1952day.year
Beginning of the Great Smog in London. A cold fog combines with air pollution and brings the city to a standstill for four days. Later, a Ministry of Health report estimates 4,000 fatalities as a result of it.
A dense, polluted smog engulfs London for four days in December 1952, causing thousands of deaths and crippling the city.
In early December 1952, a cold high-pressure system traps pollutants from coal fires over London, creating the 'Great Smog.'
Thick, yellowish fog reduces visibility to mere meters, grinding transportation and daily life to a halt.
Hospitals are overwhelmed as respiratory illnesses soar and an estimated 4,000 people perish within days.
The crisis exposes the lethal impact of industrial pollution on urban populations and public health.
Subsequent reports lead to the Clean Air Act of 1956, pioneering modern air quality regulations in the UK.
1952
Great Smog
Ministry of Health