Air Pollution in the United Kingdom Cause of

Air Pollution in the United Kingdom

Cause of Air Pollution in the UK: Historically, the main air pollution problem in both has been high levels of smoke emitted following the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, in homes and factories.

Now, smoke from factories continue to be a problem, as well as vehicle emissions. The UK is known for smog. Smog is air pollution caused by sunlight acting on the gases from automobile and factory exhausts. It sometimes hangs over cities in the United Kingdom. Thick London smog happens when water in the air mixes with smoke particles from a coal fire.

Making a connection: “Mary Poppins” Mary Poppins is set in London, England, in 1910. We learned that “smog” was thick fog + smoke which resulted from tiny water droplets (fog) in the air combining with smoke. This smoke came from factories AND homes that burned coal for heating and cooking. Mary Poppins had a good friend in the movie who was Bert, a chimney sweep. As more and more homes in the early 1900 s, switched from using firewood to using coal, they required chimney sweeps to clean their chimneys. The sweeps cleaned the sticky soot deposits in chimneys from the burning of coal. This contributed to the large amounts of air pollution in London. Smokeless zones were designated in areas of London where, in order to improve air quality, only smokeless fuels could be used.

Effects of Air Pollution: Air pollution impacts human health, welfare and natural environments. Air pollution is now known to contribute to heart disease and lung cancer. Many years of life are lost each year in the UK, as a result of air pollution. People's behavior can reduce their contribution to local air pollution. People's behavior can reduce their exposure to air pollution. Smokeless Zones—areas of London where, in order to improve air quality, only smokeless fuels can be used.