoke emissions, filling the air with noxious, sooty coal smoke and causing air pollution in cities like Manchester, the world's first industrial city. The burning of coal also contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer, the Earth's protection against harmful ultraviolet light.

The rapid industrial growth and urbanisation outpaced the ability to manage waste and emissions, resulting in long-term environmental damage. Cities became overcrowded, with inadequate sanitation and poor air quality, leading to serious public health issues. The lack of clean water and proper sewage disposal caused outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

The Industrial Revolution also led to the exploitation and depletion of natural resources, with increased energy consumption and resource extraction. This included the improper disposal of oil, sewage, debris, and other waste into waterways, polluting rivers, streams, and oceans, and causing further health risks and environmental disasters.

The environmental consequences of the Industrial Revolution were far-reaching, with the cumulative strain of each phase of industrialization causing significant increases in air pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and the continuous rise of greenhouse gas emissions. These issues set in motion a pattern of unchecked resource exploitation and high emissions that continue to impact the planet today.

Frequently asked questions