what happened in london in 1952 and how many people died

What happened in the 1952 London smog?

Heavy smog begins to hover over London, England, on December 4, 1952. It persists for five days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people. It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley.

What was London like in 1952?

The Great Smog Begins Clear skies dawned over London on December 5, 1952. A wintry cold snap had gripped the British capital for weeks, and as Londoners awoke, coal fireplaces were stoked in homes and businesses across the city to take the chill from the early morning air.

What happened on December 5th 1952 in London?

It was cold and clear the morning of December 5th, 1952 in London. People were hunkered down in their homes, huddled around their fireplaces waiting out an unusually early cold snap.

How many people died in the Great Smog of London?

But because of the lack of wind and the temperature differential, the Great Smog persisted for nearly a week. Accounts vary on how many people died from the smog. The BBC estimates that it would have been about 12,000 people – while at the time it was estimated to be closer to 4,000.

What happened in London England in 1952?

Great Smog of London, lethal smog that covered the city of London for five days (December 5–9) in 1952, caused by a combination of industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions. This combination of smoke and fog brought the city to a near standstill and resulted in thousands of deaths.

What caused the 1952 London smog disaster?

London's reliance on coal-fired power plants for electricity and heat, and diesel-powered buses for public transportation, contributed to the Great Smog. London's weather also contributed to the Great Smog. The city is contained in a large river valley, limiting air circulation.

How long did the 1952 fog last?

five daysFor five days in December 1952, the Great Smog of London smothered the city, wreaking havoc and killing thousands.

How many people died in the fog of England?

12,000 peopleThe Great Smog, which blanketed the British capital for five days in December 1952, is estimated by some experts to have killed more than 12,000 people and hospitalized 150,000.

Did Churchill ignore the smog?

The meteorologists' report was ignored by the senile Prime Minister Churchill, and the two men who discovered the oncoming smog approached the Leader of the Opposition, Labour Party leader Clement Attlee, with this information in an attempt to sabotage Churchill, whose inaction ahead of the smog and misrule of the ...

Did the Queen walk in the smog?

I was listening to the wireless this morning, where they described this fog as an act of God. In this episode, the queen has to walk on foot to go to another building. Yet the most important problem is the health issues that the smog caused to people. But the episode is not focusing on that until the end.

Does London still get fog?

The 1956 act took a long time to become effective, but it worked: Another great yellow fog in 1962 was the last. Since then, despite the belief in some parts of the world — not least the United States — that there are still foggy days in London town, pea soupers have become a thing of the past.

Why is London called the Big Smoke?

Cobbett saw the rapidly growing city as a pathological swelling on the face of the nation. "The Smoke" / "The Big Smoke" / "The Old Smoke" – air pollution in London regularly gave rise to pea soup fogs, most notably the Great Smog of 1952, and a nickname that persists to this day.

Did the fog in the crown really happen?

Here's the Rest of the Story. In Netflix's hit show on the royals, there's an unbelievable story about air pollution. But the Great Smog of London was all too real — and still relevant today.

What happened on December 4th 1952?

Heavy smog begins to hover over London, England, on December 4, 1952. It persists for five days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people. It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley.

When was the last London smog?

The 1962 London smog was a severe smog episode that affected London, England in December 1962. It occurred ten years after the Great Smog of London, in which serious air pollution had killed as many as 12,000 people....1962 London smog.Date4–7 December 1962LocationLondon, EnglandCoordinates51.507°N 0.127°WCasualties300–700 deaths1 more row

How did Churchill deal with the smog?

Yet just before the notorious fog disaster hit London, Churchill's government had announced that the poorest and most polluting grade of coal (known as “nutty slack”) could be obtained without ration coupons.

What pollutant caused the Great Smog of London?

At the time, the city ran on cheap coal for everything from generating power to heating homes. So when an anticyclone caused cold air to stagnate over London, the sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke particles mounted — and ended up choking as many as 12,000 people to death.

How did Churchill deal with the smog?

Yet just before the notorious fog disaster hit London, Churchill's government had announced that the poorest and most polluting grade of coal (known as “nutty slack”) could be obtained without ration coupons.

How did London's Killer fog affect the environment?

A fog so thick and polluted it left thousands dead wreaked havoc on London in 1952. The smoke-like pollution was so toxic it was even reported to have choked cows to death in the fields. It was so thick it brought road, air and rail transport to a virtual standstill.

What is the main cause of air pollution?

Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.

How many people died in London in 1952?

So when an anticyclone caused cold air to stagnate over London, the sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and smoke particles mounted — and ended up choking as many as 12,000 people to death.

How long was London in smog?

In December 1952, London was trapped in a deadly cloud of fog and pollution for five days — what became known as the Great Smog of 1952.

How long did smog last in 1952?

Because of the weather system, this turned into an extraordinarily long and extraordinarily deadly smog but these weather systems, these anticyclones, had come every year; they were always there. They lasted two or three days, usually two, and then they’d be blown away by a wind and all the pollution would float to the atmosphere. That’s just not what happened [in 1952]. It stayed around for five days .

What is the name of the killer in Death in the Air?

The parallels are “bizarre,” Dawson says, if not eerie: both the Great Smog and the serial killer, called John Reginald Christie, asphyxiated innocent people to death, and both spurred the passage of historic legislation.

What was the UK's Clean Air Act?

UK’s Clean Air Act was really the first sort of overarching federal legislation in the world where you had a government, not just local government or state government, that placed some pretty restrictive rules on industry and on local citizens, and provided subsidies so that Londoners could begin to convert from coal-burning fireplaces to smokeless fuel, which is very expensive. It really was a blueprint for other nations to follow.

What was the reaction of the small town in 1948?

In 1948, the reaction of the small town was [similar to the one you’d expect for] a natural disaster: they set up a triage center in the community center. It was a concerted effort from everyone in the town to try to get through this. And they recognized it as a deadly disaster.

When did the Great Smog happen?

The media didn’t connect it. London during the Great Smog of 1952. The Great Smog eventually spurred the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1956 in the UK.

How long was the fog in London in 1952?

London may be known for its drizzly weather, but in 1952 the city’s quintessential fog cover turned deadly, and no one knew exactly why — until now. For five days in December 1952, a fog that contained pollutants enveloped all of London. By the time the dense fog cover lifted, more than 150,000 people had been hospitalized ...

How many people died in the Killer Fog?

Researchers now estimate that the total death count was likely more than 12,000 people, as well as thousands of animals. Despite its lethal nature, the exact cause and nature of the killer fog has largely remained a mystery. Recently, a team of researchers has determined the likely reasons for its formation.

What was the cause of the London fog?

Study lead author Renyi Zhang, an atmospheric scientist at Texas A&M University, said that sulfate was a big contributor to the deadly London fog. Sulfuric acid particles, which formed from the sulfur dioxide that was released from the burning of coal, were also a component of the fog.

How many people died in the London fog?

There was no panic, as London was infamous for its fog. In the weeks that ensued, however, statistics compiled by medical services found that the fog had killed 4,000 people. Most of the victims were very young or elderly, or had pre-existing respiratory problems.

What was the Great Smog of 1952?

The Great Smog of London, or Great Smog of 1952, was a severe air pollution event that affected London, England, in December 1952. A period of unusually cold weather, combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions, collected airborne pollutants—mostly arising from the use of coal—to form a thick layer of smog over the city.

What is the worst air pollution in the world?

The Great Smog is thought to be the worst air pollution event in the history of the United Kingdom, and the most significant for its effects on environmental research, government regulation, and public awareness of the relationship between air quality and health.

What caused the smog in London?

On 4 December 1952, an anticyclone settled over a windless London, causing a temperature inversion with cold, stagnant air trapped under a layer (or "lid") of warm air. The resultant fog, mixed with smoke from home and industrial chimneys, particulates such as those from motor vehicle exhausts, and other pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, formed a persistent smog, which blanketed the capital the following day. The presence of tarry particles of soot gave the smog its yellow-black colour, hence the nickname "pea-souper". The absence of significant wind prevented its dispersal and allowed an unprecedented accumulation of pollutants.

How did the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 help reduce air pollution?

Environmental legislation since 1952, such as the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1954 and the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968, led to a reduction in air pollution. Financial incentives were offered to householders to replace open coal fires with alternatives (such as installing gas fires), or for those who preferred, to burn coke instead which produces minimal smoke. Central heating (using gas, electricity, oil or permitted solid fuel) was rare in most dwellings at that time, not finding favour until the late 1960s onwards. Despite improvements, insufficient progress had been made to prevent one further smog event approximately ten years later, in early December 1962.

What was the effect of the Great Smog on London?

A period of unusually cold weather preceding and during the Great Smog led Londoners to burn much more coal than usual to keep themselves warm. While better-quality "hard" coals (such as anthracite) tended to be exported to pay off World War II debts, post-war domestic coal tended to be of a relatively low-grade, sulphurous variety (similar to lignite) which increased the amount of sulphur dioxide in the smoke. There were also numerous coal-fired power stations in the Greater London area, including Fulham, Battersea, Bankside, Greenwich and Kingston upon Thames, all of which added to the pollution. According to the UK's Met Office, the following pollutants were emitted each day during the smoggy period: 1,000 tonnes of smoke particles, 140 tonnes of hydrochloric acid, 14 tonnes of fluorine compounds and 370 tonnes of sulphur dioxide which may have been converted to 800 tonnes of sulphuric acid. The relatively large size of the water droplets in the London fog allowed for the production of sulphates without the acidity of the liquid rising high enough to stop the reaction, and for the resultant dilute acid to become concentrated when the fog was burned away by the sun.

What happened to public transport in London?

Public transport ceased, apart from the London Underground, and the ambulance service stopped, forcing individuals to transport themselves to hospital. The smog was so dense that it even seeped indoors, resulting in cancellation or abandonment of concerts and film screenings as visibility decreased in large enclosed spaces, and stages and screens became harder to see from the seats. Outdoor sports events were also cancelled.

Why did people die in London during the Great Smog?

Instead, they died because they had fallen into the River Thames and consequently drowned. Due to the low visibility, many pedestrians couldn't even see their feet.

How long did the smog last in London?

Due to a temperature inversion, the smog was trapped over the city just as with London. The smog lasted for five days . Similarly, in 1930, the Meuse River Valley Smog killed up to 60 people in Belgium. Again, it was a combination of industrial air pollution and climate issues: The air settled rather than moving.

How long did the Donora smog last?

Due to a temperature inversion, the smog was trapped over the city just as with London. The smog lasted for five days.

When was the smog in London?

According to Britannica, most were used to it. It was the "Great Smog of London" after all, not the "First Smog of London.". And while the term "smog" might date back to 1905, complaints about air pollution in London date back to the 1280s.

What is the most interesting thing about the Great Smog of London?

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about the Great Smog of London is that no one panicked.

What caused the smog in London?

And if people (and power plants and industrial buildings) hadn't been using so much coal, the smog wouldn't have been so great. But the Great Smog of London, like many similar events, was caused chiefly by a temperature inversion. Cool night air remained cool due to the chilling effect of the dark smoke. As hot air rose, the cool air continued to linger close to the ground, without a breeze to move it.

Why did London have a great stink?

London, being such a large city, had its share of pollution-based mishaps before. During the Great Stink, the River Thames flooded with sewage and dead animals , causing all manner of distress and illness. In fact, it was partly the Great Stink that encouraged Londoners to keep their homes well-ventilated — they believed that the odor from the Great Stink could potentially kill them. But these were the growing pains of a country with a large and increasing population. Recently, London's population has actually started to decline, for the first time since 1988.

When was the Great London Smog of 1952?

The Great London Smog of 1952. Heavy smog in Piccadilly Circus, London, on December 6, 1952. Jennifer Rosenberg is a historian and writer who specializes in 20th-century history. When a thick fog engulfed London from December 5-9, 1952, it mixed with black smoke emitted from homes and factories to create a deadly smog.

How many people died in the London smog?

This smog killed about 12,000 people and shocked the world into starting the environmental movement.

How did the inversion prevent the smoke from the coal burning in London's homes?

An inversion prevented the smoke from the coal burning in London's homes, plus London's usual factory emissions, from escaping into the atmosphere. The fog and smoke combined into a rolling, thick layer of smog.

What law improved air quality in British cities?

This law dramatically improved air quality in British cities. The 1968 Clean Air Act focused on the use of tall chimneys by industry, which dispersed the polluted air more effectively. Rosenberg, Jennifer. "The Great London Smog of 1952.". ThoughtCo, Oct. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-great-smog-of-1952-1779346.

What act eliminated coal burning?

Taking Action. The black smoke had caused the most damage. Thus, in 1956 and 1968 the British Parliament passed two clean air acts, beginning the process of eliminating the burning of coal in people's homes and in factories. The 1956 Clean Air Act established smokeless zones, where smokeless fuel had to be burned.

How many people died from smog in 1952?

The effects of the smog were long-lasting, however, and present-day estimates rank the number of deaths to have been about 12,000. After the events of 1952, the seriousness of London’s air pollution became undeniable. Slow to act at first, the British government ultimately passed the Clean Air Act four years later, in 1956, ...

What was the Great Smog of 1952?

The Great Smog of 1952 was a pea-souper of unprecedented severity, induced by both weather and pollution. On the whole, during the 20th century, the fogs of London had become more infrequent, as factories began to migrate outside the city. However, on December 5, an anticyclone settled over London, a high-pressure weather system ...

What caused the Great Smog of London?

Great Smog of London, lethal smog that covered the city of London for five days (December 5–9) in 1952, caused by a combination of industrial pollution and high- pressure weather conditions. This combination of smoke and fog brought the city to a near standstill and resulted in thousands of deaths.

How did the London smog affect London?

Aside from the Underground, transportation was severely restricted. Ambulance services suffered , leaving people to find their own way to hospitals in the smog. Many people simply abandoned their cars on the road. Indoor plays and concerts were cancelled as audiences were unable to see the stage, and crime on the streets increased. There was a spike in deaths and hospitalizations relating to pneumonia and bronchitis, and herds of cattle in Smithfield reportedly choked to death. Though the fog lasted five days, finally lifting on December 9, its severity was not fully appreciated until the registrar general published the number of fatalities a few weeks later, which amounted to about 4,000. The effects of the smog were long-lasting, however, and present-day estimates rank the number of deaths to have been about 12,000.

Why is London known as a pea-souper?

Known as “ pea-soupers” for their dense, yellow appearance, such all-encompassing fogs had became a hallmark of London by the 19th century. But polluted fog was an issue in London as early as the 13th century, due to the burning of coal, and the situation only worsened as the city continued to expand.

When did air pollution become a problem?

Air pollution reached a crisis in the 19th century with the spread of the Industrial Revolution and the rapid growth of the metropolis. The increase of domestic fires and factory furnaces meant that polluted emissions surged considerably.

When was the Clean Air Act passed?

Slow to act at first, the British government ultimately passed the Clean Air Act four years later, in 1956, as a direct response to the lethal fog. The act established smoke-free areas throughout the city and restricted the burning of coal in domestic fires as well as in industrial furnaces.

What was the weather like in 1952?

It was cold and clear the morning of December 5th, 1952 in London. People were hunkered down in their homes, huddled around their fireplaces waiting out an unusually early cold snap. The skies soon began to fill with coal smoke and soot and as the day progressed, a fog rolled in, limiting visibility throughout the city. The chimney smoke mixed with the fresh fog, turning it a sickly yellow colored pea-soup. Londoner’s went about their day as usual; heavy fog was very commonplace and their was no need for alarm. Yet over the next five days, this fog hovered over the city. The lack wind and a high pressure system combined to keep the fog cloud from moving. It continued to grow during those five fateful days, nearly covering 30 square miles, growing more dense with each passing day until people literally could not see their hands in front of their faces. Transportation came to a standstill; air travel was impossible. No ships could safely move along the waterways, and driving a car was impossible. Even the dependable British Railway system was unable to operate. Those souls who dared to step outside found themselves slipping and sliding as the walkways were covered with a greasy black film. Upon returning to their homes, those same travelers found that greasy black film also covered their exposed skin and clothing as if they had been working in a coal mine.

How many people died in the 5 day fog?

The casualties from the five day fog were unbelievable. Over 150,000 people were hospitalized for breathing related issues and the human death toll surpassed over 12,000. No accurate records were kept of the number of animals that died, but without the protection of a house to at least shield them somewhat, most assume that nearly all exposed animals died. The aftermath was an eye-opening message for the British Government with so many dead. Some likened it to the aftermath of German bomb attacks made during World War II. Bodies were discovered in unexpected places as many of the victims simply stopped breathing and quietly dropped in their tracks.

What was the Clean Air Act of 1956?

This Act put restrictions on burning coal within areas of high population and established smoke-free zones. Those with coal fireplaces were forced to switch to alternative heating systems. This piece of legislation was the beginning of the end for the coal industry as oil and natural gas systems became the norm. Even with the new law, the change was slow and not everyone could afford to simply invest a large sum of money into their dwelling. A smaller event in 1962 killed an additional 750 people, reinforcing the validity of the law.

What happened in 1952?

The Great Smog of 1952 became so thick and dense that by December 7 there was virtually no sunlight and visibility was reduced to five yards in many places. Eventually, all transportation in the region was halted, but not before the smog caused several rail accidents, including a collision between two trains near London Bridge.

How many people died in the smog in 1952?

Heavy smog begins to hover over London, England, on December 4, 1952. It persists for five days, leading to the deaths of at least 4,000 people. It was a Thursday afternoon when a high-pressure air mass stalled over the Thames River Valley.

Why did London get trapped in the cold?

The problem was exacerbated by low temperatures, which caused residents to burn extra coal in their furnaces. The smoke, soot and sulfur dioxide from the area’s industries along with that from cars and consumer energy usage caused extraordinarily heavy smog ...

What was the worst smog?

The worst effect of the smog, however, was the respiratory distress it caused in humans and animals, including difficulty breathing and the vomiting of phlegm. One of the first noted victims was a prize cow that suffocated on December 5.

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