AIR POLLUTION

Illustration only (not Dubuque)

AIR POLLUTION. Federal involvement in confronting air pollution and its results began in 1955. In that year, Congress gave the Public Health Service authority to supply money and leadership to individual states, universities, and research groups. In the following three years, $8.5 million was spent in 32 research projects dealing with pollutants and their behaviors. There were 73 full-time air pollution control centers across the nation with most located in industrial states. There were also sixty part-time control agencies. The burden of the fight against air pollution, however, rested on the individual community. (1) In 1954 Mayor Clarence P. WELU issued a proclamation designating October 19-25th, 1958 as Cleaner Air Week. Welu stated that air pollution "of all forms is a menace to the health, cimfort, and economy of our fellow citizens. (2) In 1959 Mayor Charles KINTZINGER urged all citizens to follow efforts of committees to "save our city from property damage and loss due to air pollution." (3)

City officials joined the National Air Sampling Network on January 1, 1963. As a partner, the city sent air pollution data to federal laboratories. (4) Beginning in December, 1963 city employees began collecting data as a basis for a Dubuque ordinance designed to control air pollution. Sampling stations to detect solid particles of pollution were set up around the city. In May, 1966 a gas detection station was established at Ninth and Iowa STREETS. Equipment was later installed to trap particles that did not drop into sample jars. This new equipment drew air through filters trapping the particles. (5) Results of the tests, which provided no surprises, showed the amount of sulphur dioxide, a product of burning coal, was high in the downtown area. (6)

In 1963 Dr. Albert J. Entringer, the Dubuque director of health, stated his belief that air pollution could be a factor in some chronic disease cases here, but the situation was not considered acute. The Dubuque air condition had been brought before the city council in early December, 1962. A petition signed by 96 residents claimed relief from soot they believed damaged their homes. Gilbert D. CHAVENELLE, the city manager explained that air samples were being collected. In addition a study was being made as to how other cities were handling the matter. The closest law Dubuque had to pollution abatement dealt with leaf burning. The law stated that leaves could only be burned in a proper incinerator and at least fifty feet from the nearest frame building. A twice weekly trash and garbage pickup had nearly eliminated leaf burning. The cost of an effective control agency was expected to range from $6,000 to $36,000. (7)

Air pollution in Iowa in 1963 was a problem for individual communities according to Dr. Charles Campbell of the Iowa Division of Health. Federal activities on air pollution was limited to research, technical assistance and training. (8)

Dubuque industries by 1963 had taken steps to reduce their contribution to the problem. INTERSTATE POWER COMPANY had spent more than $100,000 over three years to reduce undesirable exhausts. DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY had installed equipment that burned the coal so that there was no soot or ash. The conversion from coal to gas or oil furnaces also helped. CARADCO utilized a cyclone separator to remove sawdust and fine wood particles from the air. Automobiles were blamed for producing 3.2 metric tons of carbon monoxide, 400-800 pounds of organic vapors, and between 100-300 pounds of nitrous oxides. New cars were equipped with devices to reduce these numbers. (9)

The cooperation of the city in the national research project and efforts of local industry did not sway the assessment of the city's air pollution. On November 10, 1966 news was released by the U. S. Health Department that Dubuque was one of the 26 worst cities in the nation in air pollution. Art Roth, Dubuque city chemist, was quick to point out that the sampling station used for the data was located in the center of the industrial area--a site recognized as the worst in the city. Other cities including Des Moines and Cedar Rapids were reported to have more than 100 micrograms of dirt per cubic meter of air. Dubuque had approximately 150 micrograms. (10)

The Dubuque ordinance was still in development in January, 1968. Analysis of the collected data indicated that the Fourth Street Extension station area had 76.3 tons of foreign matter per square mile; Flat Iron Park had 61.2 tons; and Maple Wood Court, a residential area, had a reading of 4.6 tons. The readings were found in the spring and fall. These were the seasons of highest pollution because of the differential between warm and cold air was higher. Layers of either warm or cold air trapped pollution. If pollutants become airborne, weather conditions play an important role in how much and how concentrated the pollutants would be. (11) This was shown in March, 1968 when Dubuque's air pollution rose due to the scrubbing action of rain and snow which trapped more pollutants otherwise suspended in the air. (12)

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Source:

1. Danzig, Fred, (United Press Staff), "What Comes Out the Chimney?" Telegraph-Herald, May 6, 1958, p. 2

2. "Columbus Day, Cleaner Air Week Proclaimed," Telegraph-Herald, September 21, 1958, p. 10

3. "Oct. 25-31 Proclaimed As Cleaner Air Week," Telegraph-Herald, September 14, 1959, p. 3

4. "Pick 8 Sites for Air Study," Telegraph-Herald, November 12, 1963, p. 4

5. Hooten, Leon, "Air Pollution Ordinance Shaping Up," Telegraph-Herald, January 5, 1968, p. 11

6. "Pollution Test No Surprise," Telegraph-Herald, November 17, 1964, p. 6

7. Thompson, Dave,"Trouble Brewing in Dubuque's Air," Telegraph-Herald, March 3, 1963, p. 11

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. "City's Air Pollution Rating Held Unfair," Telegraph-Herald, November 10, 1966, p. 1

11. Hooten

12. "Air Pollution," Telegraph-Herald, March 16, 1965, p. 3