ABSTRACT
Atmospheric pollution from fires, both natural and deliberate, has existed for a long time, resulting in smoke and soot particulate. In rural areas, these fires generally occur at random, leading to temporary pollution episodes. In contrast, with the continual use of fossil fuels, urban areas have been subjected to concentrated levels of pollution. The growth of urban areas was mostly associated with industrialisation. Initially, when coal was used, these urban areas became severely polluted. The historical centres of many of these urban areas are composed of buildings of natural stone, mainly limestones and sandstones. Also, key buildings such as churches and municipal buildings were constructed of natural stone on the newfound wealth of the industrial areas. Unfortunately, both domestic and industrial use of coal led to severe atmospheric pollution, resulting in soiling and deterioration of the
Land Reconstruction and Management Vol. 3, 2004, pp 1-22 ISBN 1-57808-295-1 Science Publishers, Inc., Enfield, USA
natural stone. Although in the developing world problems with pollution from coal still exist, legislative, technical and economic changes have led to a reduction in atmospheric pollution from coal in the UK. Now, in these urban areas, smoke and particulate pollution are derived from transport, particularly combustion of diesel fuel. This chapter reviews the changes in urban atmospheric pollution in UK and the effects of both coal and diesel particulate matter on natural stone. Special reference is given to the Black County area of the West Midlands and research into the contrasts between coal and diesel particulate with respect to natural stone.
