This passage emphasizes that historical urban pollution was far worse than what we typically imagine today. In the era of horse-drawn vehicles, cities in the U.S. and London were covered with tons of horse manure, creating unsanitary conditions and difficult foot traffic. Noise pollution from horseshoes and buggy wheels added to the chaos. Going back further, in 1783, many cities lacked sewers, and human waste was often dumped into streets, making sanitation even more dire. By contrast, modern technology and infrastructure have drastically reduced both physical and noise pollution. While ongoing improvements are necessary, exaggerating today’s pollution misrepresents reality and obscures the progress achieved.

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