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The suggestion that older people and children with chest
affections, such as chronic bronchitis, are adversely affected by
coke or other smokeless fuel fumes is quite without foundation.
It must not be forgotten that what does affect them is a polluted
atmosphere caused by industrial and domestic smoke. A
defective fireplace or a dirty chimney will produce fumes whatever
the fuel.
Bronchitis and Lung Cancer.
Most people now know of the number of deaths for which
the two severe "SMOGS" in London during the last seven years
were responsible, but it is the continuous pollution of the atmosphere,
day in and day out, which causes the greatest damage—
the "smogs" merely serve to draw attention to it in a dramatic
and tragic manner Those who are most affected are the very
young and very old.
Sickness and deaths from bronchitis in this Country are
far greater than in many countries in Western Europe and the
U.S.A., in fact, bronchitis is now coming to be known as "the
British disease". This notoriety should stimulate everyone to
work together to remove the outstanding cause of this condition —
atmospheric pollution.
There is strong evidence also that those who live in
industrial areas and breathe impure air are far more liable to
cancer of the lung than the more fortunate ones who can breathe
the air of the countryside.
Whilst there is no doubt that cigarette smoking contributes
to the increasing amount of cancer of the lung in the population
of this Country, the smoke from the domestic fire and the industrial
furnace appears to be playing its part also. No-one
should doubt therefore that the cleansing of the air in our towns
is a matter of urgent importance to the health and well-being
of the nation.