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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
Estimation, by the volumetric method, of the amount of smoke and sulphur
dioxide in the atmosphere continued during the year at the three stations in
operation in the Borough, except that no readings were able to be taken at the
Staveley Road Station during January and February owing to alterations being
in progress.
Details of the readings obtained are submitted monthly to the Fuel Research
Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research where they are
collated with those from stations in all parts of the country in a national
survey of atmospheric pollution.
A summary of the year s recordings is set out in Table XV and Graph "C"
has been prepared from these figures This shows that the annual pattern has
been repeated once again with the lowest readings occurring from April to September
and emphasising the effect that domestic heating and the heating of
offices and business premises has on the level of atmospheric pollution. It
has been noticed, too, that during the last two years the concentrations of
both smoke and sulphur dioxide have tended to increase slightly during the month
of March. It is also interesting to note that while smoke concentrations recorded
at the Staveley Road station (which is in the area covered by the Borough s
first Smoke Control Area), did not differ to any extent from those recorded in
other parts of the Borough, the amount of sulphur dioxide in this area during
October, November and December was found to be considerably greater than that
recorded at the other two stations. It is regretted that it was not possible
to take readings at this station during the first two months of the year so that
no comparison can be made for this period.
During the period 4th to 7th December, 1962, the Greater London area was
covered by a dense "smog" which compared, to some extent,, with that experienced
in 1952. Indeed, by a remarkable coincidence it began on the same day of the
month but did not last quite as long.
Below is set out a table showing the
concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide, expressed as microgrammes per cubic
metre of air, measured at the three stations operating in the Borough during
this period and compared with those obtained in 1952.
Date
1962
Brentford
1962
Chiswick
Heathfield
Terrace
1962
Chiswick
Staveley
Road
1952
Chiswick
Heathfie1d
Terrace
Smoke
so2
Smoke
so2
Smoke
so2
Smoke
so2
4th December
840
898
348
996
1116
1359
665
215
5th December
524
2098
1084
2081
1132
2303
642
974
6th December
264
1077
828
992
924
1259
421
2424
7th December
584
1139
756
1352
892
2383
351
886
8th December
351
886
9th December
498
480
Daily Average
during period
553
1303
754
1355
1016
1826
488
978
It is unfortunate that only the Heathfield Terrace station was in operation
during the "smog" period of 1952 and direct comparison can only be made, therefore,
with the figures for that station These show that although the greatest
daily concentration of sulphur dioxide occurred on one of the days during the
1952 period, the daily averages for both smoke and sulphur dioxide were considerably
higher during the 1962 period.
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