Smog

According to an article I read at history.com, on this day in 1952, a high-pressure air mass stalled over London, England, trapping a lower cold air front atop the city.  Residents of the city responded by burning extra coal in their furnaces.  The air remained trapped over London for four days in an inversion similar to those we experience here in Helena, Montana.  The smoke, soot and sulfur dioxide from the coal, industrial plant emissions, and automobile exhaust quickly developed into a heavy smog.

By December 7, the smog virtually blocked sunlight and reduced visibility in some sections of London to a mere five yards.  All transportation was halted to avoid collisions.  An unusually high number of people began suffering respiratory distress.  Thousands of people died in their sleep.

 

When the smog finally blew away on December 9, authorities estimated that somewhere between 4,000 and 9,000 people died as result of the heavy pollution.

The British government quickly adopted more stringent air pollution regulations and encouraged people to turn away from the use of coal.  

--Mitchell Hegman