What was the London black smog event of 1952?
In December 1952, the people of London experienced a killer smog. Fog, black smoke and sulphur dioxide were trapped beneath a slow moving cold air mass for over a week. During this short period of time, over 4,000 people perished. Doctors attributed the deaths to heart and respiratory problems from over-exposure to pollutants. The pollutants were all from coal burning within the residential area. Since then, coal fires have been replaced by central heating and industry has moved away from urban areas. Air quality in London has never been worse than it was that fateful week.
