Period+1+-+London

**  London Smog Incident of 1952 Days of Toxic Darkness ** A great smog effected London from late November to early December of 1952. The smog was caused by a widespread use of soft brown coal for heating fuel. Sulfur dioxide was the main cause of the smog. It is estimated that about 7,000 people died as a result of the smog.



http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2002/dec/londonfog/bobby_300.jpg Until the 12th century, London citizens had burnt wood for fuel. However, as forests became scarce, Londoners turned to other means such as coal. Coal smoke from Londoners chimneys combined with clean, natural fog in a deadly combination. During this time, a cold air moved off the English channel and it laid over London. The cold air simply stayed put, and so the Londoners needed to keep warm. The still air mixed with the coal was not a good mix.

A thick haze covered all of London and it was very difficult for many to see. Even some shows were cancelled because it was so hard for people to see the stage.

http://www.virginmedia.com/images/1952-smog.jpg The infamous smog of 1952 was not the first of its kind, but it was by far the worst. After the five-day smog killed nearly 4,000 people, along with another 8,000 in the months that followed. London started to take action to avoid furter incidents. Parliament enacted the Clean Air Act in 1956, effectively regulating the amount of coal burnt in London.

Londoners could no longer deny that pollution, of any kind, was indeed a major problem. http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/Resources/Fact_Sheets/Key_Stage_4/Air_Pollution/images/03a.jpg  "London smog" //A Dictionary of Public Health//. Ed. John M. Last, Oxford University Press, 2007. //Oxford Reference Online//. Oxford University Press. Cumberland Valley High School. 30 October 2008   <  http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t235.e2623  >

"London's Historic 'Pea-Soupers'" //EPA Journal//. Urbinito, David, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1994. //EPA Journal (1994)//. 30 October 2008 http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/perspect/london.htm "The Great Smog of 1952." __Met Office__. Ministry of Defence. 30 Oct. 2008 .

Nagourney, Eric. "Why the Great Smog of London Was Anything but Great." __New York Times__. 12 Aug. 2003. New York Times. 31 Oct. 2008 .


 * Comments:**