London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
2
of carbon dioxide in 10,000 volumes of the air, or about four times the quantity found in the fresh air
outside the station.
On May 16th and 30th, and again on October 24th, two samples of air were collected, one just
before the traffic was stopped at midnight and the other early in the morning, after the tube had been
ventilated by the passage of air and before the morning traffic had commenced.
The following results were obtained on the examination of these samples—
| Date. | Place of collection. | Time. | Carbon dioxide in volumes per 10,000 volumes of air. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16th | Tottenham-court-road station | 12.10 midnight | 8.6 |
| do. | 5.0 a.m. | 6.8 | |
| May 30th | Chancery-lane station | 12.5 midnight | 7.4 |
| do. | 4.30 a.m. | 4.5 | |
| Oct. 24th | Oxford-circus station | 12.10 midnight | 10.3 |
| do. | 4.35 a.m. | 4.4 |
The results obtained from the samples collected in the early morning show that the ventilation
on May 16th was not satisfactory, but that on May 30th and on October 24th a very fair condition of
the air in the tube was produced by the ventilation, although the condition of the air was still somewhat
inferior to that of the outer air.
The results of both the chemical and the bacteriological examination, which extended over a
considerable period of time, has supplied information not hitherto obtained. It is undoubtedly
desirable that an investigation of this character should be extended to other underground railways and
that a further examination of the air of the Central London Railway should be carried out when the
promised improvement in the system of ventilation has been made.
Conclusions.
It will be noticed that about 22 per cent, of the samples collected contained less than twice as
much carbon dioxide as that found in outside air, and that 34 per cent, contained less than two and a
half times as much. These results were obtained under the present system of ventilation. But it is
certainly desirable to adopt a system which gives more uniformly satisfactory results.
I am of opinion that samples of air taken at any point on the railway should not contain more
than 8 volumes of carbon dioxide in 10,000 volumes of the air, that is, not more than twice the
amount which is generally found in the air in the streets.
This standard of purity is suggested in view of the fact that all the additional carbon dioxide
found in the air of the tunnel has been produced by respiration, and is, therefore, of a more objectionable
character than that produced by the combustion of fuel in the locomotives on other underground
railways, or by the combustion of gas or oil for lighting purposes.
London County Council Laboratory,
November 20th, 1902.
Frank Clowes,
Chief Chemist,