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21
In a somewhat similar way the thoughtless housewife may
burn coal uneconomically. There are so many appliances available
for the efficient burning of coal in domestic fires that there is
really little excuse for the old fashioned method to be continued.
Yet the placing of large lumps of coal on a low fire inevitably
results in the formation of smoke and, regrettably, it remains a
common error. The sooty smoke from the ordinary open domestic
fire is a far greater menace than the gases from an industrial
chimney. It is also far more wasteful, as such a fire is only
up to about 25% efficient from a heating point of view, and, in
addition, the soot which is produced contains valuable ingredients
which are wasted.
Under present difficult economic circumstances, it is essentia
that all those who are in a position to assist in the reduction of
atmospheric pollution should work steadily and constantly to this
end. No opportunity must be lost of making the public conscious
of the wastage and its attendant evil results.
Standard Gauges for Measuring Deposited Matter,
It should be remembered that, although standard deposit
gauges are a useful means of measuring atmospheric pollution,
it may be dangerous and even misleading to draw firm conclusions
from the readings until the data available covers a period of at
least five years. This period is necessary in order to smooth
out fluctuations due to weather changes (rain, wind speed and
direction) and small exceptional variations in the sources of
pollution. When such a period has elapsed, it, should be possible
to assess the seasonal trend and to form a more accurate estimate
of the true average deposit for the Borough. In the following
paragraphs references to Stations "A" "B" and "C" refer to sites
of standard deposit gauges installed and maintained by the
Corporation.
It was pointed out in the Annual Report for 1950 that
although Stations "A" and "B" lie in the same wind sector and
have only slightly varying average rain-falls, viz, 2.69" and
2.48", the average deposit varied considerably - 22.19 tons
compared with 12.47 tons, This fact emphasizes three points:-
(a.) The deposit of insoluble solids (grit and ash, etc.)
decreases rapidly with increased distances from the
source.
(b) The influence of wind speed on the distance over which
the deposit is air-borne.
(c) The known fact that deposit is less in quantity in a
given area in an open space than in one closely
surrounded by trees or buildings of varying height.
In the last Annual Report mention was made that the British
Electricity Authority had set up several stations within the
Borough, but that sufficient data from the observations made at
these stations was not available. Details are available now for
the 10 months January/October, 1951, and they afford valuable
additional information by which to assess the general position.
The monthly averages for these stations show results which were
to be expected, having regard to their positions in relation to,
their respective distances from, the main sources of pollution.
That the main area of origin of pollution is that which extends
northward from the railway and which includes the Electricity
Works and the Gas Works is confirmed by a reasonable interpretation
of the data. It also appears to show, at least to some degree, the
rain-fall and wind direction have a direct influence upon the amount
of recorded deposit. Firm conclusions, however, must not be react
until a longer period of observations has been completed.