No Cancer Element in Oil-engine Gases
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T ESTS taken in a London Transport I garage, where the oil engines of 200 buses were started up and left running. had failed to raise the benzpyrene content of the air, Dr. P. J. Lawther, direc. tor of the Medical Research Council's group on air pollution, said in London. last week.
The council are carrying out radical tests to determine precisely how foul and dangerous is the air in London. In particular, they are checking exhaust gases for the presence of 3 : 4 benzpyrene, a cancer-causing substance.
Addressing the Royal Society ot Health, Dr. Lawther said that investigators had travelled in a bus on London Transport's test track at Chiswick and leaned out of the windows to breathe in the exhaust gases. So far, they had been unable to find any benzpyrene But they did expect to find it in gases from badly adjusted and maintained
vehicles. They were not trying lii whitewash the oil engine, of which there had been much irresponsible and ill-informed criticism.
Dr. H. Joules, medical director of the Central Middlesex Hospital, said there was more air pollution in the hall in which they were meeting than in the Blackwall Tunnel. It was caused lw cigarette smoke.
"The incidence of lung cancer in London policemen, who spend much time in the polluted streets, is lower than the general' average," he said.
Dr. E. T. Wilkins. principal scientific officer. Fuel Research Station, said that although the consumption of motor spirit had almost doubled in the past 24 years, there had been no recent striking increase in air pollution. .
Lo.T.A. OFFICERS ELECIED
OFFICERS have been elected. as follows, in seven centres of the Institute of Traffic Administration:
Bristol: Chairman. Mr. W. 11. GriinIcy; vicechairman. Mr. R. P. Bowyer: honorary secretary, Mr. C. W. Parker; honorary treasurer, Mr. H. D, Hewlett.
Birmingham: Cliairman. Mr. K. J. P. Bowyer: honorary secretary, Mr. J. S. Burdon; honorary treasurer. Mr. A. Butler. Glasgow: Chairman. Mr. A. MacNair: vicechairman. Mr. A. S. MacKcchnic honorary secretary and treasurer. Mr. G. Hill.
London: Chairman. Mr. A. T. Hills; Oct:chairmen. Mr. W. Hodgson. Mr. D. J. Hicks and Mr. J. W. Breit; deputy chairman, Mr. G. R. Banks: honorary secretary. Mr. N. T. White; honorary treasurer. Mr. E. Ellis.
Nlanchester: Chairman. Mr. C. E. Ogden; ricechairman. Mr. A. C. Bond; secretary. Mr. S. Smith; assistant secretary. Mr. S. Cumming. treasurer. Mrs. M. Warster.
Preston: Chairman. Mr. W. Lindley: vicechairman, Mr. J. Williams: treasurer, Mr. C Griffin; secretary. Mr. J. Williams.
Southampton: Chairman. Mr. F. P. Bishop; vice-chairman. Mr. H. W. Hoare; honorary secretary. Mr. A. G. Thyer: assistant honorary secretary. Mr H. Brown; honorary treasurer. Mr. J. R. Thomson.
ABNORMAL LOADS: INDECISION
THE Government have not yet reached a decision on abnormal loads. Lord Mancroft said in the House of Lords on Tuesday that they were still considering the replies to the proposals issued last November.