AIR POLLUTION - THE INDUSTRIAL RESPONSE

摘要

Historically, most industrial installations were small local businesses located in urban areas where both labour and markets were nearby. During the last part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, industrial plants of increasing size were constructed but they tended to be sited close to the relatively large labour force required to operate them. In some cases, new residential areas were built adjacent to the plant, sometimes by the plant owner, to house the workforce. Taking the UK power industry as an example, nearly all power stations were either within, or close to, urban areas in the early 1950s. In 1952, London had some 27 stations for public electricity supply which ranged in size from 2.8 MW (Shorts Garden, Holborn) to 600 MW (Barking). A number of factors led to the gradual closure of the small older stations and their replacement by large stations which were generally located in rural areas. These included the development of the National Grid which allowed efficient and reliable transfer of power over long distances; technological developments which enabled the manufacture of larger, more efficient boilers and generators; a decision to site new stations nearer to fuel supplies to reduce transport; a need to find new sites large enough to accommodate the larger stations; and, especially after the Great London Smog of 1952, a desire to move emissions away from urban areas.