View report page

SCIENTIFIC BRANCH
This branch provides a scientific advisory service for all departments of the Council.
It has, therefore, to cover a very wide field, not only in chemistry and physics, but mycology,
microbiology and other applied sciences. The work required to answer the questions
and provide a solution of difficulties may vary from simple analysis of material to lengthy
research into the problem. The type of ' domestic' question that occurs in the service
cannot be answered from a text.book and only those with both a knowledge of how science
can be applied and the conditions in the service are in a position to help.
The headquarters laboratory at the County Hall covers the following main subject
headings:
(i) Research and development, noise, air pollution, environmental radioactivity,
ventilation, fire precautions and investigating industrial hygiene.
(ii) Building materials and development work, flooring and floor maintenance, insecticides
and fungicides, plastics, metals.
(iii) Trade wastes, drinking water, boiler water, inleakage water and other water
problems, steam raising plant, fuel, heat insulation materials.
(iv) Paint and decorative materials.
(v) Detergents, laundries, swimming baths and all ancillary problems.
(vi) Food, drugs, medical and general supplies.
The Northern and Southern Outfall laboratories, situated at Beckton and Crossness
respectively, are concerned with obtaining scientific data for the control of the sewage
treatment process and ancillary plant together with research on projects potentially useful
to this branch of the service.
Close liaison is maintained with officers in Government departments, research organisations
and scientific societies, and the Scientific Adviser and other senior officers are members
of a number of committees under the auspices of other bodies.
The staff of the branch numbers 73, comprising 33 graduates, 34 ancillary staff and
six in a clerical section.
A summary of the activities of the branch which have a direct or indirect application
to the field of public health is given below. This year the summary is not in such an abbreviated
form as usual and mention is made of some of the more uncommon facets of the work.
Full particulars may be found in the annual report of the Scientific Adviser.*
Synopsis of work done
The total number of samples examined was 42,090, approximately 6,800 more than in
1959; nearly all the increase is due to the analysis of air samples made necessary by the
safety precautions taken at the new plant at the Northern Outfall Works against the
possibility of leakage of inflammable sludge gas. The general distribution otherwise is
roughly the same as in previous years, showing a fairly constant demand for information
over the whole wide field. The figures exclude much advice, not necessarily associated with
analytical work, which is an important function of the branch and is given by the senior
professional officers.
Liaison with user departments is of prime importance, because it is essential that the
branch should be consulted at an early stage when difficulties occur and only by an understanding
of users' problems can answers be found which can be applied economically.
The number of samples examined is summarised below: following sections deal in greater
detail with some aspects of the work.
* Annual Report of the Scientific Adviser for the Year 1960, The London County Council, price Is. 3d.
43