ODOROUS TRADES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19841, 31 January 1930, Page 19

ODOROUS TRADES.

EOLATION NECESSARY.

ILL EFFECTS ON HEALTH DOUBTED.

Addressing delegates to the annual Addressing Zealan d Sanitary to^t; S 'Aviation and visitors vesZJZon the subject of "Interdar morning Findlar, *"fi oSee" of Health for WellingMedical Officer or. of ton , emphasised jeed isolating trade, whxen i "™f lecturer said industrial hygiene The lecturer . importance aspects of lE fbne about odours in productive the public aoou = ; thcre was a C fll such odofous substances were that an suu more o ff en . liable in oil. They * t reduced the ta LTtv for' appreciating them It ffbe'n noticed that workmen found K fl slow to detect the odour ot iodine *° . nnick to smell ether. It was in these vapours that Lnvie air came into play. should acquaint themM with the latest views on ventila- • Manv old theories had been distl("Ll For instance, it was held now Si the diminution of oxygen in the Inhere of a theatre or the increase fS carbon dioxide and organic „pos» caused by a big audience was Jiall as to make no difference.

Factory Temperatures,

TV idea now was for diverse tempera- .' a different parts, with the atmo„hm moving, dry rather than damp .TUeool rather than hot air. There !£ M question but that the vitiation d& bv the giving off of organic matten was* a factor, if only in a small war, «a increasing the discomforts of people in theatres. The public held rather erroneous views on the effects of odours. Thev did not affect health, so far as <onfd be judged. Perhaps the world's most famous fmell was that which arose from the Thames in 1838 and IW9, when it was the repository for a large part of the sewage of London. No effect on health was noticed. It was found often that workers exposed to various odours enjoyed better health than the average. Sewer gas was not regarded as dangerous now, and tests with animals showed that it had no deleterious effect. Bad odours could not be regarded as a direct tanse of organic disease, and as far as health was concerned were a bad guide. The virus of most infectious diseases had no smell whatever. In the main there was no proof that odours in themgelves had anv appreciable effect in intreasing our susceptibility to infectious diseases. Public inspectors were concerned, however, with the checking and tontrol of such nuisances. Seven or eight methods were in use. The one which should be given first consideration was the segregation of sueh industries. "We shonld try to get such places as isolated as possible,'' said the lecturer. "An important feature of town planning is the setting aside of industrial areas, especially for offensive trades. In this matter future possibili- _ ties, however remote, should be given ' tonsideration. Disposal of Sewage. TCorks for the disposal of sewage should be classified with offensive i trades, and New Zealand was faced with the problem of an improved system, h countries adjacent to towns, sites j should be set aside for future sewage | woria. The planting of three or four tows o! twes ronnd the factory* where I there to u offensive smell prevented the winds from disseminating its "odours. She more boshy types of eucalypts and piaes growing to a medium height were the most suitable types. High chimneys ealy resulted in the carrying of the taell to other localities. Special furisees of brick and fireclay, with only eoke or eoal in use, often gave satisfaetay remits in reducing the nuisance. Tlefe-was hardly an offensive trade in Xeir Zealand which did not smell, in spite of the use of appliances such as fnraaees and eondensers. Adding chlorate of lime to the water used in the latter had the effect of reducing odours. Soil was. one of the best deodorisers, but it must be of a fine loamy nature. Gases were often passed through a thin layer of soil to rednce the smell. Lime and formaldehyde were the best deodorisers, but in their use care must be taken to ensure that the cure was not worse than the disease. In high concentration, ozone was an efficient germicide, hut with reference to its value as a deodoriser, its effectiveness had been exaggerated. It masked rather than destroyed smells. Moreover, in high concentration, it was dangerous to human beings. The clean conduct of offensive trades, with the use of clean naterials and suitable buildings and appliances, was one of the important factors in Teducing the odours. Much was to be gained by a friendly eo-operation between inspectors and the public The sending of clothing to public laundries was increasing in New Zealand. Laundries varied from adapted houses to np-to-date buildings with modern appliances. Processes in use *ere in & transition stage.

Steam in Laundries. T1« old-type machines emitted great woad* of iteam, which made a laundry place in which to work. *«k modern appliances this nuisance **« «*a greatly abated. *• moat go on improving the gen- ** itawtßre of the factory,'' said Dr. we shall not be ■** to improve the general health of Bad posture, such as conwas one of the handicaps *«tt«ik laundries; this was perhaps disability of the employees, were produced in this with sodas caused skin JSJJJfWeh as eezema i an£ l * ne * n " * steam in old-fashioned launluzj? fabercnlons people was very *° their general health. hj? known instances of the coueyy"* «f infections diseases from t£~j"fj > y workers in laundries. Where ""•ung machines were situated the

floor should be of concrete, with a proper fall. In eases where the workers were liable to get wet in their occupation they should be provided with proper footwear or gumboots. Lighting was a most important point, and had not been given proper emphasis in the past. The avoidance of shadows should be a paramount consideration in any lighting scheme. The light should fall directly on the place where the worker was engaged, light globes and windows should be kept clean, and glare should be avoided by the use of shades. Artificial ventilation should be avoided if possible. Used water should go to the sewer, but if this was impracticable it should be disinfected. The question of stream pollution was assuming increasing proportions. He could trace two outbreaks of enteric fever to the infection of a stream. These could have been avoided if there had been proper co-operation between the inspectors of the Agriculture Department and those of the Health Department. The ideal for a laundry was the gathering of all operations except sorting into one large compartment. The idea that a worker could not operate efficiently unless he was standing was now discounted. When seats were furnished they should have straight backs and other provision to ensure that the worker assumed a healthy posture. The oldfashioned clog was recommended in place of the modern shoe. The granting of rest periods in the morning and afternoon had been found to increase the output.