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NUCLEAR RADIATION
It is now known that since the dawn of time, human beings have been subject
to nuclear radiation from background sources of varying intensities depending
on the nature of the ground on which there is habitation and on the height of
dwellings above the level of the sea, but with the discovery of methods of harnessing
nuclear energy this has become a public health problem which gradually
increases.
Dangerous contamination can be caused to an individual who must come in
contact with sources of nuclear radiation or drinking water may become contaminated
by the emission of effluents from nuclear power stations or research
stations into the source of supply of the drinking water , or the air can become
contaminated from nuclear station accidents or from nuclear fall-out.
The measurement of nuclear contamination is a very complicated process and
is maintained by the Central Authority but it has come to be realised that the
public health problem is a constant concern of the Local Authority, and so in
1960, the Radioactive Substances Act was passed whereby establishments, industrial
or other, using any form or radioactive element or machine would have to
be registered with the Central Authority who would thereupon inform the Local
Authority of the district in which the establishment was sited.
In addition, for several years now the Metropolitan Water Board has supplied
with its monthly report on the physical, chemical and bacteriological state of
the river water which is the source of London s drinking supply, a report of
the findings of analysis of the radioactive content also.
Special tests are taken at the effluent areas from the three nuclear esta
blishments discharging into the upper reaches of the River Thames.
FLOODING IN THE DISTRICT
On the 8th August, 1960 as a result of heavy and continuous rainfall,
flooding occurred in several areas of Brentford and Chiswick because of the
freak nature of one very heavy storm Water entered into a considerable number
of premises and in these the Fire Brigade and Salvage Departments had much work
to do pumping out waters and removing damaged articles. Assistance was forthcoming
to the affected occupiers of the properties from many sources.
The Public Health Inspectors visited 75 premises to ascertain whether
public health nuisance was being caused.
In one premises, stored food was contaminated by flood waters and had to
be destroyed, while in certain basement premises backflow from over charged
sewers was a most disturbing feature of the incident, but no damage to health
is known to have occurred.
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