Evening star., 1954-11-28
Flat Terrain, Little Smoke
Keep Smog From District

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working with q slim $4,000
appropriation to the Depart
ment Of Health, Education and
Walfare, are collecting air SAM
pies from 80 cities. In the
Robert A. Taft Sanitary En-
cheering Center at Cincinnati
Federal Public Health research
ers are analyzing the samples to
determine just what particles are
in the air that city dwellers
breathe.
The test air is sucked through
large filters by vacuum cleaner
like machine. The filters, with
their trapped particles, are care
fully packed and shipped to the
new $4.5 million Taft center at
least twice weekly. The col
lection and study will continue
for many months and may ulti-
mately include 40 cities, all
selected on the basis of geog-
raphy, industrial activity and the
incidence Of certain types Of
disease, among other factors.
Evaluate Data.
After determining the nature
of the particles that pollute the
air of given locales, the Public
Health scientists then will try
to devise practical techniques
for identifying the so-called
pollutants. Later all the data
gathered from the test cities will
be evaluated.
L. A. Chambers, research direc-
tor of the Taft center, calls the
project a roundup Of "prosaic
facts so we can determine how
to control air pollution"
Another HEW official in Wash
ington, however, said that the
ultimate hoped-for goal goes
further than the essential analy-
sis Of the air itself.
"This Is only a preliminary"
this official said. A long-term
medical survey Of a .sampling of
the populations of a representa-
tive group of cities is the real
need, he explained. The purpose
would be to learn the relation
ship, if any, between the Incl
dence Of, say, respiratory all
ments and deaths and the con-
centration and nature of air
pollution in particular sections.
"Who cares what's in the air
so long as it isn't harming any
one," he said by way of under
scoring the value Of medical re-
search related to air analyses.
The Public Health Service has
been hampered in Its air research
by a congressional reluctance to
provide funds. The appropria-
ton for the, air sampling at the ]
Taft center Is the first grant for
such research.
Kuchel Rider Defeated
Senator Kuchel, Republican,
who lives in suburb of Smog-
ridden Los Angeles, co-sponsored
an amendment to the Housing
Act of 1854 that would have or
dered HEW to institute sweep
ing research and control of air
pollution. The Housing Act
passed but without the air-pol-
luton provision.
The California lawmaker, act
ing again with the support of
another smog- conscious Senator,
Capehart, of Indiana, has every
intention of reintroducing air
pollution legislation of some sort
at the next session.
Having aroused the interest
Of the White House in the air
pollution problem across the
Nation. Senator Kuchel is meet
ing this week with top Federal
administrators here to discuss
possible interim steps that may
be taken, short of legislation.
The people of Los Angeles may
derive a smidgeon of consola-
tion from weather specialist
Wexler.
IF there was no temperature
inversion over that area there'd
be no smog," DR.. Wexler said.
But" he added, "the climate
would be as hot and arid as the
Mojave Desert just across the
mountains"