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214
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
We are appalled at the genetic damage occasioned by radiation
and, rightly, we seek to extend this deep concern to the effects
arising from chemicals which, as a nation, we disseminate so
widely throughout our environment.
Dating from 1863, legislation to control atmospheric pollution
has shown this country to be the world's leader in this field. Our
freedom since 1962 from "smog", a term first used by Dr. Des
Voeux in 1905 to denote the combination of smoke and natural fog,
is evidence of the soundness of this action. Moreover, an almost
universal drive in urban areas to clean up their most imposing
buildings is a tacit admission of the success of our clean air policy.
Apart from the undoubted reduction of health hazards, with this
abatement of smoke and the improved quality of the atmosphere
has come the beneficial effects of increased sunshine and the welcome
return to our parks and open spaces of many birds, plants
and flowers which have been absent for half a century or more.
Our success, however, is nowhere near complete for with the
decrease in atmospheric smoke other pollutants which rank for
elimination, namely, grit, dust and sulphur dioxide, etc., become
more obvious. Furthermore, additional pollution problems with
which we need to grapple concern actual emissions following industrial
processes, from motor cars and, perhaps not quite so obvious,
from aircraft. Some of these sources are likely to give rise to
air pollution by metals. In the light of present day knowledge
there are only 7 metals which are more or less toxic of themselves.
Of these, only 3, cadmium, lead and nickel represent any real or
potential hazards to human health while two others, beryllium and
antimony need careful control. Aroused public interest in pollution
problems will surely demand such control as is commensurate with
human safety.
By 1970, smoke emission throughout the country had been
reduced from the 2.71 million tons in 1931 to the present figure of
0.78 million tons and the decrease of sulphur dioxide over the same
period, although not so spectacular, was substantial. During recent
years, however, dust and grit pollution has shown little improvement.
In Inner London, during 1970, the average concentration of
smoke was 47 microgrammes per cubic metre of air indicating a
reduction of 8% from that of the previous year and no less than
one quarter of the estimated 1955/56 level. Sulphur dioxide exhibited
a slower decline but, at an average concentration of 144
microgrammes per cubic metre, it was still 10% less than for 1969
and only two-thirds of the pre Clean Air Act figure.