Many people would get sick from the pollution that was a product from coal smoke and working, hard, long hours without any form of a break. Plus, since large machinery was relatively new in this time era, they were particularly unsafe and lead to many workplace related accidents and deaths.
Contrast is the type of transition that is being used in the given passage.
It is showing a difference of not agreeing yet understanding between the author and the person that she's referring to.
Contrast transition words are transitional phrases/words that show contrasting relation<span> of two ideas. They are also used to emphasize negative and positive ideas. Some of the common contrast transition words are:
</span><span>A clear difference
But
Conflicting viewpoint
Despite
Even so/ Even though
For all that
However
In another way
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