London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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| Month 1961 | Days Exposed | North Kensington | South Kensington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30 | 3.11 | 3.50 | |
| February | 28 | 2.34 | 2.87 | |
| March | 28 | 2.65 | 3.29 | |
| April | 33 | 2.13 | 2.33 | |
| May | 31 | 1.20 | 1.39 | |
| June | 29 | 1.03 | 1.16 | |
| July | 32 | 0.86 | 1.02 | |
| August | 31 | 0.94 | 1.60 | |
| September | 31 | 1.64 | 1.97 | |
| October | 30 | 1.85 | 2.21 | |
| November | 30 | 3.06 | 3.58 | |
| December | 31 | 4.00 | 4.80 | |
| Average for year | 2.67 | 2.48 | ||
C. Readings taken from the two monthly stations in Kensington have been taken for eight years and the following table compares the annual results:-
| Year | No. of days exposed | Total weight of deposited matter in tons per square mile | Daily average of sulphur in milligrams of sulphur trioxide | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Kensington | South Kensington | North Kensington | South Kensington | ||
| 1954 | 364 | 2O5.11 | 181.47 | 2.15 | 2.57 |
| 1955 | 367 | 227.73 | 191.70 | 2.32 | 2.77 |
| 1956 | 365 | 207.82 | 191.75 | 2.56 | 2.81 |
| 1957 | 365 | 200.11 | 172.99 | 2.25 | 2.42 |
| 1958 | 365 | 197.09 | 180.84 | 2.36 | 2.69 |
| 1959 | 365 | 151.34 | 131.98 | 2.48 | 3.00 |
| 1960 | 367 | 127.67 | 128.92 | 2.15 | 2.52 |
| 1961 | 364 | *97.10 | 127.32 | 2.67 | 2.48 |
January 1961 readings not included in this figure as it was
found that the instrument had been disturbed.
General observations.
Whilst it is too early to assess whether the atmosphere in
Kensington is generally better as a result of the Council's efforts
in promoting smoke control areas, it is certainly gratifying to see
from the above figures that in the last seven years the measurement
of deposited matter in tons per square mile on a monthly average
basis has been reduced, in the case of North Kensington, from
18.98 to 8.83 and, in the case of South Kensington from 15.98 to
10.61. There are, of course, other factors to take into consideration
and it is unwise to express opinions on figures obtained locally in
comparatively small areas.