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CLEAN AIR
Hornsey's fifth smoke control area was declared during the
year and will come into operation on 1st November, 1963. This
will bring Hornsey to the half-way stage in its declared policy of
completing the Borough by 1968.
Since the first Smoke Control Order made three years ago no
objections have been made and the Council have thus been able to
bring each order into operation smoothly and with the minimum of
delay. It would appear, and rightly so, that the public are now
persuaded as to the value of clean air and the work of the Department
is considerably assisted by the goodwill of the occupiers of premises
in existing smoke control areas. Arrangements were made with
the Solid Smokeless Fuels Federation for their mobile exhibition van
to tour the fourth area and for a period of one week the van which
was stationed at strategic points within the area aroused considerable
public interest. The vehicle is -fitted with a variety of solid fuel
appliances which are kept alight and a staff of technical experts is in
attendance to advise members of the public concerning solid fuel
burning appliances and fuels, suitable for their particular needs.
Last year in the London County Council area 340 deaths occurred
which were considered to be attributable to the "smog" between 3rd
and 7th December - less than one tenth of the deaths which occurred
during the 1952 "smog". Although it cannot be claimed that the
improvement in the mortality figures was due entirely to the introduction
of smoke control areas, it is undeniable that the degree of
smoke concentration in the atmosphere has been gradually reduced in
recent years. There is little doubt that, without the Clean Air Act
the greater demands for improved heating, particularly during the
extreme conditions of last winter would have led to an increase in
sulphur dioxide concentrations. No increase has occurred, possibly
because firstly compared with coal only 80 per cent by weight of
coke is needed to maintain the same heat output. Since both contain
the same percentage of sulphur, the change from coal to coke in smoke
control areas should have reduced sulphur dioxide emission by about
one-fifth.
Secondly, a number of householders are changing over to gas,
electric or oil heating. Electricity produces no sulphur dioxide at
the point of consumption, and gas and oil reduce it by approximately
95 per cent. Thus since the 'smog' of 1952 there has probably been
a reduction of up to one quarter of sulphur pollution of the atmosphere.
The removal or reduction of the blanket of smoke enables more heat
from the sun to reach the earth's surface and dispersing pollutants
by means of convection.
One final point must be made here, sulphur dioxide is less
dangerous to health as well as less damaging to buildings in the
absence of smoke particles. Publicity regarding the harmful effects
of smog has undoubtedly encouraged more susceptible persons to limit
their exposure to smog and encouraged the use of masks and
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