EESA10H3 Lecture Notes - Formaldehyde, Smog, Nitric Oxide
Document Summary
Human health and environment lec 2: airborne hazards and human health. 1800s (industrial revolution) increase in techonology people more from rural to urban start of air pollution. There was air pollution before this period but the atmosphere and air was able to cope w/ this amount. Huge impact of air pollution didn"t happen until 1950s. London smog happened in 1952 first even that indicated air pollution. Temperature was unusually cold that ear which required intensive heating of homes. Technology and to heat homes relied on coal specifically soft coal (which has sulfur) burning of sulfur released so2 (sulfur dioxide) Due to the cold weather, moist and stagnant air, so2 hung in the air and it lasted 6-7 days. It was very difficult of people to drive, people were choking due to sulfuric acid. Nothing could or was done just waited until it ended.