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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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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30
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 gauges for 1962 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 | ||
| January | — | Deposit gauge damaged | — | 2.04 | ||
| February | — | ,, ,, ,, | — | 2.96 | ||
| March | 1.48 | 17.77 | 7.92 | 25.69 | 1.93 | 2.10 |
| April | 1.56 | 9.01 | 6.51 | 15.52 | 1.21 | 1.45 |
| May | 1.61 | 10.39 | 4.50 | 14.89 | 0.58 | 1.06 |
| June | 0.35 | 11.82 | 5.74 | 17.56 | 1.30 | 0.78 |
| July | 2.21 | 8.37 | 7.99 | 16.36 | 1.40 | 0.84 |
| August | 1.54 | 5.48 | 5.03 | 10.51 | 0.60 | 0.64 |
| September | 2.02 | 6.32 | 6.31 | 12.63 | 1.78 | 0.81 |
| October | 1.23 | 9.89 | 9.07 | 18.96 | 1.90 | 1.84 |
| November | 1.31 | 3.74 | 6.34 | 10.08 | 1.01 | 1.88 |
| December | 0.82 | 8.07 | 6.58 | 14.65 | 1.32 | 3.17 |
| Monthly average for 1961 | 16.12 | 1.30 | 1.66 | |||
(B) The combined filter for smoke and sulphur dioxide apparatus
which has been in operation at the Town Hall since
July, 1958 has been maintained by the Department throughout
the year, and the 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, 1962:—
Smoke: Smog level
Sulphur dioxide: Smog level
(200 mgs. black suspended
matter per 100 cu. metres of air)
127 on 5th Dec.
Highest reading 1961
71 on 12th Jan.
(40 parts per 100 million
parts of air)
94 on 5th Dec.
Highest reading 1961
23.6 on 8th Dec.