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
Erith 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
This page requires JavaScript
33
D (5)e Atmospheric Pollution
Results of Analysis
The Erith Borough Council is represented on the Thameside Advisory Committee for the Abatement of Atmospheric Pollution. In this connection a deposit gauge and a lead peroxide gauge is in position at the grounds of the Royal Alfred Institution, and the analysis of the contents of these gauges for 1957 is as follows:
| Month | Bain in inches | Insoluble deposit Tons per eq. mile | Soluble deposit Tons per sq mile | Total Solids Tons per sq. mile | Calcium Tons per sq. mile | Sulphur mg/l 00 sq cms/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.85 | 5.34 | 3.76 | 9.10 | 0.44 | 1.92 |
| February | 2.46 | 8.85 | 8.39 | 17.24 | 1.28 | 2.46 |
| March | 0.80 | 8.31 | 9.60 | 17.91 | 2.18 | 1.49 |
| April | 0.34 | 11.04 | 6.64 | 17.68 | 1.41 | 1.05 |
| May | 1.04 | 10.56 | 5.54 | 16.10 | 1.11 | 0.89 |
| June | 0.82 | 10.08 | 5.71 | 15.79 | 1.01 | 0.83 |
| July | 3.90 | 9.13 | 7.79 | 16.92 | 1.48 | 0.95 |
| August | 1.88 | 5.99 | 5.44 | 11.43 | 1.01 | 1.09 |
| September | 2.15 | 8.01 | 8.39 | 16.40 | 1.41 | 1.17 |
| October | 1.51 | 8.92 | 7.05 | 15.97 | 1.28 | 1.63 |
| November | 2.26 | 8.34 | 6.58 | 14.92 | 0.94 | 2.28 |
| December | 1.68 | 9.12 | 9.60 | 18.72 | 1.41 | 2.98 |
The Department's petrie dish investigation which was
carried out in 1950 determined that total solids per square
mile per month were approximately 37 tons, this figure being
inclusive of a fall out approximately 5.1/6 tons of calcium
on similar superficial area.
By comparing these 1950 figures with those in the
above monthly tabulation, it will be seen that the density
of calcium deposits arising from County Kent and County
Essex sources, are indicative of a considerable reduction
for the year 1957.
D (5)f Smoke Abatement
The aim of the Clean Air Act, 1956 is to abate pollution
of the air, for the purpose of which, Local Authorities
are enabled to create smoke control areas by means of
orders, which must however be confirmed by the Minister
of Housing and Local Government before they become
operative. A period of time elapses between the making
of an order by a Local Authority, and its coming into
operation. It is generally accepted at this stage that establishment
of smoke control areas will be gradual, and