The Avonmouth Monster

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Cloud rising from Avonmouth, Bristol's industrial suburb and docks. Taken from Pur Down on the way home. I reduced the blues to bring out the greens and make it more sinister. There is a "North Bristol Syndrome" downwind of Avonmouth (which has a smelting works, power station, gas works and various chemical works) -- an abnormally high incidence of birth defects; developmental and learning problems; ear and chest infections; and some cancers. Of course, these diseases do not only correlate with position relative to Avonmouth, but also with incidence of poverty, so it's not and entirely simple case of cause and effect. Similar situations occur downwind of Port Talbot in Swansea, Fawley in Southampton, and no doubt every city in the world.