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29
The equipment at the Public Health Department consists of a
smoke filter and a hydrogen peroxide bubbling apparatus. The smoke
filter measures the daily concentration of smoke suspended in the
atmosphere, and the hydrogen peroxide bubbler extracts the sulphur
dioxide content of the atmosphere. Readings sire taken each day. The
equipment at the Public Library and the Welfare Centre consists of smoke
filters only. Measurements are taken three times a week. With the use
of a Reflectometer,daily and monthly averages are calculated from the
results.
The work undertaken in Kensington is a small part of that
taking place throughout the country, and all results are forwarded to
the Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research for correlation with results obtained in all other districts.
The following table gives the results of the measurements
taken by the apparatus at the Public Health Department for the twelve
months ended November, 1963 (which is the latest information from the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research).
Month
Average daily
concentration of
Smoke in microgrammes
per cubic
metre of air
Average daily
concentration of
Sulphur Dioxide
in microgrammes
per cubic metre
of air.
1962
December 159 745
1963
January 193 463
February 178 431
March 60 235
April 66 257
May 44 177
June 35 111
July 33 132
August 43 171
September 59 247
October 84 257
November 85 259
Emission of smoke in the London area has decreased by about
60 per cent in the last ten years, according to estimates by Warren
Spring Laboratory, DSIR.* This is considered to be due mainly to the
decrease in domestic smoke pollution.
On the other hand, increasing use of fuel oil by industry
and of coal and fuel oil by power stations has brought an estimated
increase of 32 per cent in sulphur dioxide emissions. Estimates for
the whole country are 35 per cent less smoke emission and 23 per cent
more sulphur dioxide in the last ten years.
NOISE ABATEMENT ACT. 1960
This Act came into operation on 27th November, 1960. Under
Section 1 any noise or vibration which would amount, to a nuisance at
common law is deemed to be a statutory nuisance which can be dealt
with according to the procedure provided in Part III of the Public
Health Act, 1936.
*Warren Spring Laboratory Annual Report 1963.