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ASBESTOS DUST
A complaint was received from the Archway and Tufnell Park Transport Action Committee, who
were disturbed by accumulations of dust and smell at these stations which might be caused by the asbestos
brake blocks of the trains on the route.
The Public Relations Officer of London Transport was contacted and it was ascertained that the
asbestos content of the brake blocks was only about 1%, but it was admitted that the smell at times was unpleasant.
The brake blocks in use on the Northern Line did in fact create rather more dust than on the
modern equipment fitted to new rolling stock on other lines. Research was being undertaken in conjunction
with the manufacturers to reduce the amount of dust through the use of a better type of brake block.
In addition, a tunnel cleaning machine was being designed which, when available, would extensively
reduce the amount of dust in the railway tunnels. New rolling stock was on order for the Northern Line
which will have electrical braking and any dust therefrom would be absolutely minimal and created only on
the final braking operation.
A sample of dust taken from the vicinity of the Archway Station and submitted to the Public
Analyst did not reveal the presence of asbestos fibres.
MEASUREMENT OF AIR POLLUTION
The measurement of smoke and sulphur dioxide proceeded at the department's three sites, with a
fourth being maintained by the Greater London Council at Hillside, St. Johns Way, N.19. A fifth site is
operated by St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical School in Charterhouse Square, E.C.1.
The average monthly pollution figures forthe whole Borough at the Council's three sites are shown in
the form of two blockgraphs, comparison being made with figures for 1970.
The unit employed for expressing both smoke and sulphur dioxide concentrations >s microgrammes
per cubic metre being the unit also adopted for international use by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development.
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