ABSTRACT
Modern UK environmental law can be traced back to the 19th century, in particular to the establishment by the Alkali Act 1863 of the Alkali Inspectorate to regulate atmospheric emissions from factories such as those producing caustic soda,55 the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act 1876, and the Public Health Act 1875. This latter legislation was the precursor to the Public Health Acts 1936 and 1961. The Public Health Acts were an attempt to improve the horrendous conditions in which the urban poor lived during and following the Industrial Revolution. In the 20th century, regulation of the built environment was through the Town and Country Planning Acts (see now the Town and Country Planning Act 1990). The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is also important in the context of the safety of the environment at work. Legislation also exists to regulate specific contexts such as the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990. The Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, inter alia, concerns dumping of waste at sea and the protection of marine ecosystems. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) seeks to protect wildlife by providing protection of their habitats by establishing Sites of Special Scientific Interest (thereby implementing international law and EC directives (see further Chapter 6)).
