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
Chelsea 1953
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1953
This page requires JavaScript
- 16 -
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The many and varied problems arising from atmospheric pollution have
at all times received the closest possible attention of the Borough Council
and its officers.
During the period 5th to 8th December, 1952, a very persistent and
dense fog occurred. In the first instance it consisted mainly of smoke,
but on the latter three days it developed into a very thick water fog
which spread well outside the metropolitan area. Greatly increased
mortality from certain causes resulted, as evidenced by the following table:—
| Week ended1952 | London Administrative Country | |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths from: | ||
| Bronchitis andPneumonia | Diseases of the Heart and Circulatory System | |
| November 1st | 67 (66) | 223 (248) |
| 8th | 74 (76) | 226 (265) |
| 15th | 74 (71 | 247 (262) |
| 22nd | 77 (75) | 264 (240) |
| 29th | 101 (81) | 312 (262) |
| December 6th | 121 (86) | 318 (236) |
| 13th | 872(71) | 801 (231) |
| 20th | 521 (75) | 457 (229) |
| 27th | 275 (77) | 325 (227) |
NOTE: The figures in parentheses represent deaths
which occurred at corresponding periods
during 1953.
Without doubt the steady improvements which are resulting from action
taken by constituent authorities have been accepted in a co-operative
spirit by industrialists and others, and merit some satisfaction.
Nevertheless, a considerable contribution to the pollution of the atmosphere
is made by the householder who is not as yet prepared to accept other forms
of heating as a satisfactory substitute for the open hearth. The melancholy
fact that during the week ending 13th December, 1952, 1,673 deaths occurred
from causes as set out above, as compared with 302 deaths in a comparable
period In 1953, must surely serve to quicken the pulse of public interest
in the responsibilities of citizenship.
The officers of local authorities are constantly carrying out
observations and investigations, and when the existence of nuisances has
been substantiated, advice and suggestions to those operating industrial
plant sire proffered, and these, in the great majority of cases, have been
well received.