In 1952 The Great Smog of London killed directly a great number of people varying between 4 and 12 thousand people by exacerbating existing lung diseases such as bronchitis and breathing disorders like asthma. It also killed indirectly by causing many rail, road, and pedestrian accidents created by the impenetrable gloom of the smog. Clothes were stained by the soot and generally discoloured by the sulphurous gases. Because of this tragedy the Clean Air Act 1956 was passed to attempt to solve this problem. One of the results of this act was the development of smokeless fuels, which were designed specifically to aid the environment by reducing the amount of smoke produced, as well as removing some impurities such as sulphur in the coal. Such manufactured fuels also burnt at a higher temperature and so made for a better and more efficient fuel for open fires as well as stoves.