The Great Smog of 1952

The Great Smog of 1952 was a severe air pollution event in London caused by a combination of cold weather, windless conditions, and widespread use of coal for heating. This created a thick, toxic fog composed of smoke and fog droplets, which severely reduced visibility and was laden with harmful pollutants like soot and sulfur dioxide. The smog persisted for several days, leading to respiratory problems and thousands of deaths. It highlighted the dangers of air pollution, prompting government action to reduce emissions and improve air quality standards in the following years.