Environment Issues
The Industrial Revolution produced a greater supply of food, rare materials and industrial products: three things vital for population and economic growth. Though it did change the world for better in many ways, the Industrial Revolution embarked a major turning point in the relationship between humans and their environment. In my paper I will discuss how the rapid changes of mining, factories, and urbanization negatively impacted the environment. “Carbon-based fuel use began in the late eighteenth century. The Industrial Revolution was ushered in by the use of coal.” (Shepard, 2008) Coal was used as a fuel source for heating the boilers of steamships and trains. It also produced electricity for homes and factories. In order to get to coal it had to be mined. Even though mining made a way for economic development, and produce energy, the withdrawal of coal from the earth by mining operations has many negative impacts on the environment. Coal mining utilizes a great amount of land. Due to this, an ample selection of species natural habitat and food supply is compromised. According to Environment 911, this results in an imbalanced ecosystem, with potential endangerment or even extinction of species. In the environment of mining operations, a haze of coal dust linger around and pollute the air. During this era, people with prolonged exposure to coal dust were at high risk of contracting "Black lung disease," which left untreated can lead to lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, and heart failure, according to Environment 911. Mining coal was essential in order to fuel furnaces and provide power. Coal gave life to the growing demand of factories. Industrialization shifted manufacturing to factories, where specialized machinery allowed for mass production. While factories created employment opportunities for the poor and working class, they also played a part in polluting the air. Streets and buildings were coated in black ash. A combination of smoke and fog
References: Shepard, D. (2008.). The history of fossil fuels. Retrieved from www.ehow.com 12 environmental effects of coal mining. (2011, June 14). Retrieved from www.environment911.org Sulfur dioxide. (2012, January 06). Retrieved fromhttp://www.epa.gov/air/airtrends/sulfur.html Cities in the early 1800s. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://historycentral.com/NN/America/Cities.html History of mine safety and health legislation. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.msha.gov Reclaiming abandoned mine lands. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.osmre.gov Russell, S. (2012, April 12). Smog limit laws. Retrieved from www.ehow.com Title IV: Acid Deposition Control.” (2011, April 12) Clean Air Act, United States. The Earth Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Clean_Air_Act,_United_States#gen4 Government and public health. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/history/1830_1930/public_health/revision/3/