What environmental issue is associated with the Industrial Revolution between 1700 and 1800?

• A. Decreased urbanization
• B. Major pollution that began the large wave of environmental impact
• C. Dramatic improvement in air quality
• D. Increased reliance on renewable energy

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that the Industrial Revolution introduced large-scale pollution as factories powered by coal rapidly expanded. Burning coal in mills and furnaces released vast amounts of soot, smoke, and sulfur compounds into the air, while industrial processes dumped waste into rivers and soils. This marks the beginning of extensive environmental degradation tied to human activity, setting the pattern for future environmental impacts. Urban areas did not become less crowded; they grew quickly, and air quality tended to worsen rather than improve. Renewable energy was not the driver of this era, as fossil fuels dominated industry.