London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1957

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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Beckton Gas Works
Your officers have been assured that every effort is made to
reduce to a minimum the smoke emission from Beckton Gas Works
having regard to the present standard of scientific knowledge. Nevertheless,
undoubtedly a great deal of pollution of the town's atmosphere
arises from this source.
A programme of modernisation of some retorts and buildings
has been carried out but there is still much to be done. Steam locomotives
are in constant use on the light railway system in the Works
and add a great deal to the general pollution. Coal fired steam cranes
are also in use.
It is felt that if a determined effort were made to deal with the
pollution problems that are capable of solution a con: ierable reduction
could be achieved. In addition it is hoped that improved methods
of charging and emptying retorts and quenching coke ill be evolved
which will eventually enable the North Thames Gas Board to make
a contribution to the cause of clean air.
Electricity Generating Station
Much of the four thousand tons of coal consumed daily at the
Power Station is burnt as pulverized fuel and unless special precautions
are taken a problem from dust emission is bound to arise.
In "C" station, the latest section to come into c ration, electrostatic
precipitators have been installed to deal with the dust in the flue
gases. These precipitators achieve a high standard c efficiency. The
two chimneys serving the station are 375 feet high so that the flue
gases are dispersed into the upper atmosphere.
The boilers in "A" and "B" stations are equipped with cyclone
dust arresters which are not so efficient as those in "C" station. The
chimneys of "A" station are comparatively short so at dispersal of
the flue gases and any effluent dust is not so great.
It has been stated that as "C" station becomes. fully operative
and other electricity generating plants are built e load will be
reduced on the older plant at Barking, resulting a reduction of
air pollution from this source.
Factories
Seventy-one furnaces are in operation in he Borough
majority of which are operated comparatively smokelessly. Those
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