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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Erith 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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37
D (5)e Atmospheric Pollution
Results of Analysis
(A) The Erith Borough Council is represented on the
Thames-side Advisory Committee for the Abatement of
Atmospheric Pollution. In this connection, a deposit gauge,
lead peroxide gauge, and a smoke recorder are respectively
in various positions, and the analysis of the contents of
these guages for 1960 are as follows:—
| Month | Deposit gauge | Lead peroxide gauge Sulphur mg/100 sq .cms/day | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain in inches | Insoluble deposit Tons per sq. mile | Soluble deposit Tons per sq. mile | Total Solids Tons per sq. mile | Calcium Tons per sq. mile | ||
| J«nuary | 1.41 | 8.85 | 8.32 | 17.17 | 1.41 | 3.10 |
| February | 1.39 | 10.07 | 7.75 | 17.82 | 1.41 | 2.39 |
| March | 1.21 | 11.78 | 13.49 | 25.27 | 2.95 | 2.72 |
| April | 0.35 | 5.54 | 4.75 | 10.29 | 0.94 | 1.44 |
| May | 2.16 | 11.24 | 9.80 | 21.04 | 1.96 | 1.28 |
| June | 0.82 | 5.21 | 4.90 | 10.11 | 0.96 | 0.85 |
| July | 1.93 | 4.88 | 3.09 | 7.97 | 0.38 | 0.54 |
| August | 3.85 | 6.90 | 10.20 | 17.10 | 1.42 | 0.72 |
| September | 4.19 | 7.47 | 10.20 | 17.67 | 1.98 | 1.37 |
| October | 5.05 | 7.73 | 11.07 | 18.80 | 2.12 | 1.72 |
| November | 3.15 | 3.36 | 4.83 | 8.19 | 0.41 | 1.95 |
| December | 2.32 | 9.89 | 6.58 | 16.47 | 1.05 | 2.95 |
| Monthly average for 1959 | 17.44 | 1.76 | 2.07 | |||
(B) The combined smoke filter and sulpher dioxide apparatus
which has been in operation at the Town Hall since July
1958 has been maintained by the Department throughout
the year, and readings and results thereof have been carried
out and recorded daily.
Appended below are particulars of the highest recorded
figures for the year ended 31st December, 1960:—
Smoke: Smog level Sulpher dioxide: Smog level
(200 mgs. black suspended (40 parts per 100 million
matter per 100 cu. metres of air) parts of air)
101.0 on Jan. 7th. 37.0 on Dec. 9th.
Highest reading 1959 Highest reading 1959
135.2 on Jan. 30th 77.6 on Jan. 30th.
(C) Resulting from a nuisance due to toxic fumes discharged
from a resin factory, it was necessary for a Town Planning
notice to be served against which the authors of the nuisance
gave notice of appeal, which was subsequently abandoned,
The effect was that the Town Planning Enforcement notice
became operative, and in June 1960, the manufacture of
phthalic anhydride ceased. This event thus obviated statutory
action which was pending under section 93 of the Public
Health Act, 1936.