Scientific Figures and Confrontation in Environmental Politics: Smoke Abatement Technology Adopted by a London Water Company in the Early Nineteenth Century.

Abstract

This paper examines how scientific figures got involved in the confrontation observed in environmental politics. Researchers in environmental history showed that authorities and industries sometimes manipulate figures in order to deny the existence of, or their responsibility for pollution and environmental problems. This paper argues that manipulation of figures is not only the problem for polluters but also for the side against polluters such as environmental campaigners. It focuses on the ways in which smoke abatement technology was evaluated in early-nineteenth century England. Smoke abatement technology was the key in promoting smoke abatement, but it sometimes did not work as well as planned. This case study shows how figures taken from one experiment were used as evidence by both polluting industry and a promoter of smoke abatement technology in order to support their respective claims. It is concluded that scientific figures did not necessarily settle their difference. Scientific figures could rather deepen the confrontation.