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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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C. Readings from the two monthly stations in Kensington have now extended over five years, and it is possible to compare the results.
| Year | No. ofdays exposed | Total weight of deposited matter in tons per square mile | Daily average of sulphur in milligrams of sulphur trioxide | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Kensington | South Kensington | North Kensington | South Kensington | ||
| 1954 | 364 | 205.11 | 181.47 | 2.15 | 2.57 |
| 1955 | 367 | 227.73 | 191.70 | 2.32 | 2.77 |
| 1956 | 365 | 207.82 | 191.75 | 2.56 | 2.81 |
| 1957 | 365 | 200.11 | 172.99 | 2.25 | 2.42 |
| 1958 | 365 | 197.09 | 18O.84 | 2.36 | 2.69 |
D. Measurement of smoke and sulphur by the volumetric method
| 1958 | Volumetric smoke Concentration of smoke in milligrams per cubic metreAverage daily values at :- | Volumetric sulphur Concentration of sulphur in parts per million volumes of airAverage daily values at:- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Department | No Kensington Public Library | South Kensington Welfare Centre | Public Health Department | |
| January | .196 | .343 | .252 | 13.3 |
| February | .133 | .258 | .194 | 10.8 |
| March | .108 | .232 | .204 | 12.3 |
| April | .091 | .202 | .l34 | 7.7 |
| May | .O65 | .181 | .l29 | 4.5 |
| June | .059 | .172 | .122 | 5.5 |
| July | .051 | .146 | - | 4.4 |
| August | .062 | - | .094 | 3.7 |
| September | .091 | - | .097 | 6.1 |
| October | .102 | - | .142 | 7.3 |
| November | .195 | - | .258 | 17.4 |
| December | .185 | - | .335 | 14.6 |
Note: July, South Kensington Welfare Centre - break down of
electric motor.
August-December, Public Library interruption due to
rebuilding operations.
General observations
The figures obtained in 1958 indicated that the atmospheric
pollution recorded throughout the year was very similar to the
results of preceding years. A slight increase is shown in the sulphur
readings but this is probably due to no more than a variation in
atmospheric conditions. Deposited matter continued to be greater in
North Kensington than in South Kensington. The South Kensington
sulphur content of the air has continued higher than the sulphur
content in North Kensington.
The Public Health Department have continued to co-operate
with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research throughout
the year and special action was taken in respect of periods when
persistent fog was announced. The results obtained from the daily
apparatus during these periods were immediately forwarded to the Fuel
Research Station for correlation with other results obtained elsewhere
in the London area.