London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton and Cheam 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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The Followng is a summary of theresult obtained during the year:-
| MONTH | Gauge No 2 | Gauge No. 6 | Gauge No. 7 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq.mile) | Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq. mile) | Rainfall in inches | Total Solids (Tons per sq. mile) | |
| January | 1.96 | 7.12 | 2.32 | 6.49 | 1.82 | 6.56 |
| February | 1.77 | 11 .86 | 2.11 | 10.61 | 1.61 | 9.34 |
| March | 1.78 | 13.52 | 2.10 | 10.50 | 1.75 | 11.40 |
| April | 0.98 | 11.56 | 0.92 | 8.79 | 0.61 | 6.70 |
| May | 2.01 | 13.23 | 2.05 | 23.05 | 1.95 | 10.54 |
| June | 1.09 | 10.41 | 1.36 | 9.78 | 1.30 | 15.97 |
| July | 3.50 | 9.11 | 2.85 | 12.81 | 3.28 | 7.06 |
| August | 2.87 | 6.93 | 3.10 | 5.60 | 4.29 | 8.68 |
| September | 2.91 | 10.67 | 2.83 | 8.56 | 2.76 | 9.67 |
| October | 5.28 | 13.69 | 5.92 | 13.11 | 4.90 | 10.24 |
| November | 4.00 | 9.45 | 4.57 | 10.70 | 3.26 | 4.87 |
| December | 2.93 | 9.87 | 3.34 | 9.29 | 1.76 | 6.66 |
| Yearly Totals | 31.08 | 127.42 | 33.47 | 129.29 | 29.29 | 107.69 |
| Monthly Average | 2.59 | 10.62 | 2.79 | 10.77 | 2.44 | 8.97 |
The Borough is adequately covered by the three grit deposit
gauges which are sited roughly 1½ miles apart.
DAILY MEAN CONCENTRATION OF SMOKE AND SULPHUR DIOXIDE
A smoke filter and volumetric sulphur dioxide apparatus was installed
in Manor Park House after consulting the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research as to the suitability of the site.
A daily record has been kept since the 1st November, 1958 of the
amount of smoke or suspended matter and sulphur dioxide in the air.
It has long been recognised that a distinction must be drawn between
relatively coarse particles of solid matter which are quickly deposited by
their own weight, and which comprise most of the particulate matter
collected in the deposit gauge, and the very fine particles which settle
slowly, if at all. These fine particles, commonly referred to as 'smoke',
are less than about 20 microns (0.002 cm) in size and consist largely of
carbonaceous matter, including tar, produced by the incomplete combustion
of coal; some fine ash is also included. It is important to realise that
little of this fine material is collected in the deposit gauge which in consequence
gives no information about pollution by smoke. To obtain such
information a smoke filter is necessary.
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