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SCIENTIFIC BRANCH
The Scientific branch provides an advisory service to all departments of the Council
on matters involving chemistry, physics and allied sciences. Similar service is provided, as
required, to the metropolitan borough councils. In addition to statutory duties, the branch
has important functions relating to health, safety and amenity. It is responsible for giving
guidance on the efficient and economical use of material of all types used in the Council's
service for construction, maintenance and consumption.
The work is carried out in three groups of laboratories by a staff of 99. The headquarters
laboratories at the County Hall cover the following main subject headings:
(i) Air pollution, environmental radioactivity, ventilation.
(ii) Noise and acoustics, fire precautions and investigations, industrial matters.
(iii) Building materials and development work, floor maintenance, insecticides and
fungicides, plastics, metals.
(iv) Paint and decorative materials.
(v) Fuel and boiler plant technology, heat insulation materials, drinking water, trade
wastes.
(vi) Detergents, laundries, swimming baths.
(vii) Statutory, 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 the main drainage service.
Samples totalling 66,463 were examined during 1962 in the course of analytical, experimental
and research work. This record of samples does not include much of the consultative
service given by the senior professional officers, which was not necessarily associated with
laboratory work.
A summary of the activities of the branch which have a direct or indirect application
to the field of public health is given below. Full particulars are given in the annual report
of the Scientific Adviser.*
River Thames
The condition of London's river is of special concern to the Council. In addition to
effluents from the Council's own sewage treatment plants, there are sources of pollution
from other sewage works, impure tributaries, trade discharges and contamination from
shipping. To assess the condition of the water under varying conditions of fresh water
and tidal flow, and to compare the state between seasons of the year and over periods of
years, regular examinations are made involving chemical analysis of water taken from
26 points over a distance of 80 miles. The area examined extends from the upper limit of
the tidal reaches at Teddington to the sludge dumping area at Black Deep in the outer
estuary. The results are communicated to the Port of London Authority.
The critical period is usually the summer quarter, July to September, and in 1962 a
troublesome feature was the abnormally small upland flow due to reduced flow during
the previous winter. Comparison with conditions over the previous ten years showed a
deterioration in the dissolved oxygen content of the river in the upper tidal reaches. Despite
this, there was some improvement in the region of the Outfalls, as compared with previous
years, attributable to operation of new plant at the Northern Outfall Works. The incidence
of sulphides in water devoid of oxygen was the lowest recorded.
Sewage treatment
The scientific work at both outfall works is carried out in close co-operation with the
Chief Engineer, who is responsible for sewage treatment. Daily collaboration is maintained
*Annual Report of the Scientific Adviser for the Year 1962, the London County Council, price 1s. 3d.
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