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43
With reference to the quantity of arsenic present in the dust collected from the
roofs, yards and rain water gutters, it must be remembered that the weather during
the period of investigation was frequently wet, and therefore a certain amount of arsenic
may have been dissolved out of the dust deposited in these situations. During very dry
weather it is possible that a higher percentage of arsenic may be present.
As regards the source of the arsenic, it is probably derived from the coal which is
used in the furnaces. Although the pulverised coal in use at the Electric Light Works
at the time the samples were taken contained a very small percentage of arsenic, various
kinds of coal may contain considerably larger quantities.
Enquiries were may at the factories A, B and C in order to ascertain if any other
fuel or substances which might contain arsenic were burnt in the furnaces, but the results
were negative.
The most important point is—does any danger to health arise owing to the presence
of this amount of arsenic in furnace dust when this is discharged into the atmosphere ?
The smallest fatal dose of arsenic is 2 grains. It would require more than half a
pound of the flue dust obtained from factory B (which contained the highest percentage)
to yield 2 grains of arsenic. It is therefore very improbable that the small quantity
which may be inhaled from atmospheric dust is at all injurious.
I doubt if it is generally known that arsenic may be present in such quantity in flue
dust and in the dust from factory and other chimneys.
It would be interesting to know if the analyses here recorded are unusual, and, if
not, to what extent arsenic is present in flue dust, and especially in the atmospheric dust
of large manufacturing towns with a larger number of factories and using various kinds
of coal.
In conclusion, it might be mentioned that the Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act,
which came into force in July last, not only prohibits the emission of smoke from factories,
etc., in such quantities as to be a nuisance, but also includes in the prohibition, ash, grit
and gritty particles. The provisions of this Act should therefore tend to lessen atmospheric
pollution from the sources mentioned, and at the same time should further decrease
any slight risk which may have existed owing to the presence of arsenic in the
atmospheric dust of large towns.
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACTS.
Information concerning the work carried out under the above Acts is given in the
following tables in the form required by the Home Secretary:—