Abstract
THE twentieth report on atmospheric pollution issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (H.M.S.O., 5s. net) records observations for the year ending March 31, 1934. This report, like its forerunners, shows that preconceived notions are not always supported by measurement. If the conditions of sampling and test are valid, then the City of London has the most polluted atmosphere observed in Great Britain, and deposits of solids and tar show annual increase. Again, foggy weather, judged by measurement of ‘smoke haze’, appears to reach greatest prevalence in Westminster, and some of the highest figures for sulphur pollution are also found in London observing stations. Some so-called industrial cities apparently have atmospheric conditions much superior to those in London. London may, however, take comfort from the fact that comparable measurements show that atmospheric pollution in Philadelphia is almost twice as bad. Experience is recorded with the use of a ‘candle’ of lead dioxide for measuring atmospheric sulphur compounds. Another interesting apparatus has been devised for recording the quantity of light. The light received by a photo-electric cell develops a current which imparts to a condenser a charge. When this reaches a certain amount, it discharges through a neon lamp and causes an ordinary counter to advance one unit. The difference between the records at the various stations is great, and it may be inferred that large improvements in atmospheric conditions are possible by using experience already known.
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Atmospheric Pollution. Nature 136, 17 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136017c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136017c0
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