In 1983, the area around the thermal power plant and the factories along the Besòs river was officially declared an “air pollution zone.” The designation acknowledged that levels of particulate matter, soot and sulphur dioxide exceeded the acceptable limits and posed risks to public health and the environment. The impact was visible on the fronts of buildings, people’s clothing and in public spaces, while respiratory diseases among the local population continued to rise. The declaration highlighted the cumulative impact of decades of electricity production using fossil fuels and increased the pressure to move towards less-polluting energy models.