London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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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
Leyton 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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CONCENTRATION OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE EXPRESSED AS PARTS PEI
100 MILLION.
| Month | Monthly | average | Highest daily average | Lowest daily average | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 1953 | 1952 | 1953 | 1952 | 1953 | |
| January | 8.5 | 13.7 | 20.1 | 45.9 | 4.5 | 3.6 |
| February | 10.7 | 8.8 | 29.9 | 24.3 | 4.3 | 3.5 |
| March | 7.1 | ... | 16.5 | ... | 1.6 | ... |
| April | 5.5 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 13.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| May | 2.7 | 2.3 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| June | 2.6 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 |
| July | 1.8 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| August | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| September | 3.6 | 3.7 | 6.2 | 9.4 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| October | 6.7 | 7.7 | 15.3 | 18.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| November | 8.7 | 12.5 | 22.4 | 29.2 | 3.4 | 4.6 |
| December | 17.1 | 13.2 | 64.0 | 21.6 | 4.0 | 4.9 |
The total amount of smoke pollution recorded during the year
was 16.7 per cent, less than in 1952. The concentration during
December 1953 was abnormally low—only a little more than half
that recorded during December, 1952. This reduction was no doubt
due to the mild weather which prevailed during December 1953,
compared with the very cold, foggy conditions of the previous year.
The total amount of sulphur dioxide recorded in 1953 was slightly
greater (4.3 per cent.) than in 1952.
At the request of the Director of Fuel Research, a special
additional investigation was undertaken in April and was continued
throughout the year. This involved the daily determination of the
amount of both " fixed " and " free " acids in the air, and also the
amount of atmospheric ammonia.
The following graphs show the annual and monthly variations
of smoke and sulphur dioxide pollution during each of the past
four years.