While Cop25 is being staged in Madrid - the international summit on climate change to try to implement the Paris Agreements - today marks the 67th anniversary of an environmental catastrophe that has marked the history of Europe. It was the 5 December 1952 when London was struck by theGreat Smog”, a blanket of thick and foul-smelling smoke that enveloped the English capital for four days.
The causes must be sought in a sharp increase in the level of pollution occurred in the previous days, which coincided with some particular weather conditions. The result was that a layer of cold, stagnant air was trapped under a layer of warmer air, resulting in a total lack of ventilation and air exchange.
The situation was aggravated by the cold of those days, which forced the Londoners to increase the use of stoves. The most used fuel was low quality coal, with a high sulfur content. To this smoke was added the pollution deriving from vehicle exhausts and that produced by industrial chimneys.
The fog was so thick that he surrendered impossible for cars to travel. Public transport and airplanes stopped. The authorities asked to hold the children at home, not only to minimize their exposure to toxic fumes, but also because the risk of losing them on the street was very high. Even the cattle at Smithfield Market died of asphyxiation.
The first estimates spoke of 4 victims, but more recent research has led to tripling this number: the toll has risen up to 12 thousand dead, to which were added 100 patients in serious conditions.
The "Great Smog" went down in history as the worst air pollution event ever known to Britain. The catastrophe had a significant impact on the scientific community and on public opinion, leading first of all the environmental question.
Despite the initial resistance of the government, then chaired by Winston Churchill, a law was developed in the following years to reduce emissions, the "Clean Air Act”, which was promulgated by Parliament and approved by the Queen on 5 July 1956.
