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The estimated Total Cost of damage plus waste was £250,000,000 in 1954. THIS DOES
NOT INCLUDE DAMAGE TO HEALTH!!!
5. PREVENTION
Many uninformed people think that remedial measures are not worth while but in considering
the problem it is essential to weigh the relatively small cost of remedial measures against the
enormous damage to health and economic wastage which pollution causes each year. In this connection
one need only draw a parallel with diphtheria immunisation. The same attitude of mind
existed towards this procedure only a few years ago, yet in the last 20 years through persistent
efforts of Health Departments and other enlightened members of the community, this once dread
disease, which had a very high mortality rate and a similarly high crippling rate and cost the
nation vast sums in hospital charges each year, has now been virtually eliminated. It only requires
the same attitude towards atmospheric pollution to eliminate it completely, or at least to reduce
markedly the damage to health and property which at present arises therefrom. It has been
estimated that in Great Britain each ton of smoke produced does £20—£30 worth of damage at
least, (one modest factory produces one ton of smoke per week and ten domestic fires produce
this quantity in one year).
As mentioned above, the elimination of smoke from the air is a relatively simple matter. It
merely requires the householder to discontinue burning raw coal and to change over to using an
approved smokeless fuel (see below) and for industrial users to instal modern efficient boilers and
other fuel burning appliances and to ensure his plant is properly operated and maintained.
6. POWERS OF A LOCAL AUTHORITY
Since the introduction of the Clean Air Act in 1956, Local Authorities have had available the
power to eradicate the major causes of atmospheric pollution in their areas, both domestic and
industrial. Unfortunately these powers have not been exercised vigorously by the majority of local
authorities although a few enlightened Councils have pressed ahead and have rendered their areas
smoke free.
The procedure under the Clean Air Act is for an Authority to designate a part (or parts) of its
area to be a "Smoke Control Area" in which, after a given date, it will be an offence for smoke to
be produced from any domestic or other chimney, and an offence for 'black' smoke to be produced
from any industrial chimney.
Special provision is made to permit limited unavoidable smoke emissions from industrial plants
and for the lighting of domestic fires where no alternative to the use of sticks and paper exists.
As regards domestic premises, these can be heated smokelessly in many ways and it has always
been the accepted policy to follow freedom of choice to the householder as to which method or
methods he uses.
Gas and electricity are inherently smoke free and are becoming increasingly popular as methods
of smokeless domestic heating. Persons wishing to use solid fuels have available a wide choice of
officially approved solid smokeless fuels including gas coke, hard coke, reactive cokes (Cleanglow,
Phimax, etc.), special low temperature carbonisation fuels (such as Coalite, Rexco), Anthracite,
low volatile steam coals, carbonised briquetted fuels, etc. In addition oil-fired central heating
systems can be used.
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