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33
In the more restricted chemical and physical field with which this report is primarily
concerned similar remarks apply, for example, to rayon and nylon for clothing, to the
vast range of plastics for constructional use for many purposes, to the aluminium
alloys for aviation, etc., to the great variety of new drugs, antibiotics, etc., such as
the sulphonamides and penicillin, to synthetic insecticides like D.D.T. and Gammexane,
to synthetic rubber, etc. Such a list of achievements could be extended almost
indefinitely. These developments have succeeded one another through the century
at an ever increasing rate and their effect on the many ramifications of the Council's
service has been increasingly evident in the enquiries made of the Chemical Branch
for advice and assistance in the scientific field. The volume of work thus accruing to
the branch has considerably increased during the year now under review and has
occupied much of the time of the senior officers. Committee duties, too, both on
Council work and on Government and British Standards Institution Committees to
which officers have been appointed to express the Council's views, have also increased
and undoubtedly form a most valuable feature of the work of the branch.
The number of samples received for examination in 1951 also showed an appreciable
increase on those of former years. The total number was 25,666 as compared with
24,523 in 1950. The classification was:—
Air, tunnels, etc. 347
Building materials 313
Chemicals, drugs and medical supplies 39
Clay, subsoils and borehole waters, etc. 1,264
Compost (manurial use), etc. 4
Detergents and soaps 29
Disinfectants and insecticides 7
Fertilisers and feeding stuffs 96
Floor oils and polishes 37
Foods, etc. 656
Gases, sludge digestion plant, flue,
degreasing plants, etc. 479
Grit deposits (from Power Stations) 232
Insulating coverings for hot water
systems 18
Lamps, gas detector 314
Liquor, effluent from gas works 358
Meals 41
Metals 28
Milk, liquid, condensed, dried 216
Miscellaneous 241
Oils, lubricating, fuel, etc. 57
Paints, varnishes and distempers 1,658
Petroleum and allied samples 88
Rainwater (atmospheric pollution
deposit gauges) 84
Rubber and substitutes 15
Scouring powders and lavatory
cleansers 12
Sewage and effluent 4,560
Sludge, primary, digested and
activated 3,485
Sulphur gases and smoke in air 1,928
Water, steam-raising plants 1,609
Water, drinking 1,710
Water, swimming bath 1,148
Water, river 4,539
Water, miscellaneous 54
Total 25,666
The following paragraphs give a general indication of the source of origin of
these samples and of the consultative and advisory duties carried out for the various
services and departments of the Council.
Rivers and
Drainage
Throughout 1951 the whole of the sewage flow to the Northern Outfall Works
was treated by sedimentation and approximately one-third of it subsequently by the
activated sludge process. At the Southern Outfall Works the whole of the flow
continued to be treated by primary sedimentation only. Regular sampling and
examination were done to assess the results of the treatment. In the case of both
outfall works, the plants functioned satisfactorily throughout the year and achieved
as large a saving of B.O.D. (biochemical oxygen demand) load on the water of the
River Thames as could be expected.
The sludge digestion plant at the N orthern Outfall W orks was sub j ect to analytical
control, the rate of charge being decided accordingly, and it functioned satisfactorily,
the gas produced (containing about 70 per cent. methane) being used for power
production at the works.
The composting of sewage products (mainly screenings) with household refuse
was continued and a large amount of the finished product was available for transport
to farms, mostly those at hospitals.