London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bermondsey 1956
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1956
This page requires JavaScript
(55)
INVESTIGATION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
During the year the Council has continued the study of atmospheric
pollution in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research. The tables given below show the concentration of
smoke and sulphur-dioxide, as recorded at the Municipal Offices, and
the amount of deposited matter recorded by the deposit gauges at
Brunei Road, Rotherhithe, and the Public Health Centre, Grange Road.
Concentration of Smoke and Sulphur-Dioxide
| Month | Smoke Expressed in mgs. per cubic metre | Sulphur dioxide Expressed in parts per million | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Average | Highest Daily Average | Monthly Average | Highest Daily Average | |
| Jan. | .646 | 3.560 | .256 | 1.227 |
| Feb. | .332 | 1.284 | .177 | .489 |
| March | .188 | .412 | .142 | .321 |
| April | .201 | .661 | .126 | .246 |
| May | .096 | .186 | .076 | .170 |
| June | .124 | .183 | .054 | .138 |
| July | .116 | .183 | .043 | .111 |
| August | .117 | .189 | .050 | .130 |
| Sept. | .111 | .220 | .067 | .188 |
| October | .317 | .700 | .107 | .225 |
| Nov. | .329 | .889 | .142 | .316 |
| Dec. | .627 | 2.890 | .251 | 1.028 |