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

Kensington 1956

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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- 19 -
Although the results show an increase in measured atmospheric
pollution compared with 1954, the increase might not be entirely due to
an increase in the emission of pollutants, but might quite easily
reflect different atmospheric conditions causing pollution to be deposited,
e.g. different wind conditions. It should be borne in mind that some
of the pollution being measured in Kensington must have its origin outside
the borough boundary.

Table: Measurement of smoke and sulphur by the volumetric method Volumetric smoke Concentration of smoke in milligrams per cubic metre

Measurement of smoke and sulphur by the volumetric method Volumetric smoke Concentration of smoke in milligrams per cubic metre

Readings at Public Health DepartmentReadings at Public Library
Month 1956Highest valueLowest valueAverage valueHighest valueLowest valueAverage value
January1.627.154.4081.032.259.427
February.678.165.245.592.246.373
March.330.083.092.448.219.321
April.290.048.137.409.165.286
May.192.024.069.165.041.081
June.096.024.045.115.058.083
July.124.021.059.154.077.093
August.145.048.069.175.082.118
September.145.024.077.164.082.120
October.253.048.119.434.082.191
November.246.048.112.467.127.234
December1.168.072.279.434.083.260

Table: Volumetric sulphur Concentration of sulphur in parts per million volumes of air

Volumetric sulphur Concentration of sulphur in parts per million volumes of air

Month 1956
Readings at Public Health Department only
Highest valueLowest valueAverage value
January.848.063.204
February.362.054.153
March.308.072.155
April.295.058.125
May.108.020.056
June.068.021.038
July.068.023.042
August.074.021.036
September.137.026.061
October.250.037.097
November.263.044.133
December.562.041.158

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Notes
(a) On the 7th January and the 19th December, 1956,
warnings of persistent fog were issued. Special
readings for smoke and sulphur were made at two-hourly
intervals throughout each day at the Public Health
Department station, and the results obtained were
supplied to the Fuel Research Station for correlation
with other results obtained elsewhere in the London area.