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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The amount of smoke, grit and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere over the Borough of
Southall continued to be recorded during the year 1958 at the five sites at which recordings
have been carried out for previous years. Following reasonable improvement during 1957,
the figures for 1958 were extremely disappointing, the averages for the year at all areas were
up, only in the months of August and September was a general improvement shown and even
that was spoilt by the figures obtained at the Railway Allotments site. The rainfall figures
were heavy for all the months of the year and heavy rainfall brings down more of the atmospheric
dust into the deposit gauges so probably the figures for 1958 give a truer picture of
the amount of pollution entering the atmosphere from the industrial and domestic chimneys
of the Borough than in a year when shortage of rain permits more dissipation of the atmospheric
dust into other areas and into the higher atmosphere, and it is obvious from these
figures that a much more strenuous method of prevention of atmospheric pollution is without
doubt necessary.
The results obtained from the five sites, i.e. Recreation Ground and Railway Allotments
lead peroxide method, Hortus Cemetery, New Primary School, Railway Allotments
deposit gauges, are tabulated on page 47 and graphs prepared from the figures on the tables
are to be found on pages 48-50.
Comparisons with three other places, i.e. Westminster, Cambridge and Sheffield, still
show that Southall is not atmospherically as impure as that in a highly industrial area, but the
Borough is included in a large ring around and including London itself designated as a black
area for atmospheric pollution under the Clean Air Act, 1956. Observations of individual
factory chimneys seeming to be emitting smoke or grit to excess were continued throughout
the year and some deterioration was also found in this respect, although much work and many
improvements were carried out by the owners of offending premises. A greater number of
spot checks on infringements were carried out and the resultant increase in the amount of
black smoke emissions required attention. In no instance, however, was pollution so intense
as to indicate the need for legal sanctions and in no instance was any difficulty experienced
with owners of premises to whom these infringements were pointed out.
Comparison of seven years' averages at Hortus Cemetery.
Total solids Deposited:—
1952 11.93 1956 12.93
1953 10.67 1957 10.66
1954 14.30 1958 13.83
1955 16.94
Details of the observations made because of particular subjects of complaint and the
results of these observations can be seen in the following table.
Number of sites of routine observation ... 5 (3 deposit gauges and 2 lead
peroxide gauges)
Number of complaints of nuisance from smoke,
smell or grit and number of premises concerned
34 complaints re 23 premises
Number of places kept under observation 15
Number of observations made 83
Number of times black smoke was detected 16
Total time of black smoke emissions 13¾ minutes
Number of times dark smoke observed 47
Total time of dark smoke emission 249 ¾ minutes
Minimum time of observations 1 minute
Maximum time of observations 35 minutes
Total time of observations 1,276 minutes
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