Hi Importance of Our Industry; Historic Case's!.

Hi Importance of Our Industry; Historic Case's!...,

@ Meuse Valley Disaster...,

The Meuse River Valley west of Liäge, Belgium was the sight of the first extensively documented, and one of the worst, industrial air pollution disasters. Several thousand persons became violently ill, and sixty persons reportedly died from died from atmospheric poisoning between December 3-5, 1930. During those three days, a "soupy" mixture of industrial smoke and fog covered the entire country. It was most concentrated along a length (20 km) of the narrow (1 to 2 km) River Meuse to a height of 60 to 80 m.

Victims, who were primarily elderly, suffered from acute respiratory problems. These included shortness of breath and hoarseness, persistent coughs, production of a frothy phlegm succeeded by a pus like mass, nausea, and vomiting. Deaths were attributed to acute heart failure. While most of the victims were predisposed to injury, because of previously weakened lungs and hearts, other younger and healthier individuals also became seriously ill. Similarly, cattle exhibited the same symptoms, and some died, along with birds and rats in the contaminated area.

@ London...,

Fossil fuel combustion (fire places and coal burning plants), combined with fog, accounted for even greater disasters in London, England during the 1950's. A total of 4,075 deaths were attributed to atmospheric pollution that occurred in December, 1951. Another 1,000 deaths above the normal rate were subsequently attributed to a toxic fog that only lasted 18 hours in 1956.

@ Los Angeles...,

A new form of atmospheric pollution. "smog", was recognized in Los Angeles in the 1940's to 1950's. It is formed by atmospheric reactions with automobile exhaust (smoke) and fog. The highly oxidizing smog in Los Angeles is composed of a mixture of ozone, nitrogen oxides, and peroxidized organic compounds (e.g., peroxyacetyl nitrate or PAN). The problem is exasperated by the geography of the Los Angeles basin, which tends to trap the smog during summer periods. The 1960 California Health Department Survey: Air Pollution Effects Reported by California Residents noted that three fourths of the population in metropolitan areas of southern California experienced peculiar burning and annoying irritation of their eyes during peak periods of smog; and there have been numerous acute episodes of smog since 1942.

@ Piscataway...,

Another incident occurred in Piscataway, New Jersey in 1971. It was attributed to emissions from several factories, including many chemical plants, and from traffic in the surrounding area. Symptoms included excessive lacrimation (tearing), reddened throats, breathing difficulties, cough, chest pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, and tingling in the extremities.