§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what air quality control requirements exist in the United Kingdom; and how these requirements relate to those of other countries.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIn the United Kingdom there is a very wide range of controls over industrial, domestic and vehicular emissions into the atmosphere. I will write to the hon. Member with details. Most other industrial countries have broadly similar measures.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what pollutants are released by nuclear power stations, oil-fired power stations and coal-fired power stations.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe principal discharge into the atmosphere from nuclear power stations is carbon dioxide, together with some radioactive contaminants, namely, tritiated water vapour, sulphur 35, argon 41 and small amounts of other radionuclides.
Discharges into the atmosphere from oil-fired power stations include carbon dioxide, water vapour, sulphur dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and trace elements.
The airborne effluents from coal-fired stations are similar to those released from oil-fired stations. The particulates emitted are mainly inert, but can contain trace quantities of a large number of elements present in the coal and do include radionuclides.
Liquid effluents containing some pollutants are also released from all three types of power station. In the case of nuclear power stations, these contain traces of radionuclides.