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transport waste wood from the site and who persist in lighting large
bonfires to burn unwanted materials. In all these cases improvements
were secured on verbal warnings given by the Health Inspectors.
Complaints of smoke emission from industrial chimneys continued
to receive thorough investigation, and most problems were solved by
ensuring proper maintenance of the plant concerned. In one instance,
however, advice was sought by the owners from the National Industrial
Fuel Efficiency Service as to alterations required to an underfeed
stoker burning coal, and the adaptations made substantially reduced
smoke emission from the plant.
One other complaint of interest during the year arose from the
staining of household laundry. A shirt, which had been dried in the
garden of a house close to an industrial boilerhouse, was found to be
covered with brown marks, and analysis showed the staining to be
due to deposits of iron and sulphur compounds. The boilerhouse was
served by a steel chimney in which extensive corrosion had occurred
due to the acid formed from the sulphur content of the coal fuel.
The acid had produced a sulphate of iron and under conditions of
extreme condensation when, for example, the stack was cooling, there
formed an extensive film of liquid charged with sulphate of iron which
was emitted from the chimney as tiny droplets. On completion of
the investigation, the owners of the plant agreed to erect a new
enamelled metal chimney stack.
Vehicle Smoke Emission.
The Health Committee have discussed the growing problem of
smoke emission from diesel engines in road vehicles. Undoubtedly
this form of air pollution causes great irritation to road users and
pedestrians alike, and yet it is the kind most easily avoidable, as the
problem arises only because of the failure to provide regular engine
maintenance.
Excessive vehicle smoke emission is an offence under the Motor
Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations administered by the
police, but any substantial reduction of this source of pollution would
require additional public spending for the creation of special police
squads qualified to give the technical evidence necessary to secure
convictions. On occasions it has been possible to record particulars
of vehicles emitting excessive smoke in the Borough, and a letter to
the company owning the vehicle has usually produced a promise to
have the offending engine overhauled.