Major Air Pollution Episodes
of Historic Significance
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Some of the worst events
in the last two centuries
occurred in London
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Key ingredients - calm
winds, fog, smoke particles
from coal burning
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1873 - 700 deaths
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1911- 1150 deaths
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1952 - 12000 deaths
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Last event led to the
Parliament passing a
Clean Air Act in 1956
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Other notable events over
western Europe
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1930 - Meuse Valley
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Key ingredients – calm
winds, strong inversion
close to ground, fog,
smoke from factories
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Pollution trapped in lowest
70-80 m of a narrow valley
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600 very ill, 60 deaths