Question

Which of the following statements best summarizes the effects of the London Fog of 1952? A. Pollution from coal fires caused over 4,000 deaths, leading the British government to change their outlook on pollution. B. Smog caused by automobiles hung over London for three months, prompting businesses to stagger their employees' working hours. C. Smog produced by steel mills reduced visibility in London to near zero. Many businesses moved out of the city, relocating to Bristol. D. Fog produced by the overheating of the Thames River blanketed the city for half a year, until steel mills diverted their hot effluent to cooling towers. Please select the best answer from the choices provided. A B C D

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Pollution from coal fires caused over 4,000 deaths, leading the British government to change their outlook on pollution.

Explanation:

In December 1952 and during 5 days the city of London was covered by a thick fog. This was the result of a high amount of pollutants released by coal fires in power plants and houses heating systems along with cold weather conditions. This did not only lead to low visibility but had serious effects on the citizens in London as thousands had respiratory problems and around 4,000 died.

Additionally, this event triggered concerns between the citizens of England and made the government consider the use of coal and the pollution. Indeed, after this event, different laws were created to reduce the air pollution in cities such as London. According to this, the statement that summarizes the effects of this event is A.