London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Finsbury 1960

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

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A detailed analysis has been made of the daily smoke and sulphur
dioxide measurements in relation to the direction of the wind for each
month of the years 1956 and 1959 As no continuous records of the
strength and direction of wind were made, these being only recorded
once daily, the significance of any results would have to be received
with great caution. The analysis however, showed no significant
relationship and there is therefore no evidence that the air in
Finsbury is contaminated from any neighbouring district in particular,
Moreover it would appear that the site of the instruments has been
satisfactorily selected so as not to be affected by aerial effluents
from premises in the vicinity.
It may be noted that in 1959 the soluble deposits were considerably
higher than in 1955, and they were in fact higher than any other
previous years. This may have been due to local circumstances but no
definite explanation can be given at this stage.
A number of complaints of depositions of fine globules of oil
have been made particularly in the Eastern parts of the Borough, and
these call for further investigations which are being pursued
SMOKE EMISSION:
A number of observations have been made each year of the chimneys
in Industrial establishments -on 419 occasions in 1960, 119 complaints
of smoke (including 19 in 1960) have been investigated. Verbal
warnings have been given where appropriate and advice has been given
to managements and their staffs,, and on 14 occasions between 1957 and
1959 written notices have been issued when contraventions of the
regulations have been observed.
FURNACES:
46 formal notifications (including 22 in 1960) have been received
of intention to instal industrial furnaces since the coming into force
of the Clean Air Act, and prior approval was sought and given in one
case to a plan submitted in 1959.
SMOKE CONTROL AREAS:
In 1957 consideration was given to the establishment of a Smoke
Control area, and one of 62.6 acres abutting on the City Corporation
Smokeless Zone and extending northwards to Old Street was selected as
being the most suitable, A preliminary survey of the proposed area
was carried out which revealed that of 820 dwellings, 570 would require
conversion of their existing firegrates, Some 250 commercial,
industrial and other premises were also contained within the area,
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