Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead and Woodford]
This page requires JavaScript
Wanstead (Oakhall Court)
Smoke Year 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962
Average for year — — — — 150 115 101 111
Average for winter months — — — — 250 178 194 179
Average for summer months — — — — 50 51 40 42
Highest daily recording — — — — 1200 1020 752 1560
Sulphur Dioxide
Year 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962
Average for year — — — — 217 163 126 147
Average for winter months — — — — 315 229 207 222
Average for summer months — — — — 71 97 71 72
Highest daily recording — — — — 1307 1410 710 1619
It will be observed that at Woodford both the smoke and S.O2
average figures for the winter months show an increase on those of
1961, with the summer figures remaining very similar.
At Wanstead, the winter smoke figures showed a decrease, whilst the
S.02 an increase, the summer figures as at Woodford remaining almost
the same as 1961.
The increase was due to a period of fog with accumulated pollution
in December, similar in most respects to that of 1952.
During the week prior to the fog, the readings at Woodford averaged
276 for smoke and 310 for sulphur dioxide.
The highest reading of the fog period on Wednesday, 5th December,
was 2,392 for smoke and 2,503 for sulphur dioxide. In other words,
the smoke concentration increased by almost nine times and the S.02
by eight times.
At Wanstead, the average for the week prior to the fog was 223 for
smoke and 266 for S.02. The highest reading here also on Wednesday,
the 5th December, was 1,560 for smoke and 1,619 for S.02.
The smoke concentration in this case was increased by seven times
and the sulphur by six times.
19