BC-1200 A.D.
1. How much air pollution was there? What was the cause?
The air pollution was pretty common in larger towns, and it came
from dust, wood smoke, tanneries, animal manure and other things.
2. How much water pollution was there? What was the cause?
It was not very evident in many nations because of religious laws
that had required clean water. However, since there was not a
sewer system yet many streets were littered with trash.
3. How did humans get most of the energy they needed to
survive?
Humans got the energy they needed to from solar energy and
imported timer and fuel from far away.
4. Was conservation being practiced anywhere in the world?
How?
Soil conservation was not practiced in the Mediterranean, but
many countries understand the impact of soil erosion and did their
best to prevent it.
5. Why was lead poisoning a problem?
It was a problem because it was common among upper class
Romans who used lead-sweetened wine and grape pulp.
Middle Ages and the Renaissance:
5. How much water pollution was there? What caused it?
There was not very much water pollution for dispersed nations.
6. How much wood was being harvested? What effect was this
having on the planet?
A lot of the wood was being harvested, and it leaves large tracts in
England and Europe forcing a switch to coal.
8. In what ways was disease affecting the world?
Diseases begin to affect the world because they begin to take more
ground, as plague devastates Europe.
Enlightenment:
9. What cause did people begin to take up to improve the world?
People began to try to use things sparingly because as Thomas
Malthus predicted “that eventually, food and resources will run out
as populations explode…”
10. What did Thomas Malthus predict? Explain.
He predicted that as populations increase we would run out
resources and food for everyone.
11. Give examples of new pollution affecting the world.
New technology from coal smoke chokes the air in cities, and
chemical factories are not given any restrictions.
12. Why did sanitation become so important?
Sanitation became very important because we were losing our
quality of water and spreading disease, and it was deeply affecting
us.
13. What was the air pollution like at this time?
Smog from factories began to kill people in large cities such as
London.
14. What was the water pollution like at this time?
It was very high, but people began to work not to pollute as much.
15.What types of new technologies created pollution?
New technoligies such as the increased burning of coil increased
the air pollution heavily.
Progressive Era:
16. What types of reforms were occurring?
Reforms of working conditions, slum housing, food adulteration,
sanitation, drinking water, polluting industries and more.
17. What did Theodore Roosevelt fight for?
Teddy Roosevelt fought for deforestation, and conservation of
natural resources.
18. What new organizations were formed?
The women’s club, and the Sierra Club to help natural preservation
and conservation.
1920’s and the 1930’s:
19. What was the purpose of the National Coast Anti-Pollution
League?
The purpose of this was to stop oil and sewage pollution because it
was affecting tourism.
20. What type of gasoline was used for the first cars?
Leaded gasoline was used for the first cars.
21. What was the chemurgy movement fighting for?
They fought for replacement of petroleum with farm alcohol and
other industrial uses for agricultural crops.
1940’s and 1950’s:
22. What led people to believe there was an air pollution crisis?
The Radium Girls were dying of radiation-induced cancer.
1960’s and 1970’s:
23. What was the “burning river?”
On June 22nd, 1969, oil and chemicals in the Cuyahoga River in
Cleveland, Ohio catch fire. The fire was so large that it was taller
than a 5-story building.
24. What is the name of Rachel Carson’s book that started modern
environmentalism?
Silent Spring.
1970-1980:
25. What government agency was founded?
EPA was created, but ends with the Appropriate Community
Technology demonstration on the Washington Mall.
26. How was air pollution reduced?
The use of unleaded gasoline is started, but this new pollution free
car proves to be chimerical.
27. How was water pollution reduced?
Water pollution is greatly decreased through a massive sewage
treatment expansion program. Rivers are “brought back from the
grave”.
28. What two new sources of pollution begin causing concern?
Nuclear power and oil.
1980-1990:
29. What major disaster occurred during this time?
The Chernobyl nuclear reactor in The Ukraine; and the Challenger
shuttle and Exxon Valdez oil spills in the US.
30. What two major issues involving the Earth’s atmosphere arise?
Ozone depletion from fluorocarbons is taken very seriously taken
even by conservatives.
1990-2000:
31. How did the Gulf War create pollution?
It caused it environmental disaster with thousands of burning oil
wells.
32. What does China construct that causes controversy?
China’s Three Gorges Dam continues on schedule, despite
international protests.
2000-Present:
33. What final act did President Clinton sign into law?
Conservation measures for US regulatory agencies.
34. How did the Bush presidency handle global warming and
climate change?
President Bush eases environmental regulation for the sake of
industry.
35. How does the world react to lead gasoline?
The world was very unhappy with lead gasoline because it created
a hole in the ozone because of the chemicals it produced.