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Graph E, which demonstrates the results obtained from the deposit gauge, shows a
general improvement throughout the year 1952, the highest point reached on the graph
during 1951 being 19.3 as compared with the highest point in the same month of the year,
i.e. June, of 17 3 in 1952; while in the months of April and July record low readings were
obtained, i.e. 7.1 in April and 57 in July, the lowest point reached during 1951 being 7.9.
Weather conditions make a considerable difference to the readings obtained by this method
but the fact that there is a consistent reduction on the whole year except for the period of
abnormal fog seems to suggest an improvement in the general atmospheric conditions of
the Borough. The general improvement noted from both types of pollution continues on
an improvement noted in last year's Annual Report on the figures for 1950.
Graph F is a representation of the comparative figures for pollution with oxides of
sulphur for Southall, Central London, a northern industrial town and Godalming, Surrey,
which constantly returns the best figures throughout the year. From this graph it can be
seen that, even at the time of the great fog, pollution in Southall due to oxides of sulphur
was not so intense as in Central London, or even in the northern industrial area, which
presumably was not so heavily attacked by fog at that time. The marked seasonal variations
seen in this graph in the highly populated districts as compared with Godalming emphasise
the need for the reduction of pollution from domestic sources.
Factories in the west and south of the Borough were kept under observation at various
times during the year to observe the emission of smoke, chemical products or products of
manufacture, from their chimneys. Although on occasion black smoke was observed from
two factories in particular, this never lasted for the two minutes which would render the
firms liable to prosecution. On approaches being made to the firms concerned in all
smoke emissions, co-operation was obtained and new methods of stoking or new equipment
for better consumption of smoke were adopted. Assistance was obtained from the officers
of the Ministry of Fuel and Power on two occasions. Complaints concerning the pollution
by grit and dust caused by the large-scale stocking of fuel by one of the nationalised
industries were followed-up, and, as a result of negotiations, other arrangements were made
to limit the nuisance being caused in this way.