35 vintage photos taken by the EPA reveal what American cities looked like before pollution was regulated
- Before President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, water and air pollution weren't federally regulated.
- Between 1971 and 1977, the EPA enlisted 100 photographers to document the conditions of the country and the environment with "The Documerica Project."
- The result was 81,000 photos, often filled with smoke, smog, acid, oil, rubbish, and sewage. We've selected 35 of those photos to show what American cities used to look like.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.