Despite what people may think, pollution is not a recent thing. For example, there is plenty of evidence to support lead pollution in Roman times and even the discovery of fire could be considered as the first type of air pollution. However, none of these compares to the real environmental pollution problems that are faced today.

The start of the pollution problems the world faces today can probably be traced back to the end of World War Two. This was when manufacturing expanded, synthetic materials were developed and chemical pesticides were produced. There were no environmental controls, indeed no real consideration was given to the toxic waste that was being pumped into the air and the water system.

It is only recently that studies have proved that the environment has been seriously polluted and that action had to be taken to control pollutants. Studies have also found new and increased rates of cancer, birth defects and other health issues have also been directly linked to pollutants.

Water Pollution

Rivers and streams have always been an easy way to dispose of waste material; it was simply let to flow into the river and off it would go to the sea. Raw sewage was pumped into rivers in the U.S. for decades and then as industries grew other pollutants were simply emptied into the rivers. For example, Ohio’s Cuyahoga River actually caught fire several times due to industrial waste being dumped in it. However the last fire in the river in 1969 ultimately enacted the U.S. Clean Water Act which, since its introduction, has totally changed the water quality in U.S. waterways.

There are still many countries around the world that have not realized the importance of not polluting waterways. Raw sewage and other industrial waste continues to pour into the water and onward to the sea.

Air Pollution

Although burning wood is an air pollutant, it wasn’t until coal was discovered as an excellent source of energy that real air pollution began. Large cities in the UK, particularly London, had clouds of acrid smoke causing all manner of lung illnesses. However, it was not confined to the UK, because as the industrial revolution gathered strength across many western countries, air pollution became a serious problem.

A place in the U.S. called Donara in the State of Pennsylvania was possibly one of the first places in the U.S. to experience the effects of serious air pollution. In 1948 toxic waste from a zinc smelting plant created a thick fog that lasted for five days during which many people died and thousands ended up in hospital with respiratory problems. It was this disaster that ultimately led to enactment of the Clean Air Act in 1963 which has subsequently been updated on several occasions.

Vehicle emissions were, and still are, responsible for air pollution and although much of the western world has vehicle emission controls in place, there are many countries where cities have a heavy cloud of acrid smog hanging over them.

Find out more about pollution insurance claim scenarios from Beacon Hill Associates and how they can help you.

Find out more about pollution insurance claim scenarios from http://www.b-h-a.com/claim-scenarios.aspx and how they can help you http://www.b-h-a.com/Home.aspx.

Author Bio: Find out more about pollution insurance claim scenarios from Beacon Hill Associates and how they can help you.

Category: Business
Keywords: Environment, Insurance, Business