The Environment Chronicle

The first patent for production of synthetic fibres is granted. Under the Nazi policy of self-sufficiency, the industry expands greatly in the 1930s.

A "fog disaster" in Maastal near Lüttich claims 100 lives.

Hermann Joseph Müller (1890 - 1965) discovers X-rays to be agents of mutation.

The first German Nature Conservation Day (Deutscher Naturschutztag DNT) took place in Munich from 26 July - 28 July 1925. Since 1957 the conference is held every two years.

Accident insurance is extended, at first to cover 11 occupational illnesses.

Compensation and widows' pensions granted in case of illness caused by aromatic nitrogen compounds.

Ammonia needed for nitrogen fertiliser and munitions is produced synthetically.

The Lakeview Gusher Number One was an immense out-of-control pressurized oil well in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field in Kern County, California, resulting in what is regarded as one of the largest oil spills in history, lasting 18 months and releasing 1.400.000m³ of crude oil.

NABU (then the BfV) organises Germany's first Bird Conservation Day in Berlin.

In 1901, the Royal Insititute for Research and Testing in Water Supply and Waste Disposal is founded, becoming the Royal State Insititute for Water Hygiene in 1913, the Prussian State Institute for Water, Soil and Air in 1923, the Imperial Institute for Water, Soil and Air in 1942, before finally settling down as the Institute for Water, Soil and Air Hygiene under the Federal Health Office in 1952. In 1994, it became a department of the FEA, merging with it completely in 1999.

W.C. Röntgen discovers X-rays and receives the first Nobel Prize for physics in 1901.

The world's first waste incinerator comes into operation in Hamburg.

The Sierra Club was founded on May 28, 1892, by John Muir, a noted preservationist, and a group of influential friends who sought to create an organization to protect the boundaries of the newly established Yosemite National Park. Today, the Sierra Club has over 1.3 million members and supporters and is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.

The hydroelectric plant Lauffen on the Neckar provides power to Frankfurt, 175 km away, marking the start of distributed electricity supply.

The first German drinking water reservoir comes into operation at Remscheid. By WW1, more reservoirs are built, such as at the Eder and Möhne valleys.

The first sewage treatment works comes into operation in Frankfurt-Niederrad.

Berlin's sewage system is begun. Following Gdansk's example, the sewage is passed onto sewage fields.

The first hydroelectric power is used to illuminate Castle Linderhof in Bavaria.

The Yellowstone First National Park situated in the US states Wyoming (96%), Montana (3%), and Idaho (1%) was founded on March 1st, 1872 as the first national park of the world, setting an example followed in other countries, including Germany.

On July, 13th, 1870 the Royal Prussian Commission for the Research of the German Seas took up work in Kiel on behalf of the fishery. The commission had been established by the Royal Prussian Ministry of Agricultural Affairs aiming at improved fishing results.

Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) formed the Ecology term in his book "General Morphology of Organisms". However, he can not be named as the inventor of this scientific branch, as ecological problems had already been covered since ancient times. As early as around 300 B.C. the works of Theophrast contained many corresponding examples.

The start of the potash industry in Staßfurt near Magdeburg contaminates rivers with spoil salts.

Discovery and use of aniline dye. The aniline dye industry leads to much pollution and damage to public health.

The first central water supply is built in Hamburg. Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne follow suit. The water is not yet filtered.

The first sewage system is put into operation in Hamburg.

J. von Liebig founds the science of agricultural chemistry and forms of artificial fertilisers multiply.

Johann Gottfried Tulla (1770 - 1828) starts work on expanding the Upper Rhine between the Black Forest and the Vosges. The Weser, Elbe and Danube are also excavated in the 19th century.

The first Leblanc soda factory in Germany brings much pollution.

The Leblanc soda process marks the start of the new chemicals industry. From the outset, there are problems with waste. Traditional, now scarce, resources, wood-ash and dried seaweed for soda production, are replaced by other raw materials.

Count Leopold III. Friedrich Franz (1740-1817) attempts to transform his small territory Anhalt-Dessau, in the spirit of the Enlightenment, into a realm of gardens and parks. Some of his project has survived, including the park at Wörlitz, a remarkable and beautiful example of large-scale landscape gardening.

In Silesia, Bunzlau hosts the first public sewage treatment works.

Breslau is supplied with mains water from the Oder.

Zittau receives its first water mains.

From the 13th century onwards, large areas of forest in Europe (Italy, France, England and Ireland) are lost due to the increased demand for fuel (e.g. for smelting iron). At a later date, Lüneburg Heath is deforested in Germany, to meet increased demand for charcoal.

At around this time, large areas of Ancient Greece become steppe, as a result of deforestation (e.g. for wood for Attic ceramics production, intensive agriculture) and the associated erosion.

Around this date there are reports of serious environmental damage in Mesopotamia due to inadequate irrigation and a lack of drainage systems.