Air pollution

Press, 17 December 1985, Page 12

Air pollution

Sir,—Let B. J. Goodman be assured, we called on the ■ Air Pollution Control Office at the onset of the bus strike and found they were alert to the possibility of assessing the contribution of the buses to general air pollution during the stoppage. As one bus probably saves 10 cars being on the city streets and considering that petrol engines exhaust considerable quantities of carbon monoxide and some lead, there will probably be an increase of those pollutants. Though diesel fumes are smelly, diesel exhaust is virtually free of carbon monoxide and lead; there is more smoke than from a petrol engine so there could be a reduction in particulate matter in inner city air for the duration of the strike. We do not blame domestic fires without good cause and would recommend B. J. Goodman to read the updated version of the 1966 Air Pollution Report, D.S.I.R. No. 55, when it is reissued by the Canterbury United Council. A more recent concern is the localised street level pollution caused by badlyoperated closed stoves.—Yours, etc P. V. NEARY, Hon. Secretary, N.Z. Clean Air Society. December 15, 1985.