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Ancient Civilizations BC-1200 A.D.
1) How much air pollution was there?  Where did it come from?

There was an abundant amount of air pollution and came from odors and runoff from garbage, sewage and industries such as smelting or tanning

2) How much water pollution was there?  Where did it come from?

There was far less water pollution, as many of the systems kept water clean for public use and drink (500 BCE)

3) How did humans get most of the energy they needed to survive?

Cheese became a primary source of dairy for humans as many were lactose intolerant. Timbering and exporting fuel allowed humans to procure energy for their needs, and passive solar energy was used by the Greeks.

4) Was conservation being practiced anywhere in the world?  How?

Yes, in 80 CE  The Roman Senate passes a law to protect water stored during  dry periods so it can be released for street and sewer cleaning.

5) Why was lead poisoning a problem?

Lead poisoning was a big problem as workers that were exposed to lead dust or fumes faced many neurological effects and affected the organ system in the body. This was seen as a major issue as many people were not aware of where this lead was coming from.

Middle Ages and Renaissance

6) How much water pollution was there?

Water pollution became a significant issue as there was runoff from urban centers, butcheries and slaughterhouses, and from rural areas.

7) How much wood was being harvested?  What effects was this having?

Wood was being harvested for industrialization as a substitute for coal, shipbuilding, and to buildings homes. This had a major impact on the environment as it led to soil erosion and habitat loss.

8) In what ways was disease affecting the world?
Disease was affecting the world as it led to major population decline, disrupted trade and other economic activities. However, disease pushed many societies to seek better understanding and treatments that ultimately led to advancements in medicine.

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9) What causes did people begin to take up to improve the world?

Some of the major causes championed during this era included religious tolerance, abolition of slavery, democratic governance, educational reform and women’s rights.

10) What did Thomas Malthus predict?

Thomas Malthus predicted that food and resources would be depleted as populations boom

11) Give examples of new pollution affecting the world.

Some examples of new pollution included water and air pollution. Pure drinking water became a commodity.

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12) Why did sanitation become so important?

Sanitation could increase the quantity of pure drinking water in the city, and it was a possible way to combat water pollution.

13) How was the air pollution at this time?

In his diary, Evelyn writes in 1684 that smoke was so severe “hardly could one see across the street, and this filling the lungs with its gross particles exceedingly obstructed the breast, so as one would scarce breathe.”

14) How was the water pollution at this time? (1854)

Water pollution carried diseases like cholera, but the cause was not discovered until the 1880’s. The severity of the effects became so bad that a London physician named John Snow located the source of the contamination, a water pump, and broke the handle to render it inoperable.

15) What happened when the “Mother of the Forest” was cut down? (June 27, 1853)

The editor of the New York Times, Horace Greeley, deemed it a “vandalism” and “villainous speculation.” The Boston magazine Gleason’s Pictorial said, “To our mind, it seems a cruel idea, a perfect desecration, to cut down such a splendid tree… what in the world could have possessed any mortal to embark in such a speculation with this mountain of wood?” The public consequently became riled up and vouched for a national park system.

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16) What types of reforms were occurring?

The Reforms of working conditions, slum housing, food adulteration, sanitation, drinking water, polluting industries, hunting laws and mining practices were in place.

17) What did Theodore Roosevelt fight for?
Roosevelt called for a “wise use” of natural resources and prioritizes the future while accommodating some present needs. He created the US Department of Forestry, protected national parks, and brought Food and Drug laws into place.

18) What new organizations were formed?

Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and Earth Island Institute were formed.

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19) What was the purpose of the National Coast Anti-Pollution League?

The purpose of the National Coast Anti-Pollution League was to prevent oil dumping.

20) What type of gasoline was used for the first autos?

Leaded gasoline was used for the first autos.

21) What was the chemurgy movement fighting for?

The chemurgy movement fought for the Industrial use of renewable agricultural resources.

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22) What led people to believe there was an air pollution crisis?

Air pollution surveys led people to believe there was an air pollution crisis.

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23) What was the “burning river?”

The “burning river” was another name for Cuyahoga River in Ohio. It is flammable due to pollution.

24) What is the name of Rachel Carson’s book that started modern environmentalism?

Silent Spring is the name of Rachel Carson’s book that started modern environmentalism.

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25) What government agency is founded?

The Environmental Protection Agency was founded.

26) How was air pollution reduced?

The Clean Air Act and Health Education and Welfare National Air Pollution Control Administration helped reduce air pollution.

27) How was water pollution reduced?

Water pollution was reduced by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Department of Interior’s Water Quality Administration.

28) What two new sources of pollution begin causing concern?

Automobiles and lead gasoline began causing concern.

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29) What major disasters occurred during this time?

The Bhopal disaster, a massive release of cyanide gas, on the evening of December 2 and morning of Dec. 3, 1984, at a plant owned by Union Carbide (Dow Chemical) in Bhopal, India

30) What two major issues involving the Earth’s atmosphere arise?

Leaded gasoline is the greatest source of atmospheric lead pollution and the country’s common property resources, on its grazing lands, forests, rivers, ponds, lakes, coastal zones and increasingly the atmosphere.

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31) How did the Gulf War create pollution?

Six and a half million gallons of oil burned daily caused the oil fire disaster of 1991 in Kuwait. The wells were set on fire by theIraqi army in the Gulf War. The last of the fires was not extinguished until November 1991.

32) What does China construct that causes much controversy?

The Three Gorges Dam caused controversy in protests that increased as a massive relocation of over one million people. Thousands of people protested during the summer in 2001.

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33) What final act did President Clinton sign into law?

Clinton’s final act was to protect 58 million acres of national forest from development and creating eight million acres of land as new national monuments.

34) How does the Bush presidency handle global warming and climate change?

George W. Bush's energy plan emphasizes oil exploration and new construction of coal and nuclear power plants. Weakening air laws and new weaker targets would be set for emissions of sulfur dioxide, mercury, and nitrogen oxides from U.S. power plants.

35) How does the world react to leaded gasoline?

European Union bans leaded gasoline as a public health hazard and the worldwide public health campaign against use of leaded gasoline continues.