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39
SECTION H
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The seven lead peroxide and three deposit gauge stations,
established last year, continued in operation throughout the year
and give, for the first time, pollution figures for a complete year.
ESTIMATION OF ATMOSPHERIC SULPHUR BY
THE LEAD PEROXIDE METHOD
The table on page 40 gives the monthly figures for each station
in the Borough for the years 1951 and 1952. The station giving
the highest average monthly figure was again Bashley Road—
2.10, but the highest month's reading was given by the Town Hall
station—4.24. Again, the lowest average figure was obtained at
Acacia Road — 1.69, and the lowest month's figure at Kendal
Avenue—0.56.
It will be noted that the amount of sulphur pollution increased
throughout the whole of the borough when comparing the
average figures with those of the previous year. The figures for
the last two months of the year showing a very marked increase
over those for 1950.
The monthly average figure for all stations is given in the
form of a graph on page 41.
DEPOSIT GAUGES
The monthly figures for the deposit of atmospheric solids is
given on page 42. The highest average monthly deposit—27.02
tons/square mile—and the highest month's deposit—36.85 tons—
were again obtained at Bashley Road, and the lowest average
monthly deposit—15.01 tons and lowest month's deposit—7.82 tons
—as last year, were at Kendal Avenue.
As the deposit gauges were not installed until August 1951,
it is only possible to compare the results for the last five months
of each year. This comparison shows a slight increase in total
deposit at the Town Hall and slight reductions at the other two
stations.
The percentage of combustible material in the solids deposited
during this five months period was 18%, an improvement of some
3% over the figure for 1951. However, the figure for the whole
year was 20%.
The average monthly deposit over the year for the three
stations is given in the form of a graph on page 41.
As the deposit gauges act as rain gauges, it might be of interest
to note the average monthly rainfall, and these figures are given
in the table on page 42.