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38
The super stations which are now being erected, of which
Barking station is one, will have a coal consumption of 2,000 tons
per day containing 40 tons of sulphur which passes out into the air
as sulphur gases and 280 tons of ash of which 140 tons will be
discharged into the atmosphere in such a finely divided state that
until saturated with moisture will remain suspended in the air.
So far, engineers have been unable to design any equipment
satisfactorily to deal with the problems arising from the new methods
of steam raising.
Pure water supplies and pure food supplies have been established,
but we are still without a pure air supply.
It is now accepted that smoke and other items of air pollution
fill the atmosphere with acrid, poisonous compounds and soot
particles which irritate the sensitive membranes of the eyes, nose,
throat, lungs and gastro-intestinal tract, increasing the susceptibility
to gastro-intestinal, pulmonary and naso-pharyngeal disorders and
so lessening the working capacity and well-being of the individual.
Any improvement in air pollution depends upon :—
1. A campaign of education aiming at acquainting the
general public with the gravity of the air polution evil.
2. The extension of smoke control to all classes of buildings
now exempt, including dwelling-houses.
3 (a) Provision of facilities to permit control of visible smoke
to the limit physically possible.
(b) Research by the chemist, physician and engineer to
cover thoroughly the field of air pollution.
The marketing of a smokeless fuel suitable for all purposes
now served by coal at a price the public can afford will be an important
move forward, and with the completion of the factory,
which is to be erected at Creeksmouth, I am hopeful that such a
fuel will be available to Barking inhabitants.