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27
A critical examination of the air in the City was commenced in the year 1914,
in conjunction with the Committee for the Investigation of Atmospheric Pollution,
appointed by the International Exhibition and Conference in London, 1912, and an
apparatus consisting of a large rain gauge is mounted upon the roof of one of the
Corporation's buildings in Golden Lane, and the rain-water from a known area of
surface is collected monthly. This rain-water, containing the soot, grit and dust
washed from the air, has been submitted for examination to the Public Analyst and
the results tabulated. For comparison the results obtained from similar observations
made at the Archbishop's Park, Lambeth, by the London County Council are added.
Summary of Monthly Observations and Reports during the Year 1920.
Month of the
Year 1920.
Place.
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Rainfall
in millimetres.
Metric tons of deposit per square kilometre during month.
Insoluble matter.
Soluble matter.
Total
solids.
Included in soluble matter.
Tar.
Carbonaceous
other
than tar.
Ash.
Loss
on
ignition.
Ash.
Sulphate
as
(SO3).
Chlorine
(CI).
Ammonia
(NH3).
January
City of London
49
0.06
2.18
3.52
0.98
3.33
10.07
1.51
0.73
0.08
Lambeth
60
0.09
2.27
2.79
0.72
3.78
9.65
1.44
0.70
0.06
February
City of London
*-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lambeth
16
0.09
0.98
1.29
4.10
1.93
8.39
0.99
0.29
0.05
March
City of London
33
0.07
3.30
5.15
0.79
2.75
12.05
1.06
0.81
0.14
Lambeth
31
0.12
3.36
4.82
1.56
3.50
13.35
1.66
0.42
0.10
April
City of London
69
0.02
2.81
3.98
0.83
3.86
11.50
1.21
0.57
0.11
Lambeth
67
0.15
1.96
2.32
1.94
4.52
10.89
2.47
0.75
0.15
May
City of London
12
0.02
2.15
3.29
0.79
1.83
8.08
0.51
0.41
0.10
Lambeth
13
0.16
2.79
4.88
1.20
2.29
11.32
0.77
0.67
0.35
June
City of London
40
0.04
2.82
3.66
1.61
2.73
10.86
0.70
1.65
0.22
Lambeth
33
0.11
2.87
6.84
2.18
3.38
15.38
0.32
1.66
0.06
July
City of London
79
0.04
3.51
4.30
1.26
4.73
13.83
1.41
2.07
0.22
Lambeth
88
0.18
3.46
4.98
0.93
3.37
12.92
1.23
1.80
0.11
August
City of London
44
0.01
1.84
2.51
1.05
2.27
7.79
0.57
1.02
0.09
Lambeth
46
0.12
1.34
1.62
1.19
1.21
5.48
0.51
0.79
0.04
September
City of London
65
0.08
4.53
4.43
2.32
6.97
18.33
3.04
2.60
0.34
Lambeth
83
0.36
5.48
12.55
1.66
3.06
23.11
1.36
1.20
0.12
October
City of London
31
0.09
3.07
4.24
1.14
3.68
12.22
1.56
0.73
0.13
Lambeth
26
0.09
9.23
1.42
1.38
3.28
15.40
1.55
0.72
0.12
November
City of London
25
0.09
2.63
3.74
1.29
3.69
11.44
1.66
0.70
0.18
Lambeth
23
0.12
1.97
3.26
2.32
4.07
11.74
2.22
0.69
0.13
December
City of London
50
0.09
3.54
1.84
2.19
4.78
14.78
2.10
1.17
0.24
Lambeth
49
0.77
3.57
4.06
2.41
3.53
14.74
2.53
0.80
0.17
* There were no returns during February, the standard gauge being under repair.
The foregoing table shows the rainfall for the months of January to December
of the year 1920, and the amounts found of insoluble matter, tar, soot and dust,
also the soluble matter, together with the sulphates, ammonia and chlorine in the
volume collected.
The results as given by the Public Analyst have been re-calculated into metric
tons per square kilometre during each month.
One metric ton per square kilometre is equivalent approximately to 9 lbs. per acre,
or 2.56 tons per square mile. Although the presence of much impurity in the
atmosphere has been long known the figures given represent a definite record of the
facts.