[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Castleford Borough.

  • Castleford (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Castleford Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/72 (page 21)
    Difficulty was experienced during the year from the operation of plant used in the nanufacture of road construction material. Here black clouds are emitted from coal fired boilers, and oil fired plant. Negotiations are in progress with the firm and some improvement is to be recorded. The position is, however, still unsatisfactory. In my last report I referred to x)ollutants other than smoke and noted that at one of our chemical works part of the plant had been closed fcr overhaul. v/hilst this closure existed the adjoining sulphur trioxide gauge showed considerably reduced figures each month. bith the plant back on operation these recordings will take on anadded'interest. Whilst it is appreciated that the firm concerned are making great efforts to improve the plant it must be admitted that the process has its own particulax emission. So far means of complete control or eradication have not been found and the resulting funes are not only visible but irritant, 'and effective 'for considerable distances. If means could be found to divert or neutralise these emissions relief would be brought to many of our residents. In presenting what is, I hope, a very frank review of Atmospheric Pollution, I would not end without stressing the value of propaganda and Precept. If the Clean mir Act is to be successful it must have the wholehearted support of the community, and this can only be secured if the people are fully convinced of the value (and problems) of cleaning the atmosphere. During the year no opportunity has been lost in proyounding the theme to groups of adults and schoolchildren a.nd it is vital that this V'fork continues. One cannot feel, ho^reve]:, that precept^ by the local Authority v/ould be one of the b/est forms of publicity. Our public offices are almost smcd'iless and a survey (with alterati:>ns) would not be difficult r costly and would ensure complete freedom from emission. The various departmental depots, alas often guilty of air pollution, could al 1 be quickly converted to smokeless fuels, les,ving only our two industrial chimneys for attention. The destructor chimney, by virtue of the- eatnria . burned, is never guilty of dark emission and that at 'i:';..; Public Baths seldom egives off more than a light colour'e.J. 2.:; v Being so much in the puEic eye, it is, however, a point ■■'f argument and a comiiletely smokeless rim would be a gmo.ot advertisement for clean air - apart from probably off':'ing a saving in cost! Concluding this review may I be permitted to pci; .mi; that the responsibility for atmospheric pollution in m i; confined to one section of the community but to all. the dangers are now well appreciated and the desire for i'oor'.’vsment widespread but results can only be secured by the Iv.': .•.■ml collaboration of all. r C “■.m r -21-