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King Edward I of England bans the burning of sea - coal in London because it causes air pollution; but the ban is unsuccessful.
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The Industrial Revolution brings about large-scale use of coal and intensified air and water pollution.
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Milwaukee becomes the first American city to ban smoking on all public transportation.
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In Donora, Pennsylvania, 7,000 people become ill and 20 die after severe air pollution from local manufacturing plants produces a deadly smog.
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In London, at least 4,000 people die over the course of several days after pollutants from factories and fireplaces mix with air condensation.
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Congress passes the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, the first federal legislation dealing with air pollution. The act creates funding for air - pollution research.
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Congress passes the Clean Air Act of 1963, the first federal legislation to focus on air - pollution control.
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The catalytic converter, a device used to significantly cut auto emissions and reduce air pollution, is invented.
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In Bhopal, India, 20,000 people die and 120,000 more are injured following a deadly methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant.
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California passes a landmark law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles by 30 percent by 2016.
