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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

N — Invalid result
Smoke is caused by the incomplete combustion of fuel and is evidence of inefficiency. An open coal
burning firegrate has a low degree of efficiency and smoke emitted at low level from domestic
chimneys is considered to be the main source of smoke in the atmosphere; modern furnaces burning
coal or oil have a much higher efficiency and produce relatively small amounts of smoke.
The quantity of sulphur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere is, of course, related to the amount of
sulphur in fuel. This impurity is present in coal and fuel oil but it is only found in small quantities in
solid smokeless fuels, domestic grade fuel oils, and town and natural gas. The amount present in the
atmosphere is, therefore, dependent on the class of fuel and quantity being burnt.
The two bar charts show the average amounts of smoke and sulphur dioxide measured at the three
stations during the six winter months, Januarv to March and October to December for the years
1962 to 1972. These charts show that the decrease in smoke was most marked in the first five years
of measuieinent. The decrease in sulphur dioxide has also levelled off in the past five years and the
indications are that this trend will continue unless there is a pronounced changeover to fuels having a
low sulphur content.
There is little doubt that the main reason for the reduced level of smoke pollution in the air is due to
the implementation of smoke control area programmes not only in Enfield but throughout Greater
London. At present about 87% of premises in Enfield are in smoke control areas and two further
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