[Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Bournemouth County Borough.

  • Bournemouth (England). County Borough Council. nb2004301338.
Date:
1969
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1969] / Medical Officer of Health, Bournemouth County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    84/130 (page 82)
    Atmospheric Pollution The year 1969 saw the coming into operation of the Clean Air Act, 1968 in two stages — on the 1st April and the 1st October, 1969. This legislation has considerably strengthened the principal Act and repaired many of the omissions which were all too apparent to those who were concerned with the implementation of this legislation. The emission of dark smoke arising from the burning of trade waste in the open is now controlled by Section I of the 1968 Act. However, the combustion of certain materials are exempted from this enactment by the Clean Air (Emission of Dark Smoke) (Exemp- tion) Regulations, 1969, subject to compliance with certain condi- tions prescribed by these Regulations. There are six categories of material exempted, including waste material from demolition or site clearance and the burning of tar, asphalt or similar materials in connection with the surfacing or re-surfacing of roads or roofs. The Clean Air Act, 1956 which requires that steps are taken to minimise dust and grit emissions from certain furnaces is extended by the new legislation to include a wider range of plant. The Minister now has the power to prescribe limits for emission of solid particles in respect of particular types of furnaces. Such Regulations have not been made although it is anticipated that limits may be imposed later. Limits may be applied to mobile or transportable furnaces and many furnaces which are mechanically fired, types of equipment which have been exempted from general provisions requiring that grit and dust arrestment plant shall be provided. These exemptions are contained in the Clean Air (Arrest- ment Plant) (Exemption) Regulations, 1969. Prior approval of the height of a chimney serving a furnace which was previously controlled by Section 10 of the 1956 Act and by the Building Regulations is removed from Building Regulations Control by Section 6 of the 1968 Act. This improved piece of legislation is now part of the Public Health Code and is designed to control, within certain limits, the build-up of sulphur dioxide at ground level. This gas is the principal pollutant from most forms of fuel used in domestic, commercial and industrial boiler plant. Consent by a Local Authority to a chimney height can now be conditional to restrict the rate and quality of emissions and applies