Regarding the article and picture of Armidale's air quality comparing it to Hong Kong and Singapore (Armidale Express, Friday, August 10), has your reporter been there? Hardly a good comparison, that was early morning mist around the cathedral.
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Years ago when I got up very early, it is true that driving down from Soudan Heights, one noticed the white cloud or mist under which was a brownish layer. The hospital incinerator emits smoke too. The heavy fog or mists dispersed very quickly releasing the smoke layer.
I was working in London in the late ‘50s and the SMOGS there were responsible for thousands of deaths. Coal burning was stopped 1963, and yet Battersea power station only burned coke that is sulphur free They were selling smog masks, talk about Blade Runner the movie, yes, it was a reality then.
Despite all this, I congratulate the Greens researching the dangers associated with lead free petrol. Many of the MPNs (Myelopropherative Neoplasms, or blood cancers) and juvenile leukemia, have been linked to benzene (or derivatives) and radiation. I suspect like Juvenile onset diabetes, some are more vulnerable than others depending on genetic makeups, and nationality, or where we live.
Wood is very expensive, but so is electricity, and I am allergic to gas, and for elderly people carrying wood has caused bad backs. But if lead free petrol is causing problems, gee, what are we going to do go to electric cars, or Hybrids? Once you have a MPN, some are lethal, there are no cures.