<P> The origins of the environmental movement lay in the response to increasing levels of smoke pollution in the atmosphere during the Industrial Revolution . The emergence of great factories and the concomitant immense growth in coal consumption gave rise to an unprecedented level of air pollution in industrial centers; after 1900 the large volume of industrial chemical discharges added to the growing load of untreated human waste . The first large - scale, modern environmental laws came in the form of Britain's Alkali Acts, passed in 1863, to regulate the deleterious air pollution (gaseous hydrochloric acid) given off by the Leblanc process, used to produce soda ash . An Alkali inspector and four sub-inspectors were appointed to curb this pollution . The responsibilities of the inspectorate were gradually expanded, culminating in the Alkali Order 1958 which placed all major heavy industries that emitted smoke, grit, dust and fumes under supervision . </P> <P> The manufactured gas industry began in British cities in 1812--1820 . The technique used produced highly toxic effluent that was dumped into sewers and rivers . The gas companies were repeatedly sued in nuisance lawsuits . They usually lost and modified the worst practices . The City of London repeatedly indicted gas companies in the 1820s for polluting the Thames and poisoning its fish . Finally, Parliament wrote company charters to regulate toxicity . The industry reached the US around 1850 causing pollution and lawsuits . </P> <P> In industrial cities local experts and reformers, especially after 1890, took the lead in identifying environmental degradation and pollution, and initiating grass - roots movements to demand and achieve reforms . Typically the highest priority went to water and air pollution . The Coal Smoke Abatement Society was formed in Britain in 1898 making it one of the oldest environmental NGOs . It was founded by artist Sir William Blake Richmond, frustrated with the pall cast by coal smoke . Although there were earlier pieces of legislation, the Public Health Act 1875 required all furnaces and fireplaces to consume their own smoke . It also provided for sanctions against factories that emitted large amounts of black smoke . The provisions of this law were extended in 1926 with the Smoke Abatement Act to include other emissions, such as soot, ash and gritty particles and to empower local authorities to impose their own regulations . </P> <P> The application of steam power to the industrial processes of printing supported a massive expansion of newspaper and popular book publishing, which reinforced rising literacy and demands for mass political participation . </P>

Who were the first to be industrialized on the continent