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
Islington 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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46
Recording of Atmospheric Pollution
The recording of atmosphericppllution is carried out at two stations within the
Borough viz, at the Town Hall and at the Treatment Centre, Seven Sisters Road The
concentrations of sulphur dioxide and smoke in the atmosphere are recorded daily and
the findings are sent to the Warren Springs Laboratory for collation and comparison
with other Metropolitan areas in order that an overall picture may be obtained for the
whole of London,
An automatic sequential smoke sampler has been installed at the Town Hall by
means of which smoke recordings can be taken for one, three or twenty-four hours
respectively. This instrument is used in conjunction with D, S.LR and by its use the
periods during which smdte is at its greatest during the day or night can be
ascertained.
A. summary of the recordings from the Borough Cbuncil sites is set out in the following tables:-
Monthly Deposits recorded by the Deposit Gauges and Sulphur-Dioxide by the Lead-Peroxide Method
| Month | Si te No. | Rainfall in inches | (Tons per square mile) | Mg, of S03/ day collected by 100 sq.cm, of Batch. A lead peroxide (Louvered Box) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insoluble Deposit | Soluble Deposit | Total Solids | ||||
| January | 1 | 1.58 | 6.19 | 8.58 | 14.77 | 3.11 |
| ” | 2 | 1.46 | 10.54 | 7.99 | 18.53 | 5.16 |
| February | 1 | 0.59 | 10.30 | 9.01 | 19.31 | 2.97 |
| ” | 2 | 0. 32 | 15.84 | 6.44 | 22.28 | 4.55 |
| March | 1 | 2.66 | 31.39 | 9,31 | 40.70 | 2.03 |
| ” | 2 | 1.50 | 15.50 | 3.89 | 19.39 | 4.07 |
| April | 1 | 2.12 | 15.14 | 9.60 | 24.74 | 1. 36 |
| ” | 2 | 1.79 | 22.08 | 9.43 | 31.51 | 2.72 |
| May | 1 | 1.85 | 12.45 | 7.49 | 19.94 | 0.55 |
| ” | 2 | 1.81 | 8.32 | 3.96 | 12.28 | 1.82 |
| June | 1 | 2.40 | 14.21 | 4.67 | 18.88 | 0.48 |
| ” | 2 | 2.21 | 12.48 | 3.99 | 16.47 | 0.93 |
| July | 1 | 1.22 | 9.18 | 6.62 | 15.80 | 0.60 |
| ” | 2 | 0.95 | 7.35 | 3.15 | 10.50 | 1.22 |
| August | 1 | 3.90 | 8,31 | 13.84 | 22.15 | 0.60 |
| ” | 2 | 3.07 | 11.01 | 7.32 | 18.33 | 1.13 |
| September | 1 | 1.69 | 7.85 | 7.88 | 15.73 | 0.72 |
| ” | 2 | 1.42 | 5.70 | 6.68 | 12. 38 | 1.68 |
| October | 1 | 1.54 | 9.94 | 3.77 | 13.71 | 1. 42 |
| ” | 2 | 1.42 | 12.08 | 6.18 | 18.26 | 2.42 |
| November | 1 | 4,57 | 8.61 | 3.97 | 12.58 | 1.86 |
| ” | 2 | 4. 22 | 11.78 | 10.74 | 22.52 | 4.0 |
| December | 1 | 0.71 | 7.12 | 2.55 | 9.67 | 2.06 |
| ” | 2 | 0.63 | 9,8? | 3.76 | 13.63 | 4.36 |
These sites are situated at the following places in the Borough;-
1, Town Hall roof
2. Treatment Centre, at seven Sisters Road