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(42)
MEASUREMENT AND RECORDING OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
It was reported to the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee
in December, that the London and Home Counties Smoke Abatement Society had
suggested that constituent Councils might agree to undertake to an increased
extent the work of measurement, recording, etc, of atmospheric pollution.
As a result of discussions with the Department of Industrial and
Scientific Research, the conclusion had been reached that to do the work
adequately would involve the setting up of additional stations in the
London area. The Department had much detailed information and suggested
that if the Standing Joint Committee agreed in principle to recommend the
work to the constituent Councils the Department would be pleased to give
advice to individual Councils in the light of their special circumstances.
The Standing Joint Committee were advised that the minimum needs for a
useful study in the metropolitan area would be 70 measuring and recording
stations, that 22 stations were already in use or arranged by the Fuel
Research Society, the London County Council or the borough council in 14
boroughs, and that a further 56 stations would be required. The apparatus
required is a deposit gauge (similar to a rain gauge for recording pollution
by ash or grit) and a lead peroxide instrument for recording the
activity of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere in attacking the fabric of
buildings (this consists of porcelain cylinders coated with lead peroxide
upon which the sulphur dioxide acts). The Standing Joint Committee drew
the attention of constituent Councils specially to this matter and invited
them (except in the case of Southwark and Stoke Newington Borough Councils,
the Westminster City Council and the Corporation of London, in whose areas
additional stations were not required) to take such action as they might
feel able to provide the necessary stations.
Two Atmospheric Pollution Stations were suggested for Fulham and at
the time of writing the Council has concurred with this suggestion.
RAG FLOCK AND OTHER FILLING MATERIALS
During 1952, the following samples of filling materials were
purchased by the Sampling Officer and submitted to John Hudson, M.A.,
F.C.S., M.S.Ch.I., of High Wycombe, one of the Prescribed Analysts for
the purpose of the Acts:-
Rag Flock 5
Hair 1
Coir Fibre 1
Woollen mixture
Felt 1