In 1900, London was by far the largest city in the world with a population exceeding 6 million. There were frequent deaths as a result of the contaminated air.
In 1873 approximately 500 people died in London as a result of air pollution, in 1880 2,000. However, the worst outbreak in London was at the end of 1952 where there were some 4,000 extra deaths as a result.
The first mention of the word smog in English was in the Los Angeles Times in 1893. There is a description of the dense, black fog which hit London and killed many. It is then stated that this phenomenon “which a witty English writer once designated by the name smog” results in disease. The word is a mix of fog and smoke. Dr. Henry Des Voeux continued in this vein in 1905 when he lectured on air pollution in London, stating the obvious – that cities genereated emissions not produced in the country – smoky fog or smog.
Air contamination or smog is a problem of developing countries. For example, the normal levels of smog currently to be found in Shanghai China is eleven times higher than the smog ceilings set in Germany – when 50% of the traffic has to be off the road.
15 Jan /14
