ABSTRACT

Though British legislation on pollution goes back to the Middle Ages, the first significant law dates from the Industrial Revolution. This was the Public Health Act 1875.

Another notable landmark was the formation of the Alkali Inspectorate in 1863 in order to control emissions into the atmosphere caused by the caustic soda industry. It was in fact the world’s first national pollution control agency. However, in the past most public health and environmental protection was carried out locally rather than nationally.