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40
From Richmond to Woolwich, the bed of the river, particularly
near the centre, is said to be of comparatively hard material,
but seaward from Barking, there are large areas of fine black
mud, with patches of fine or medium sand sometimes mixed
with mud. One of the objects of the survey is to attempt to
correlate the nature of the bottom deposits with the movements
and character of the water above them.
Reference in the Report to large areas of fine black mud
seaward of Barking is highly significant, and it can be confirmed
locally that such expanses of mud are increasing in acreage.
Furthermore, it is known that this mud emits much potent
sulphuretted hydrogen gas.
D(10) Atmospheric Pollution
Dust emission—Thameside area
With a view to ascertaining whether the local plasterboard
(gypsum processing) factory was contributive to the serious
atmospheric pollution by cement dust in North West Kent,
and which was duly investigated by a County committee
appointed for that purpose, an intensive local survey was
conducted in June, when petrie dishes were disposed over a wide
area in the Borough. Chemical analysis of the dish contents
proved as follows :—

Percentage of sulphate on 12 combined deposits is
6.4% sulphate: equivalent 9.1% gypsum. The deposits show
no evidence of the presence of gypsum, the characteristic
ingredient of plaster board