The Smog Tragedy of Donora and The “Big Smoke” Tragedy of London
The Smog Tragedy of Donora, PA October, 27th - 28th 1948
On Wednesday October 27th 1948 through Thursday the 28th an environmental tragedy occurred in Donora, PA. By Friday there was a notable increase in illness and the first death occurred early on Saturday, and by late that night 17 persons were dead. Two more died on Sunday and another a week later. Rain came on the Sunday afternoon, and cleared away the smog, but hundreds of people were still ill. 20 people died and thousands became ill. It was especially severe in old people and those with chronic cardio-respiratory disease. After extensive biological studies it became apparent that pollutants attacked the respiratory tract of the victims.
Pollution from the coal fields and industrial waste from the mills in Pittsburgh contributed to the atmospheric contaminants. Due to little or no wind these containments accumulated. The data collected indicated that this was no accident but resulted from the accumulation of atmospheric pollution during an unusually prolonged stable air condition or air inversion, such as is seen regularly in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
Fluoride, chloride, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, cadmium oxide, and sulphur dioxide were all found present in the evidence gathered. It is believed a combination of two or more of them are responsible for the illnesses and deaths that resulted. Also these gases adsorption are enhanced by particulate matter, being carried deeper into the lungs than they would be in the absence of such particulate matter. Sulphur dioxide and its oxidation products are most likely to be transported this way. Both solid and liquid suspended particles were present in Donora during this event.
The “Big Smoke” Tragedy of London, England December 5th - 9th 1952
From December 5th through December 9th, 1952 a heavy, motionless layer of smoky, dusty fumes from London’s million or more coal stoves and local factories settled in the London basin. This fog
On Wednesday October 27th 1948 through Thursday the 28th an environmental tragedy occurred in Donora, PA. By Friday there was a notable increase in illness and the first death occurred early on Saturday, and by late that night 17 persons were dead. Two more died on Sunday and another a week later. Rain came on the Sunday afternoon, and cleared away the smog, but hundreds of people were still ill. 20 people died and thousands became ill. It was especially severe in old people and those with chronic cardio-respiratory disease. After extensive biological studies it became apparent that pollutants attacked the respiratory tract of the victims.
Pollution from the coal fields and industrial waste from the mills in Pittsburgh contributed to the atmospheric contaminants. Due to little or no wind these containments accumulated. The data collected indicated that this was no accident but resulted from the accumulation of atmospheric pollution during an unusually prolonged stable air condition or air inversion, such as is seen regularly in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
Fluoride, chloride, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide, cadmium oxide, and sulphur dioxide were all found present in the evidence gathered. It is believed a combination of two or more of them are responsible for the illnesses and deaths that resulted. Also these gases adsorption are enhanced by particulate matter, being carried deeper into the lungs than they would be in the absence of such particulate matter. Sulphur dioxide and its oxidation products are most likely to be transported this way. Both solid and liquid suspended particles were present in Donora during this event.
The “Big Smoke” Tragedy of London, England December 5th - 9th 1952
From December 5th through December 9th, 1952 a heavy, motionless layer of smoky, dusty fumes from London’s million or more coal stoves and local factories settled in the London basin. This fog