Secret History S06E09 – Killer Fog 1952 (28 September 1999) [VHSrip (Xvid)]

This torrent was uploaded from www.TheBox.bz (signup is open and free) - the home of all British TV



Title: Secret History S06E09 – Killer Fog 1952

File Name: killerfog.avi

Channel Transmitted: Channel Four

Date: Tuesday, 28 September 1999

Source: TVRip

Format: XviD

Category: Documentary / Educational



About The Series:

--------------------------------

Secret History was a long running British television documentary series. Shown on Channel 4, the Secret History brandname was used as a banner title in the UK, but many of the individual documentaries can still be found on US cable channels (like Discovery Times or The History Channel International) without the branding. It can be seen as Channel 4's answer to the BBC's Timewatch.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_History_(TV_series)
/>


















About The Episode:

--------------------------------

The Great Smog (or "Big Smoke") of London is the severe smog that affected the city during the period of Friday 5th to Tuesday 9th December 1952, and is acknowledged as the UK's worst air pollution event. Earlier reports suggested that 4000 died prematurely and 100,000 were made ill by the Great Smog, but more recent research has shown that the number of smog-related deaths was underestimated and is now thought to be considerably higher – around 12,000. The London Smog of 1952 is acknowledged as one of the most significant pollution episodes in history in terms of its impact on environmental research, government regulation, and public awareness of the relationship between air quality and health.



Events



Sources of Pollution



The very cold weather preceding and during the smog meant that Londoners had to burn more coal than usual to keep warm. Post-war domestic coal tended to be of a relatively low-grade, sulphurous variety, which increased the amount of sulphur dioxide in the smoke (economic necessity meant that higher quality coal tended to be exported). In addition there was pollution and smoke from vehicle exhausts – particularly from diesel-fuelled buses which had replaced the recently scrapped electric tram system – and from industrial and commercial sources. Prevailing winds had also blown heavily-polluted air across the English Channel from industrial areas of Europe.



Weather



On Thursday 4th December 1952, an anticyclone settled over a windless London causing a temperature inversion with very cold, stagnant air trapped under a layer (or "lid") of warm air. The resultant fog mixed with chimney smoke, particulates (e.g. from vehicle exhausts) and other pollutants (particularly sulphur dioxide) to form a persistent smog which blanketed the capital (the presence of tarry particles of soot gave the smog its yellow-black colour – hence the nickname "peasouper"). The absence of significant wind prevented its dispersal and allowed an unprecedented build up of pollutants.



Impact on London



Although London was accustomed to thick fogs this one was denser and longer lasting than any previously seen. Visibility was reduced to a few yards ("It's like you were blind", commented one observer) making driving difficult or impossible. Public transport ground to a halt – apart from the London Underground – and the ambulance service stopped running, forcing the sick to make their own way to hospital. The smog even seeped indoors, resulting in the cancellation or abandonment of concerts and film screenings. Outdoor sports events were also affected.



Health Impact



Initially, there was no great panic, as London was renowned for its fog. In the weeks that followed, however, statistics compiled by medical services found that the fog had killed 4,000 people. Most of the victims were very young, elderly, and/or had pre-existing respiratory problems. Deaths in most cases were due to respiratory tract infections from hypoxia, and due to mechanical obstruction of the air passages by pus arising from lung infections caused by the smog.

The lung infections were mainly bronchopneumonia or acute purulent bronchitis superimposed upon chronic bronchitis.



A total of 8,000 people died in the weeks and months that followed.



Environmental Impact



The death toll formed an important impetus to the modern environmental movement, and led to a rethinking of air pollution, as the smog had demonstrated its lethal potential. New regulations were put in place restricting the use of dirty fuels in industry and banning black smoke. In the years that followed, various legislation such as the Clean Air Acts of 1956 and of 1968, as well as London's (Various Powers) Act of 1954 greatly restricted air pollution.



http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/640001
/>


Director: MONAGHAN, David

Director: CONNELLY, Steve

Production Company: David Monaghan Productions

Producer: MONAGHAN, David

Producer: CONNELLY, Steve

Script: MONAGHAN, David

Script: CONNELLY, Steve



A/V Info:

--------------------------------

Size: 368 MB (376,832 Kb / 385,875,968 bytes)

Running Time: 0:49:42.16

Format: .avi 528 x 400

Data Rate: 895 kbps

Video Codec: XviD (XviD 1.0.3)

Video Info: 25 fps 1536 Kbits/sec

Audio: English

Audio Codec: MPEG-1

Audio Bit Rate: 128 kbps

Audio Info: 48kHz PCM Stereo





===============================



Some of the other rather spiffing shows available now and always if you signup free @ www.TheBox.bz:



Comedy: The Office, Peep Show, Coupling, Chef, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, The IT Crowd, Brass Eye, Nathan Barley, Young Ones, Monty Python, Blackadder, Alan Partridge, Father Ted, Coupling, Little Britain, Mr Bean, Extras, Green Wing, Mighty Boosh



Drama: Casualty, Holby City, The Bill, Hustle, Skins, Shameless, Ashes To Ashes



Entertainment: Faking It, Derren Brown, Scrapheap Challenge, Strictly Come Dancing, Wife Swap



Game/Quiz Shows: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Have I Got News For You, Deal Or No Deal (UK), Q.I.



Education/Documentary: Planet Earth, Horizon, Panorama, Mark Thomas (Comedy) Product



Food: Hell's Kitchen, Jamie Oliver, The F Word, Kitchen Nightmares, Masterchef, Great British Menu, Gordon Ramsay's Cookalong



Home/Property/Garden: Property Ladder, How Clean Is Your House?, Changing Rooms, Grand Designs, Homes Under The Hammer, To Buy Or Not To Buy



Motoring: Top Gear, Fifth Gear



Music: Top Of The Pops, Jools Holland, Glastonbury



Reality: Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out of Here!, Any Dream Will Do, Grease, Pop Idol, Wife Swap, X Factor, Badger Or Bust, Apprentice UK, Dragons' Den, Britain's Got Talent



Sci-Fi: Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Torchwood, Primeval



Sport: Football (Soccer), Cricket, Rugby, Snooker, Darts, Formula One (F1GP)



Soaps: Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Neighbours, Hollyoaks



Style/Fashion: What Not To Wear, Project Catwalk



Kids: Teletubbies, Blue Peter, Tikkabilla, Andy Pandy, Postman Pat, Shoebox Zoo, Brum, Bob The Builder, Young Dracula, Sarah Jane Adventures, Shaun The Sheep