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215
During the current year pollution problems were probably
adversely affected by a shortage of authorised solid fuel which
necessitated the suspension of many Smoke Control Orders and a
strike of municipal employees which resulted in widespread burning
of household refuse on open bonfires.
A recent but limited investigation carried out by the G.L.C.
Scientific Advisor into exhaust gas from motor vehicles in London
revealed that the standard of 50 p.p.m. of carbon monoxide
regarded by H.M. Factory Inspectorate as being safe for an 8-hour
daily exposure for industrial workers was rarely exceeded for more
than 5 minutes at any one time—the average hourly concentration
in heavy traffic being about 10/20 p.p.m. Average lead concentrations
were found to be 1.1 microgrammes per cubic metre while
those of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide were 1.7 and 0.2 p.p.m.
respectively, none being considered as being a danger to health.
So far as is known, concentrations of other pollutants from exhaust
gas viz. hydrocarbons, aldehydes, smoke and sulphur are considered
to be too low to be health hazards.
Results from this investigation show that exhaust gas from motor
vehicles in London is not, at present, harmful especially as any
concentration is usually quickly dispersed by the wind. Further
and more general research, however, is recommended.
In Greenwich, smoke control orders now cover 85% of the
Borough's acreage and 92% of all its premises. When the areas
outlined below are given Ministry approval, the whole of the
Borough will then be subject to Smoke Control Orders and the
Council's programme will thereby be completed.
New Legislation
The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) Order, 1970.
This Order was made under s. 11(4) and (8) of the Clean Air
Act, 1956. Local authorities are empowered under Section 11 of
the principal Act to declare the whole or any part of their district
to be a smoke control area in which the emission of smoke is,
generally, prohibited. This Order consolidates, with amendments,
the Orders which exempt classes of fireplace from the provisions
of that section, upon conditions as to proper operation.
Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) Regulations, 1970.
These Regulations were made under s.34(l) of the Clean Air
Act, 1956. Section 11 of that Act makes it an offence to emit
smoke from a chimney of a building within a smoke control area
unless it can be shown that the emission of smoke was not caused
by the use of any fuel other than an authorised fuel. The Regulations
declare "Fireglow" briquettes and "Maxiglow" ovoids to be
authorised fuels.