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40
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Carbon monoxide and hydro-carbons from petrol and diesel
engines respectively undoubtedly foul the air, but in the main
pollution is caused by emission into the air of smoke from the
burning of raw coal. In London the domestic consumption of coal
is considered to be responsible for two-thirds of the pollution, the
constituents of which may be itemised as :—
1. Carbonaceous matter—resulting from incomplete
combustion of the volatile part of coal.
2. Tar—formed in the process of destructive distillation
of bituminous coal.
3. Ash—drawn up from the fire by the rush of air passing
through the fuel.
4. Sulphur—derived from sulphur compounds in coal
(eventually forming sulphurous and sulphuric acids).
5. Grit—particles of unburnt coal carried away in the
draught.
Effects of atmospheric pollution may be summarised thus :—
(a) An increase in deaths from respiratory and heart diseases
which appears to be proportional to the amount of impurities
and length of exposure.
Although a close relationship between the death rate and atmospheric
pollution has been substantiated statistically, no real medical
evidence has as yet been advanced in support of this theory.
Pneumoconiosis, arising in various industries, is attributed to the
inhalation of dust and it is reasonable to suppose that constant
exposure to a heavily polluted atmosphere could lead to some disability
or aggravate one already existent. A normal reaction to the
constant inhalation of dust is a low grade inflammation—the mucous
lining of the lung is stimulated to secrete mucous in order to remove
the soot, dust ash or other irritant and this can and often does lead
to catarrh and bronchitis. In addition, fibrosis resulting from
irritation impairs the lungs' elasticity which in turn tends to prevent
normal drainage so necessary with respiratory diseases. Besides
radio active particles, atmospheric dust is known to contain varying
quantities of other carcinogens such as arsenic, benzpyrene and
other coal tar products. The latter substances are known to be in
greater concentration during the winter months, suggesting very
strongly that the domestic stove is at fault. By many Authorities,
soot is also considered carcinogenic and it is easy to see how
atmospheric pollution becomes linked, rightly or wrongly, with
lung cancer.