Disinformation, propaganda and a case of misleading the public
The Grim Reaper
No. 5 in a never-ending series. Spring 1993
The Department of the Environment (DoE) has recently added Bristol to its list of air quality monitoring stations. The equipment continuously monitors nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone and sulphur dioxide (SO2) and feeds the readings back to the DoE which then publicises them through ceefax and a freephone hotline. Yes, you can phone 0800 556677 and listen to a recorded voice which tells you what Bristol's readings are in millithingumies per megablob, whether that's good or bad and how it compares with other cities.
Sounds good so far? Well, nothing the DoE does can be that good, and this is no different.
In the first two weeks after installation the recorded message gave readings for Bristol which despite being consistently worse that most other cities always fell into the good or very good categories, as defined by the DoE. This was very odd for two reasons, first, the weather was anticyclonic and still, just the sort of winter weather when you would expect high levels of urban pollution, especially NO2. Second, bulletins on local radio and TV usually described the NO2 air quality as at best, fair. Smell a rat?
I telephoned the DoE in Houlton Street, Bristol to ask
for more information on their pollution monitor. What pollution
monitor?
they asked, directing me to their pollution department in
Patchway. But they hadn't heard of it either. Next I phoned the City of
Bristol Environmental Health Department. They confirmed that the new pollution
monitor belonged to the DoE. Why did it give such glowing readings of
air quality?
I asked. Because it's well set back from any road,
in the middle of Broadmead. It only measures ambient air pollution you'd
experience walking along a pavement or cycling down a busy road
.
Oh, thank you very much DoE. It's really useful to know that if only I wasn't cycling or walking down the Wells Road, Bath Road, Gloucester Road, Hotwells Road or any road anywhere, the air quality would be, err, good. Oh, and just in case the DoE message should ever admit to poor air quality in Bristol, what does the recorded voice advise us to do if we're worried about the effects on our health? Leave our cars at home - go by bus - cycle? What daft ideas! In fact you are advised to stop exercising out of doors or consult your doctor. Of course.
The Grim Reaper
