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Air pollution and the London fog of December, 1952.

1954; National Institutes of Health; Volume: 74; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

Wilkins Et,

Noise Effects and Management

Four thousand deaths were attributed to this London pollution incident lasting 4 to 5 days. Maximum smoke concentrations in area was 4.46 mg/m/sup 3/ and 3 to 10 times normal at all stations. Maximum SO/sub 2/ concentration was 1.34 ppM and 3 to 12 times normal elsewhere. Ratio of the two avg 2.4 (range 1 to 4) and was remarkably constant. Peak death rate paralleled SO/sub 2/ and smoke levels but remained abnormally high for days after episode. Death rate was also higher than average before actual episode. Eighteen % of 200 million tons coal consumed is used in London for home heating (no pollution control equipment), and these domestic fires contribute 40% of smoke as a whole and 60% in winter. Stacks above fog banks would have little effect. SO/sub 2/ from combustion and CO are mainly from autos.