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20
At a meeting of Co-operating Bodies, i.e. of authorities playing an
active part through instrumentation of atmospheric pollution within
their areas, the findings of a special committee which had engaged in
considerable research into the present methods of instrumentation were
considered. It seems clear that—although up to now our accepted
routine methods of investigation have provided a most useful picture—
the future must see a somewhat different approach. So far as Hornchurch
is concerned it seems likely that our programme will be revised
with the effect of:—
(a) Deposit Gauges. These are now thought to reflect a very limited
field of pollution and, whilst in any particular instance of pollution
they might be found desirable as a general measure their continued
use does not seem justifiable.
(b) Lead Peroxide Candles. Although when these are sited—as they
are in Hornchurch—at varied points throughout the District they do
provide a certain measure of the pollution problem, again their continued
use is not likely to provide results justifying the work involved in their
continuance.
(c) Smoke Filters. It is our intention to continue with our existing
smoke filters and where necessary to increase them. This method of
investigation should be particularly valuable in presenting a picture of
the smoke in the atmosphere before an area comes into force and in
due course after it has been in force.
(d) Volumetric SO 2 Apparatus. It is my intention to continue
with the volumetric SO 2 apparatus at the Public Health Department.
There is always the danger in a matter of this kind where positive
statistical results are so difficult to evaluate that in the end and as
time goes on, statistics are accumulated merely as statistics without
their intrinsic worth being realistically appraised. It is, therefore, to
the credit of the special committee mentioned earlier that they should
have seen fit to suggest certain definite lines of revised investigation
which if adopted would prove more valuable to the picture as a whole.
It may be that in due course further revisions will be made as only in
this way can time and money spent in making these observations be
utilised to the best advantage.
Radioactivity.
A meeting on this matter—sponsored by the Barking Borough
Council—was attended by a number of Essex authorities.
I do not propose to repeat the remarks which I made in last year's
Report and which are as relevant now as then.
The problem of radioactivity whether it be small or large will
remain with us in the foreseeable future and as the accent on one form
of activity may diminish, so may the accent on another form