I see Dave. Coal is, I know, a very smoky fuel. We had our coal fire as children, and coke for the small boiler that heated the water. The chimney sweep was forever coming to ours to clear the soot. (Most exciting to watch for the brush coming out of the chimney pot!)

Funnily enough though, I can't remember any of my classmates having asthma or breathing problems as a child. Mind you, we were out of doors at all times except when we were in school, in bed or eating dinner. And there were far fewer additives in our food.

I wonder how much longer the human race has before we're extinct?
I reckon a vicious mutated virus will finish us all off one day!