Atmospheric Aerosol

:: Section 7

Health Effects of Atmospheric Aerosol

I. London Smog Disaster

Beginning from the 5^th of December 1952, an estimated 4000 people died in the worst smog disaster on record in London. The deaths which resulted from the smog can be attributed primarily to pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and heart failure. Many who died already suffered from chronic respiratory or cardiovascular complaints. Many victims also died in their beds from asphyxiation because of the smog. Pollutants such as smoke and sulphur dioxide were believed to be the major causes. In the following graph you can see that the peaks of smoke and sulphur dioxide coincide with that in deaths.