A. Mills caused pollution in the surrounding area.
B. People moved to the town to work at the mills.
D. Mills helped workers move into the middle class.
The Lowell mills, which were among the first large-scale factories in the United States, had a number of effects on the town and its residents. One of the main effects was that they attracted a large number of people to the town, many of whom were seeking employment at the mills. This influx of workers contributed to the growth of Lowell and the surrounding area.
Another effect of the mills was that they caused pollution in the surrounding area. The factories released pollutants into the air and water, which had negative impacts on the environment and public health.
However, despite these negative effects, the mills also had some positive effects on the lives of workers. In particular, they helped many workers move into the middle class by providing them with steady employment and relatively good wages. The mills also offered workers various benefits, such as health programs, which were not commonly available to workers in other industries at the time.