My mom remembers from living in Surrey in the 60s and 70s, and going into London. I remember blowing my nose and seeing black dirt in the Kleenex during a trip back to see family in London in 1987. I don’t remember that when I was there in 95?
It's not bad news, exactly, but I don't think the UK should get credit for exporting its dirty manufacturing jobs? We import a lot of coal, via the goods it was used to make.
Which is a bit depressing when you consider that concerned public health doctors had set up a Coal Smoke Abatement Society in 1898 - how long these things take to get something done. (By the 50s traffic fumes also in the mix.) Clean Air Act 1956 introduced as Private Member's Bill.
