The History of Air Pollution in York, England

Brimblecombe, Peter; Bowler, Catherine

doi:10.1080/10473289.1992.10467098

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Following the advent of coal burning in the city in the later 14 th century, the quality of the air appears to have deteriorated (Brimblecombe and Bowler, 1992). Smoke and chemicals resulting from metal-working and other industries would have polluted the air and have had an impact on human health, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may be explained by Lay Poll Tax Returns of 1381, which suggests that many of these industries were located downwind of city either near the city walls or outside of the city (Bartlett, 1953 cited in Brimblecombe andBowler, 1992). Although lead and pewter working as well as myriad processes involving mercury (see Homer, 1991) would have contaminated the air with heavy metals (Roberts and Cox, 2003;see Thackrah, 1832 for a discussion of health problems associated with the inhalation of metals prior to regulation of their usage), it was sources of odour which were the primary annoyances of the time, with the acrid smell of sea coal being notable.…”

Section: Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it is first recorded as being burnt in York in 1371 (Brimblecombe and Bowler, 1992), and the remains of coal have been recovered from a 14 th -15 th century well at 22 Piccadilly (Carrot et al, 1995b). In England, there appears to have been some concern about the effect of the burning of coal on health, and four commissions of enquiry were issued between 1285 and 1310 (Brimblecombe, 1975).…”

Section: Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living cheek by jowl: The pathoecology of medieval York

King¹,

Henderson²

2014

Quaternary International

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Medieval York was one of the largest and most important cities in England. The close confines of the city, the household and industrial waste, alongside the air and water pollution made this a city known for its pervasive smells, which at the time were considered to be a leading cause of disease.This paper aims to present the environmental context for disease combined with the human osteological record to reconstruct the pathoecology of medieval York. Combining archaeological and historical data, we gain insight into the interplay between medieval culture, disease, health, and the urban environment. It is clear that local authorities were concerned about urban pollution, and historical evidence demonstrates that legal measures were taken to remove or regulate some of the perceived causes of pollution. There is a demonstrable trend towards improving environmental conditions in York between the 11 th and mid-16 th century. However, it is likely that the extant socioenvironmental conditions continued to contribute to morbidity, as evidenced by the prevalence of infection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Airmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Living cheek by jowl: The pathoecology of medieval York

King¹,

Henderson²

2014

Quaternary International

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“…The 44th Annual Critical Review, "Public Health and Components of Particulate Matter: The Changing Assessment of Black Carbon" (Grahame et al, 2014), provides a comprehensive survey and evaluation of recent health-related investigations related to BC in ambient air. Black carbon, more commonly termed "soot," has been the prime indicator of atmospheric pollution for centuries (Brimblecombe, 1978;Brimblecombe and Bowler, 1992). The opacity of black smoke plumes has been used for more than 100 years to regulate emissions, and the method is still written into many operating permits (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As early as the 1950s, scientists began to study the complex nature of carbon as a mixture of BC and OC directly from sources, and OC from oxidation of organic vapors in the atmosphere (e.g., Went, 1960;U.S. Public Health Service, 1958;Cadle, 1973;Grosjean and Friedlander, 1980;Brimblecombe and Bowler, 1992). British Smoke (a qualitative indicator of BC as part of total mass concentration) measurements reached perhaps the order of milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m 3 ) with sulfur oxides during intense pollution episodes in 1950s London (e.g., Hill, 1936;Wilkins, 1954).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Health and Components of Particulate Matter: The Changing Assessment of Black Carbon

Eklúnd

Hidy²,

Watson

et al. 2014

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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Impact of industrialization: Comparative study of child health in four sites from medieval and postmedieval England (A.D. 850–1859)

Lewis

2002

American J Phys Anthropol

141

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The morbidity and mortality profiles of 831 non-adult skeletons from four contrasting sites in medieval and postmedieval England were compared to assess whether urbanization and later industrialization, had a detrimental effect on the health of the inhabitants. Failure in the population's ability to adapt to these environments should be evident in the higher rates of mortality, retarded growth, higher levels of stress, and a greater prevalence of metabolic and infectious disease in the urban groups. Non-adult skeletons were examined from Raunds Furnells in Northamptonshire, from St. Helen-on-the-Walls and Wharram Percy in Yorkshire, and from Christ Church Spitalfields in London. Results showed that a greater number of older children were being buried at the later medieval sites and that the skeletal growth profiles of the medieval urban and rural children did not differ significantly. A comparison of the growth profiles of St. Helen-on-the-Walls (urban) and Spitalfields (industrial) showed that the Spitalfields children were up to 3 cm shorter than their later medieval counterparts. At Spitalfields, cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasias occurred during the first 6 months of life, and 54% of the non-adults had evidence of metabolic disease. It is argued that differences in the morbidity and mortality of non-adults from urban and rural environments did exist in the past, but that it was industrialization that had the greatest impact on child health. Environmental conditions, urban employment, socioeconomic status, and changes in weaning ages and infant feeding practices contributed to differences in health in rural, urban, and industrial environments.

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The History of Air Pollution in York, England

Cited by 11 publications

References 3 publications

Living cheek by jowl: The pathoecology of medieval York

Living cheek by jowl: The pathoecology of medieval York

Public Health and Components of Particulate Matter: The Changing Assessment of Black Carbon

Impact of industrialization: Comparative study of child health in four sites from medieval and postmedieval England (A.D. 850–1859)

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