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
Orpington 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
This page requires JavaScript
30
In all cases where infectious diseases are notified at an outworker's
home, immediate steps are taken to ensure that there is no risk of
infection being conveyed by the articles made at such premises.
Smoke Abatement.
Seventy-two observations were made by the Sanitary Inspectors
during the year. In one or two cases where the emission of smoke was
thought to be excessive, without actually exceeding the limits prescribed
in the smoke byelaw, an improvement was obtained with the cooperation
of the factory management.
There was no drastic alteration in the amount of grit emission
during the year as determined by the Council's gauge. The comparative
figures are shown below in the equivalent of tons per square mile:
1951 .. 14.09 1952 .. 14.76
1953 .. 12.21 1954 .. 13.19
From statistics supplied by the Fuel Research Station comparisons have been made with other areas as follow: —
(1) three towns of comparable size and distance from London.
(2) one of the London boroughs and (3) a typically rural area.
| Place. | Fluctuations of Sulphur | Dioxide Distribution. |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (Apl./Sept.). | Winter. | |
| Orpington | 0.32 to 1.12 | 0.55 to 1.65 |
| Town "A" (Surrey) | 0.27 to 1.59 | 0.74 to 2.52 |
| Town "B" (Middlesex . | 0.31 to 0.89 | 0.94 to 1.77 |
| Town "C" (Essex) | 0.69 to 1.25 | 1.42 to 2.53 |
| London Borough | 2.42 to 5.94 | 3.44 to 9.01 |
| Rural Area | 0.25 to 0.4 | 0. 4 to 0.75 |
Note.—Each unit is 1 milligram of sulphur trioxide recorded per
day.
This table shows a very marked difference between the summer
and winter analyses in each case and indicates without doubt the contribution
that domestic chimneys make to the pollution of the atmosphere.
Orpington compares favourably with the three other towns
on the perimeter of London.
The Council is still represented on the London and Home Counties
Smoke Abatement Advisory Council and the Standing Conference of