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37
northeast is concerned it is separated from the Works by a small open
space (Bellingham Playpark) and a recreation ground. Bordering the
Works on the north is Selworthy Road and behind that Winsford Road
and other property.
Effects
The following must be considered :—
(1) Effects on the air.
(2) Effects on the river.
(3) Effects on riverside allotments and gardens.
(4) Effects on illhealth and deaths associated with fog.
(5) Effects on the incidence of lung cancer.
(6) Psychological effects on local residents and material effects
on their property, including the SE Children's hospital.
(1) Effects on the air
Points to note are (a) the high degree of pollution at the Pool
Allotments station (which is between a quarter and half mile from the
gasworks), (b) the preponderant amount of total water-insoluble deposit,
(c) the relatively small amount of sulphur (this is in line with the fact
that some sulphur is removed in gas production), (d) the increasing
amount of total pollution at Pool Allotments in the summer and autumn
of 1953.
A comparison with other pollution measuring stations in London
shows that the Pool Allotments pollution had been getting rapidy
worse both relatively and absolutely. Thus in May, 1953, of 28 stations
in London, Pool Allotments was the ninth highest but it did not show
more than double the pollution of any other station. In June, of the 30
stations then in London, Pool Allotments was the eleventh highest and
had more than double that of two of the London stations. In July,
when there were 29 stations, Pool Allotments was the sixth highest and
had more than double eleven of the other stations, while in August,
1953, of 38 stations then established in London, Pool Allotments was
the fifth highest of all these and had more than double the pollution
of 22 of them.
A comparison has also been made with other stations in Kent and
Surrey (since Pool Allotments is virtually on the London border of
Kent and near the London border of Surrey). In August, 1953 (the
last month for which figures were then available) there were 36 stations
in Kent and Surrey measuring atmospheric pollution. The average
water insoluble deposit for these 36 stations was 6.93 tons per square
mile while the Pool Allotments deposit was 17.70 tons per square mile.
Only two of the 36 stations were higher than Pool Allotments, and Pool
Allotments in fact had more than twice the amount of pollution of
29 of these 36 stations.
(2) Effects on the river
A recent set of analyses of river water indicated that during its
passage through the gasworks the suspended matter in the water is
increased from 6 to 16 parts per million and the biological oxygen