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
Southwark 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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17
SMOKE ABATEMENT
The figures of deposited matter in the vicinity of the
Bankside area were again very high and, as in previous years,
the main source of pollution was due to grit emitted from the
chimneys of the Bankside Electricity Station where 12 of
the solid fuel furnaces are not fitted with grit arrestors.
There have been interviews and correspondence with the
British Electricity Authority who stated that the cost of
fitting grit arrestors would not be justified. They explained
that on completion of the new Electricity Station, now in
course of erection, the existing station would cease to operate.
The Council approached the Director of the Fuel Research
Station to investigate and advise whether any positive steps
short of large scale structural alterations to reduce atmospheric
pollution could be taken. In reply he stated that his Department
had for some time been working in close co-operation
with the British Electricity Authority and he added that
without the installation of grit arresting plant of recognised
design, which is costly, he knew of no inexpensive method for
avoiding the emission of grit and dust. The Director is
going into the matter more closely and his observations are
awaited.
The figures of the deposited matter as recorded on the sites in Walworth Road and Bankside are as follows:—
| 1951 | Walworth Road | Bankside | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.6 | 172.7 | tons per sq. mile |
| February | 28.8 | 107.0 | „ „ „ „ |
| March | 26.1 | 103.6 | „ „ „ „ |
| April | 20.7 | 79.3 | „ „ „ „ |
| May | 20.5 | 28.2 | „ „ „ „ |
| June | 15.2 | 45.8 | „ „ „ „ |
| July | 14.8 | 80.3 | „ „ „ „ |
| August | 15.3 | 94.1 | „ „ „ „ |
| September | 18.5 | 60.3 | „ „ „ „ |
| October | 27.5 | 44.1 | „ „ „ „ |
| November | 22.6 | 138.4 | „ „ „ „ |
| December | 21.6 | 134.2 | „ „ „ „ |
During the year 16 complaints were received regarding
smoke emissions in the Borough, and 96 observations were
made by the Inspector.