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to fog owing to a large volume of sulphur particles from the effluent of
the chimneys being distributed in the atmosphere. The increased deathrate
from respiratory diseases in industrial as compared with rural areas
was submitted as one of the evil results of smoke-polluted air, also the
fact that in cold periods the incidence of fog was closely correlated with a
greatly increased death-rate from those diseases among the elderly and
the very young. Prof. Haldane and Dr. Owens pointed out that no provision
had been made for re-heating the flue gases after they had been
cooled in the process of sulphur elimination, and they warned the Commissioners
of the dangers likely to arise from those gases charged with
sulphuric acid, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide being emitted in a cold
state, descending and displacing the warm air usually found over thickly
populated regions. They envisaged dangers such as had actually occurred
in Belgium shortly before, when a number of deaths occurred in an industrial
area during foggy weather.
A great deal of evidence relating to electrical, engineering, and
financial questions was also given on both sides. The upshot was that
the Commissioners gave their sanction to the erection of the Fulham
Power Station subject to the following conditions or safeguards which had
been suggested in the submissions of the opposing authorities :—
The extension of the Fulham Power Station to be carried out in
sections. The first section to be erected under clearly defined conditions ;
further sections to be erected as the Commissioners may prescribe.
To prevent the possibility of any nuisance arising steps must be
taken:—
(a) To eliminate smoke and grit;
(b) To prevent the discharge of sulphur compounds into the air ;
(c) To avoid noise and vibration.
The Electricity Commissioners, Commissioner of Works and the
Minister of Health shall have powers to supervise, to decide as to
the methods for preventing nuisance and to inspect the apparatus for
measuring sulphur emission and the records made. They may also test
the methods in use. Finally, the chimneys must be at least 300 feet
high.
Prof. Haldane and Dr. Owens considered the conditions imposed by
the Commissioners and deemed it necessary to issue a further warning as
to the dangers likely to follow from the emission of flue gases in a cooled
state. Representations were accordingly made to the Commissioners
who, subsequently, stated that any plans for the Fulham station which did