![]() Just months later, Congress passed the Clean Air Act. Millions across the country marched for a cleaner environment on the first Earth Day in April 1970. Now a part of everyday life for many Americans, citizens had enough. Los Angeles had become known as the smog capital of the world, and other large metropolitan areas weren’t far behind. ![]() By 1970, the Steubenville, Ohio metropolitan area had particulate pollution concentrations like those in Beijing in recent years. Over time, it caused Americans to wake up to the fact that everyday pollution levels across the country were hazardous to their health. The Donora Smog is an extreme but vivid example of how industrialization was largely unfettered by concern for health or the environment. More people died the following months and higher-than-usual mortality rates continued in subsequent years. In 1948, an episode of heavy smog in the industrial town of Donora, Pennsylvania killed more than 20 people and made half the population severely sick in less than a week. The impacts of this intense pollution began to make their mark. With home and industrial energy consumption increasing, and more vehicles on the roads, pollution began to increase. Then, following World War II, American industry rebounded from the Great Depression, the population grew as the “baby boom” generation was born, the first highways were built, and droves of Americans fled for the suburbs for new homes outfitted with modern appliances. ![]() Research continues to raise our estimates of the severity of air pollution in those times. In the 19th century, the coal-driven Industrial Revolution was largely unfettered by concern for health or the environment. Today, particulate air pollution is not a major problem in most parts of the United States. Reductions in particulate air pollution alone, thanks in large part to the Clean Air Act, have added 1.3 years to the life expectancy of the average American since 1970. ![]() With 66.9 percent less pollution, Americans are living healthier, longer lives. ![]()
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