The Killer Smog

Slideshow

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Background Builder

You’re about to read “The Killer Smog.”

Here are a few things you need to know before you read. The words in bold are words that are important to know.

locator map of London, England

Where and when does this story take place?

This story takes place in London, England in 1952.
London is the biggest city in England.
England is a country in Europe.

a crowd of people on a London street

What was happening in London in 1952?

In 1952, London was a very busy city.
There were many homes and factories.
Most of these homes and factories were powered by coal.

hands holding coal

What is coal?

Coal is a hard, black rock.
It is a fossil fuel—a fuel that comes from deep within the Earth.
Burning coal creates heat and energy. But it also leads to air pollution.

stacks pumping smoke in front of a sunset

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is when there are chemicals in the air that are bad for human health.
Air pollution is caused by many things, like cars and factories. It can make people sick.
In 1952, London experienced air pollution called smog.

London landscape with smog in the air

What causes smog?

London is a foggy city.
Fog is harmless—it’s just tiny drops of water in the air.
Smoke from burning coal sticks to those tiny drops of water.
That’s called smog.

magazine layout of "The Killer Smog"

In 1952, London experienced the worst smog it had ever seen. Why?

It was very cold, so people were burning a lot of coal.
There was no wind to blow the smog away.
Read the story to find out how this smog changed the world forever.