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the london fog of december 2 5, 1957
Much has been written regarding the London fog of December 1952 which it is estimated
caused the death of 4,000 persons, and recently,investigations have been completed and
reported in the Monthly Bulletin of the Ministry of Health which show that the fog of
December 2 5, 1957 was associated with a considerable increase in mortality in the Greater
London area. From this investigation it is apparent that the atmospheric conditions which
prevailed a few days before and subsequently gave rise to the fog were in themselves a
cause of increased mortality. It is estimated that there were between 700 and 1,000 deaths
and that the heavier concentrations of the East of London were accompanied by a proportion
ate increase in the number of deaths in that area.
The figures of weekly deaths registered in East London showed an increased ratio of
1.5 for the week of the fog compared to that of the previous week whereas the County of
London's increased ratio was 1,15- and for the whole of Greater London 1 2.
An interesting result of the investigation shows that the rise of deaths is noted
at a period when the atmospheric pollution was in the early stages climbing towards its
maximum. Meteorologically the fog of 5th December 1957 was neither consistently dense nor
were the levels of atmospheric pollution in most areas as high as previous fog episodes
known to be associated with a similar high mortality, however in Leyton the atmospheric
pollution was the highest recorded since observations began in 1950 and the highest daily
average of smoke expressed as millegramms per 100 cubic metres during the fog was 234.3 as
against a daily average for that time of year of 88,1. The sulphur dioxide readings expressed
as parts per 100 million parts of air were 75.4 being three times the daily average for
that time of the year.
The week preceding the fog the statement of new claims to sickness benefit received
by the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance shows that there were 565 such claims
received in Leyton and Leytonstone. In the week including the period of the fog the claims
(13)