View report page

FACTORIES
Provision is made in Section 153 of the Factories Act 1961 for the Medical
Officer ofHea]th to include in his annua] report prescribed particuiars withrespect to
matters under the ^ct administered by the Council. These details are given on pages
93 and 94.
Certificates of suitability under Section 70 of the fret continue in force in
respect of 2 basement bakehouses in the borough.
LEAD POLLUTION
In July 1968 complaint was made of the scorching of foliage in the Isle of
Dogs. This was found not to be due to pollution but to idiosyncrasies of the weather.
However, during the investigation lead was found on the surface of the leaves, and a
survey was mounted to ascertain the levels of lead inthe air and deposited atcertfiin
fixed points. The preliminary findings of the amount of lead in the air did not
indicate dangerous levels of pollution. The survey showed a pattern of raised lead
deposits along the main road which suggested that 1 ead-coiitaining dust was ibeing
deposited on the roadway by vehic1es bringing waste material into a large Lead Works,
plus the transport of lead-containing dust on the workers' feet. Subsequently, an
epidemiological study was commenced on children and their mothers.
All the children under 5, of whom there are 157, within a 500 metre radius of
the Lead Works had their blood leads compared with their mothers. Several children
were found to have higher than normal blood leads, occurring inchildren whose parents
actually worked inthe Lead Works, or who lived adjacent to a battery dump. Monitoring
of these children continues.
The management of the Lead Woriks took immediate steps to deal with problems
shown to exist. The battery breaking machinery has been dismantled and the dump
cleared. A concrete perimeter fencehasalso been erected to prevent access ofchi1dren
and animals, and to minimise wind blown dust from the site.
The Secretary of gtate for the Environment subsequently commissioned a survey
designed to show the extent of lead pollution around all lead works which use
particularly dusty processes and therefore most likely to cause pollution problems.
HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS
Premises registered with the Council in accordance with Section 21 of theGreater
London (General Powers) Act, 1967 numbered 167 at the end of the year.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
A summary of 1egal proceedings instituted during the year under various Acts and
Regulations following ascertainment of contraventions by the public health inspectors
-49-