#33: Pollution In New York City, 1969

The pollution levels in New York in the 1960s were alarming. The air quality was so poor that you could hardly see the skyline, and the smell of exhaust fumes hung thick in the air. But it wasn’t just the air that was polluted – the city’s waterways were contaminated with industrial waste, and garbage was piling up in the streets.

Rachel Carson’s book, ‘Silent Spring,’ written in 1962, warned the public about the poisonous effects of pesticides on the environment. This led to a growing awareness among the public of the need to take action to protect the environment. The establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was a major milestone in this effort.