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71
SWIMMING BATHS
Regular routine samples are taken of the water in the four Public
Swimming baths in the Borough, and no action was necessary in respect of the
60 taken for chemical and bacteriological examination during the year.
FLUORIDATION
At the end of the year the Council's policy continued to be that adopted
on 23rd June, 1965, viz:-
"The question of the fluoridation of drinking water as a protection
against dental decay has already been considered by the former Metropolitan
Borough Councils of Hackney, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington and the three
authorities were in favour of the scheme.
"We, as the Health Committee of the new London Borough of Hackney, have now
considered the main issues for and against the fluoridation of drinking water and are
of the opinion that it is harmless to health and effective for dental protection."
CLEAN AIR
The Council's smoke control programme was completed in 1967, and the
present average daily concentrations of smoke are less than 50% of the 1960
figures. This improvement is significant, and apparent to all living or
working within the Borough.
Resulting from the marked decrease in smoke, other sources of air pollution
are now becoming the focus of increased attention. For example:
1. The high levels of concentration of sulphur dioxide within the
Borough and within Inner London generally.
2. Exhaust fumes from petrol and diesel engines.
3. Exhausts from certain factory premises, e.g. from paint spraying
booths.
The high sulphur dioxide figures are attributed to the burning of oil of
a high viscosity with high sulphur content. A substantial reduction in the
sulphur dioxide concentrations in the air can be achieved by the more widespread
use of oil of a low viscosity with low sulphur content. This Council
uses oil of 35 seconds viscosity containing approximately 1% sulphur, in place
of the higher viscosity oils with sulphur contents of between 3 and 4% sulphur.
The trend to the use of the lighter oils is encouraged by the requirements of
the Clean Air Act 1968, where chimney heights are fixed in relation to the
sulphur emitted. Consequently the burning of low sulphur oil fuels permits
the erection of lower chimneys. It is anticipated that there will be a slight
reduction in the following years in the concentration of sulphur dioxide in
the air near ground level.
The statutory regulations governing the emission of smoke or other forms
of pollution from road vehicles, are made by the Ministry of Transport under
the Road Traffic Act 1930. The regulations at present operative are known as
"The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1966", and regulation
22 (emission of smoke or vapour) states "every motor vehicle shall be so
constructed that no avoidable smoke or visible vapour is emitted therefrom".
These regulations are administered by Inspectors of the Ministry of Transport.
The exhausts from factory premises are investigated and action taken
where contraventions of the Public Health Act, 1936 are reported.
New Legislations - Clean Air Act 1968
Sections 2, 6, 8-15, schedule 2 and part of schedule 1, Clean Air Act
1968 became operative on the 1st April 1969. The object of this act is to
extend certain of the provisions of, and to revise some of the procedures
under the Clean Air Act 1956.