24 Photos of What Breathing Smog Looked Like in the 1970s Vs Now
Daniel Bonfiglio
Published
03/26/2025
in
wow
Every day we're bombarded with news about global warming, pollution, and the environment's perilous position. But as bad as things are right now, it's important to remember that they used to be even worse. Progress is possible and we've already made plenty of it.
In an effort to fight rampant pollution and horrendous air quality around American cities in the '50s and '60s, President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act of 1970. The act tasked the EPA with setting national air quality standards and working with states to enforce them. Young people have no idea how bad it used to be.
Here are 20 photos of what breathing looked like in the 1970s and a few modern skylines to show you how far we've come.
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1. San Gabriel
Los Angeles County, 1972. -
2. Los Angeles
Driving in 1972. -
3. Los Angeles
In heavy smog, 1973. -
4. Los Angeles
Modern skyline. -
5. Birmingham Skyline
Orange in 1972. -
6. Smog Lingers
Louisville skyline, 1972. -
7. Louisville, Kentucky
The skyline in 1972. -
8. Louisville Skyline
Modern urban sprawl. -
9. The George Washington Bridge
Heavy smog, 1973. -
10. Manhattan Skyline
And lots of smog, May, 1973. -
11. Illegal Dumping Area
Off the New Jersey Turnpike, 1973. -
12. New York City
The Empire State Building on a modern clear night. -
13. North Birmingham
Adjacent to US pipe plant, 1972. -
14. Olin-Mathieson Plant
A sunset in 1972. -
15. On the “Beach”
Olin Mathieson Chemical Plant, 1972. -
16. Swimming in Polluted Lake Charles
Louisiana, 1972. -
17. Burning Discarded Auto Batteries
Texas, 1972. -
18. The Atlas Chemical Company
Texas, 1972. -
19. Corpus Christi Port
Texas, 1972. -
20. Corpus Christi
A mostly clear downtown. -
21. Clark Avenue Bridge
Cleveland, Ohio, 1973. -
22. Los Angeles
A clear day in 1972. -
23. Philadelphia
Driving in 1973. -
24. Salt Lake City
Smoggy in 1972.
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San Gabriel
Los Angeles County, 1972.
Los Angeles County, 1972.
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