MAN MADE DISASTERS: THE GREAT LONDON SMOG

OF 1952

DHEEMAN GHOSH Roll number - 48 Stream – MPSM Environment (2011-13)

“A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.”- United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

MAN MADE DISASTER

“Technological or man-made hazards leading to disaster (complex emergencies/conflicts, famine, displaced populations, industrial accidents and transport accidents) are events that are caused by

humans and occur in or close to human settlements.”IFRC Definition

THE LONDON SMOG: CRESCENDO TO A PERSISTANT PROBLEM?

Fog or haze intensified by smoke or other atmospheric pollutants.Smoke and fog long a problem of London life. Enhanced death rates evident by 1650 Widely understood by 1890s 19th C legislative control of smoke not very effective.

A dense fog covered Greater London between the 5 and 8 December1952, accompanied by a sudden rise in mortality that far exceededanything previously recorded during similar periods of smog.

THE LONDON SMOG: LOSS DYANAMICS

4000+ deaths in between 5-8 December

12,000 unexplained and additional deaths during the episode and in the 2 months after the peak fog ebbed (Bell and Davis 2001)

The first reported casualties of the smog were cattle at the Smithfield Show.

Paramount losses in air , road and rail traffic. Fire, Burglary.

Mortality statistics showed that the smog had the greatest effect on people over 65 and those already suffering

MIT –Forbes study: The total monetized life loss in the UK was estimated at £6–6.2bn or 5.8 to 11.2% of gross domestic product quantified over the next 5 year scale

THE MAIN CULPRIT: SULPHUR DIOXIDE

An anticyclone (an area of high pressure) was centered over S.England - complete absence of wind.

Produced a temperature inversion resulting in cold air to sink in previously unprecedented volumes.

This made the smog become widespread and menacing like never before!

During the smog, both smoke and sulphur dioxide levels reached exceptional concentrations.

Respiratory diseases alone accounted for 59 % of the increase in deaths registered in the week ending 13 December and 76 % in the following week.

Bronchitis and emphysema were the two conditions that stood out in the coroners. records as showing the greatest increase.

GAP ANALYSIS: CAUSES OF FAILURE

• The improper regulations of the Public Health Act (1936) – chimney heights, no smoke control areas, age old industrial premises

• Legislative bureaucracy of the London Council Committee (LCC) – “95% of the smoke came from the 70000 plus homes”

• Till 1856 before passing of the Smoke Abatement Metropolis Acts, the common belief was smoke behaved as an antiseptic and tonic! – repercussions reached a tumult even a century after stopping.

DISASTER MITIGATION & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

The Clean Air Act 1956, which was later amended and extended by theClean Air Act 1968, constituted the primary legislation limiting pollutionby smoke, grit and dust from domestic fires as well as commercial andindustrial processes.

The 1956 Act is probably best remembered for its introduction of SmokeControl Areas, often referred to as .smokeless zones.

Control in Industrial Processes:

oThe Alkali Act of 1874, string of amendments finally led to the Pat 1 of the EPA 1990oIntegrated Pollution Control – BIG INDUSTRIES & Local Air Pollution Control – SMALL INDUSTRIES.

Standards for Ambient Air Quality:

oThe Commission of the European Communities- member states to agree levels of pollutant concentrations which were not to be exceeded after a given date. oThe first of these Directives relating to air quality, covering smoke and SO2, came into effect in 1980oThe Environment Act 1995 also established a system of local air quality management. This required local authorities periodically to review and assess the current and future quality of air in their areas

DISASTER MITIGATION & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

DISASTER MITIGATION & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Changing fuel use

Mayors Air Quality Strategy (1999-)

o The government has set targets for 9 main air pollutants.o 7 of these pollutants (nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particles (or PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and lead) have to be addressed at the local level, including in LondonoThe other 2 (ozone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are being tackled by national and European Union measures.

DISASTER MITIGATION & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Reducing pollution from road traffic:

• in the short term, targeting emissions reductions from the most polluting vehicles (mainly heavier diesel vehicles, such as buses, coaches, goods vehicles, waste vehicles, and taxis)• increasing the take-up of newer, cleaner vehicles and technologies• increasing the take-up of cleaner fuels• investigating the feasibility of introducing one or more low emission zones in London, which would exclude the most polluting vehicles from specified areas• for the long term, promoting zero emission forms of transport, such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Sustainable Buildings:

A significant proportion (21 per cent) of air pollution in London comes from energy use in buildings, particularly for heating. The Authority will work to achieve reductions in emissions from buildings by:" constructing more energy efficient new buildings" improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings & power driven instruments inside" using cleaner fuels" using renewable energy technologies such as solar water heating.

HUMANE AND LEGAL MEASURES

Role of Business:

The Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy sets out a number of measures that businesses are encouraged to take, including:• ensuring all vehicles meet cleaner emissions standards• encourage staff and visitors to use the most environmentally friendly means of transport• using government grants to help convert vehicle fleets to the cleanest technologies and fuels.•reporting their business. emissions and demonstrating continuing and meaningful improvements in environmental performance.•adopting renewable energy technologies.•improving indoor air quality in the workplaces.

Role of Individuals:

The Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy sets out measures that individuals can all take to improve air quality including:" using public transport rather than travelling by car & buying cleaner vehicles" improving vehicle maintenance and driving style" taking energy efficiency measures such as installing loft insulation or turning lights and heating off when not needed.

A MESSAGE FOR OUR FUTURE

“The London story is not merely historic. Conditions insome rapidly developing countries today can come eerily close to those of London, either indoors or outdoors. Although coal stoves are not generally the problem, biomass fuels, garbage, and other incompletely burned organic materials often cause unhealthy conditions inside homes and factories throughout the world. For example, in 2010 the mean annual concentration of total suspended particulates was 900 μg/m3 in Lanzhou, China, and > 600 μg/m3 in Delhi, India.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“50 Years on smog in London” – Greater London Authority 2002 print.

“50 years on from the clean air act” – P. Brimblecombe

“Smog Look back” – Environmental Health Perspectives Vol 110 No 12 December 2002

http://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2008/11/a-proper-pea-souper-the-terrible-london-smog-of-1952/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2012/04/22/mit-study-air-pollution-linked-with-early-deaths-in-uk/

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