ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION 
known past meteorological conditions. By this pro- 
cedure the forecaster is able to determine whether or 
not there is any likelihood that continued operation of 
the reactor would result in a radiation dosage higher 
than that specified as the maximum operating level. 
1151 
increasing production costs; or by the construction of 
auxiliary plants for the recovery and processing of 
commercially valuable materials now in the effluents, 
to which plants varying amounts of the effluent could 
be diverted in accordance with prevailing meteorological 
: TYPE “A = 
: ee AUGUST 1948 == 
E.S.1 
wou 
VRE = 
22 AUGUST 1948 = 
1300 - 
(S00 E.S.T. 
0600 0500 
0400 
ee ae 
Fic. 5.—Four types of gustiness shown by the variability of wind direction as indicated by a wind vane at top of experimental 
stack at Brookhaven, according to Smith. A—great instability; B—moderate instability; C—moderate stability; and D— 
great stability. 
In the report on the Donora investigations [99], it 
is recommended that production in local and nearby 
industrial plants be curtailed when stagnant atmos- 
pheric conditions develop in the valley. Such conditions 
are to be anticipated when an extensive, slowly moving 
anticyclone approaches the eastern United States and 
gives indications of stagnating; and when, in addition, 
the stability of the air in the valley exceeds a specified 
value, valley and upper winds are light and less than 
specified values, and moderate to dense fog in the valley 
continues for some time past noon. 
The examples given above are sufficient to indicate 
the possibilities of forecasting future diffusion condi- 
tions. Such meteorological control as outlined above 
requires flexibility of plant operations. The requisite 
flexibility might be attained in several ways: by modi- 
fying plant processes so as to permit some variation of 
the rate of emission of contaminants but without unduly 
conditions. It is probable that the cost of such a pro- 
gram applied to existing plants would in most cases be 
prohibitively high, but if the possibilities of meteoro- 
logical control were seriously considered in the design 
of new plants and in the extensive modernization of 
older ones, a gradual amelioration of atmospheric pollu- 
tion would be achieved over a period of years. 
In urban areas the pollution by domestic heating 
units presents a serious problem. A wider use of central 
heating plants in new housing developments would be 
helpful. Such plants, with high stacks and a design 
which permits some degree of meteorological control, 
would reduce pollution. Such possibilities, and those of 
industrial control, should receive serious consideration 
by city planning commissions. 
Although the alternative of removal of contaminants 
at the source has many attractive features, the problem 
of the disposal of such colJected wastes may well become 
