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
Bermondsey 1959
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1959
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CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
No smoke control orders became operative during the year.
There is at present a smoke control order in operation in respect of
the London Bridge area of the Borough. The Bermondsey (Tooley
Street No. 1) Smoke Control Order, 1959, was confirmed by the
Minister of Housing and Local Government on 30th October 1959
and becomes operative on Ist July 1960. This order establishes a
smoke control area adjacent to that already in operation. It is
planned to establish a new smoke control area each year until the
whole of the Borough is covered by such areas.
The following are particulars of legal proceedings taken under the Act:
| Date of Hearing | Offence | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 9.3.59. | Emission of smoke from chimney of a building within a Smoke Control Area. | Absolute discharge and order for £5 5s. 0d. costs. |
| 26.3.59. | Emission of dark smoke from factory chimney. | Fine of £5 and order for £3 3s. 0d. costs. |
| 29.7.59. | Emission of dark smoke from factory chimney. | Absolute discharge and order for £5 5s. 0d. costs. |
INVESTIGATION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
During the year the study of atmospheric pollution has been
continued in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research. The following tables show the concentration
of smoke and sulphur-dioxide, as recorded at the Municipal Offices,
and the amount of deposited matter recorded by the deposit gauges
at Brunei Road, Rotherhithe, and the Public Health Centre, Grange
Road.
Concentration of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide
| Month | Smoke expressed in mgs. per 100 cubic metres | Sulphur dioxide expressed in parts per 100 million | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Average | Highest Daily Average | Monthly Average | Highest Daily Average | |
| January | 49 | 172 | 24.7 | 63.5 |
| February | 38 | 175 | 21.8 | 82.0 |
| March | 17 | 46 | 12.1 | 28.7 |
| April | 9 | 17 | 12.0 | 22.0 |
| May | 9 | 19 | 9.0 | 28.7 |
| June | 5 | 17 | 7.9 | 16.0 |
| July | 2 | 5 | 5.6 | 12.5 |
| August | 2 | 5 | 4.8 | 12.8 |
| September | 5 | 19 | 6.1 | 54.5 |
| October | 7 | 18 | 8.8 | 17.5 |
| November | 46 | 146 | 11.9 | 35.0 |
| December | 33 | 104 | 10.0 | 34.7 |
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