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
Hampstead 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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SULPHUR
The estimation of sulphur activity is carried out by the lead peroxide method and the following table gives the rate of sulphation expressed in milligrams of sulphur trioxide per 100 sq.cms. per day.
| Month. | Sulphur Trioxide in milligrams per 100 sq. cms. per day. | |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow Hill. | Cemetery. | |
| January | 1.63 | 1.23 |
| February | 1.825 | 1.387 |
| March | 1.720 | 1.344 |
| April | 1.91 | 1.56 |
| May | 1.498 | 0.573 |
| June | 1.390 | 1.318 |
| July | 0.926 | 0.409 |
| August | 0.734 | 0.393 |
| September | 1.12 | O.58 |
| October | 1.169 | 0.576 |
| November | 1.579 | 0.677 |
| December | 1.072 | 1.239 |
The following Figures indicate relative weights of
soot, ash, etc. deposited per square mile in Hampstead as
compared with the worst and the best in the London Boroughs,
(Figure I), and Figure II makes the same comparison in the
relative activity of sulphur compounds in the atmosphere.
It will be seen that for a London Borough, Hampstead
maintains a generally low level of atmospheric pollution,
and as would be anticipated compares with the lowest readings
in the London area.
The power demands of industry remain virtually
constant throughout the year so that the drop in the general
level of air pollution during the summer months would appear
to be accounted for largely by the non-use of domestic
fireplaces and the falling off in domestic demand on power
stations and gas works.