Abstract
THE twenty-first report of the Investigation of Atmospheric Pollution issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (H.M. Stationery Office. 55.) may be summarised in one sentence: “The general cleanness of our atmosphere is not improving” a statement opposed to an impression widely held. The observations recorded in London seem particularly to point this way, and to show that while Metropolitan conditions get worse, provincial conditions improve. Some of the worst figures are recorded at London stations, compared with which the industrial areas in the provinces appear relatively good. This must be disquieting to residents of the Metropolis, and emphasises the need for more energy to promote the consumption of fuel by methods which minimise the emission of tar, soot and sulphur acids. Some of the anomalies suggest the need for caution in interpretation. After all, the figures relate only to the sites where examples are taken, and these are relatively few, and a statistical analysis by Mr. B. H. Wilsdon shows that other factors such as rainfall influence the results. The report deals with observations made for the year ending March 1, 1935, and it may be that increased industrial activity has involved an increased consumption of fuel which has compensated for some improvement in method of combustion.
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Atmospheric Pollution. Nature 137, 526 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137526b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137526b0