View report page

(40)
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The disastrous consequences attributed to the 1952 Lord on "Smog"
focussed public attention very definitely on the importance of
atmospheric pollution in relation to health. This was referred to in
my Annual Report for 1952. At the time of writing the Beaver Committee
set up by the Government is engaged in interviewing interested public
bodies, and the Committee's final report is eagerly awaited. An interim
report has already been published making a number of practical suggestions
with a view to bringing about a reduction in atmospheric pollution.
In this Borough the presence of grit particles in the atmosphere
- in various areas of the Borough - is a problem which has been recurring
with regularity. It occurs during the early months of the year
when the prevalent winds are N.N.E. and E. Thereafter, the wind
direction changes to S.W. and S.S.W. During the prolonged spell of dry
weather which occurred at the beginning of 1953, particularly in February
and March, a serious nuisance from dust and grit was encountered.
The nuisance was especially bad in the Sands End area which is situated
in a loop of the River Thames and is also fringed by many heavy
industries in Wandsworth, Battersea and Chelsea. Complaints were
received from large numbers of residents and the phrase "black snow"
was coined to describe the deposit which literally covered everything.
Owing to its situation in the loop of the river this area is especially
subject to wind currents and eddies. So far as I have been able to
ascertain there are no records of the rate of velocity of these particular
currents, but anemometer readings taken at various sites in
this area, at a height of 8 feet, indicate that turbulence does occur
in this loop of the river, in contrast to the more settled winds at
higher levels as observed by the behaviour of smoke issuing from high
chimney stacks. (See frontispiece).
In common with other Metropolitan Boroughs this Council decided to
3et up an Atmospheric Pollution Station, as mentioned in my last report,
which would give the position in Fulham with an overall picture of it
in greater London and link it up with far-reaching outside areas and
districts. Later the Council decided it would be valuable to have
definite information about the position in the Borough itself, and a
second station was established.
The problem of atmospheric pollution generally is both vast and
complicated. There are no easy solutions. In Fulham alone 1½ million
tons of coal annually for industrial purposes and just under 60,000
tons annually for domestic fires are used.
Whilst industrial and residential premises are in such close
proximity, pollution of greater or lesser degree is inevitable.