Human Effects: London's Great Smog, Dec. 1952

Question 1

What happened? (3)

Answer 1

• Winter of 1952 was very cold, so people were burning especially large quantities of coal in their homes.
• Usually smoke would have risen up into the atmosphere - but due to the anticyclone conditions hanging over the region, the smoke was trapped.
• Fog would from in the mornings and would trap smoke and pollutants even more, creating smog lasting for days.

Question 2

What were the impacts? (5)

Answer 2

• 4,000 people died as a result of the smog.
• Many people suffered from breathing problems.
• Cattle were reported to have chocked and suffocated by the smog.
• Travel disrupted for days.
• Shutting down of industries - lack of workers due to illness.

Question 3

What were the responses?

Answer 3

• Hospitalisation.
• Shutting down of industries.
• Using masks to protect people from breathing in too much smog.
• ‘The Clean Air Act of 1956’ formed later:
  Aimed to control domestic sources of smoke pollution by introducing smokeless zones. In these areas smokeless fuels had to be burnt. Air pollution overall (not just smoke) reduced due to..
• Domestic emissions reduced due to smoke control areas.
• Electric and gas increased, use of coal decreased.
• Relocation of power stations to more rural areas.
• Decline in heavy industry.

Question 4

When was it?

Answer 4

December 1952

Question 5

How many people died?

Answer 5

4,000