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OTHER PESTS.
There is a developing demand by residents to deal with other
seasonal pests, ants, earwigs, wasps and may-fly bugs.
Advice and assistance is given in the practical application of
remedies Our complaints arise mainly from residents living near
allotments or other stretches of open spaces.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
Since the smog conditions which occurred during the 5th-9th
December, 1952, attention is being increasingly directed to the pollutants
of town air which it is thought caused the serious increase in
the deaths during that period. This smog was the most disastrous
that has occurred for 80 years, the possibility of it arising from a
freak weather condition or changes in the character of air pollutants
is being investigated. In connection with the possible "unusual"
constituents of the atmosphere consideration is being given to the
problem of sulphur emission from modern high-temperature coal-fired
furnaces such as electricity generating stations.
Because of this possibility and because the Barking generating
station is the largest in the country the Council called the attention
of the Ministry of Fuel and Power and Dr. Somerville Hastings, M.P.
to what may be an insiduous risk to health from the burning of huge
quantities of coal with the emission of thousands of tons of sulphur
compounds. The subsequent sulphuric acid mist which is formed
from such emissions by the absorption of water from the atmosphere
is increased as the result of the modern improved rate of combustion
with the possible harmful results.
The Council is alive to these possibilities and is one of the local
authorities taking part in the investigation of atmospheric pollution
conducted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Measurements of the pollution in Barking are taken at three
Points in the Borough and are co-ordinated monthly, with similar
observations made throughout the whole of the country.
It is realised today that any real step forward must have relation
to domestic fires. To this end a recommendation was made to the
Council that the tenants of the Thames View estate now being developed
should burn none but smokeless fuel. Control it was suggested should
be obtained by including a clause in the conditions of tenancy.
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