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CLEAN AIR:
There has undoubtedly been a decrease in the degree of Atmospheric
Pollution in London over the past 20 or 30 years, but it remains a
contributory cause of much ill health, structural damage and drabness
in our surroundings. The condition of the air in Finsbury and its
further pollution from sources within the Borough is probably little
different from that in other parts of the Metropolis.
Air pollution from Industrial establishments is certainly lessened
as a result of improvements to boiler plants that have been carried out
by firms or from the result of pressure brought by officers of the
department. Atmospheric smoke however,has not decreased correspondingly,
and now probably represents a much greater proportion of the total
pollution than before. Much attention has been given to the problems
of the prevention of pollution especially since the end of 1956, when
the Clean Air Act came into force.
MEASURE OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION:
Since the middle of 1953 a station for measuring air pollution has
been operated in the Finsbury Health Centre in conjunction with the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and monthly determinations
of the soluble and insoluble deposits have been made, together
with the estimation of the sulphur dioxide content of the air by the
lead peroxide candle method. Since March 1955 daily measurements of
the smoke and sulphur dioxide by volumetric analysis have also been
made.
At the beginning of 1960 the monthly estimation of sulphur dioxide
by the first method were discontinued as it was found from experience
over three years that concordant results were arrived at by this, and
the volumetric methods. This is not necessarily the case in all areas
as each of the two methods also measures some other impurities. There
is considerable daily and seasonal variation due to the weather and no
doubt the amount of fuel consumed in the District, but there has been
little change in the general level of pollution.
SMOKE EMISSION:
The number of timed observations made during the year, of the
chimneys in Industrial establishments was 505 and 38 complaints of
smoke investigated. Verbal warnings have been given where appropriate
and advice has been offered to management and their staffs. On 2
occasions in 1962 written notices were issued when contraventions of
the Act or Regulations had been observed.
FURNACES:
Seventy-eight formal notifications (including 13 in 1962) have
been received of intention to instal industrial furnaces since the
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