Autopsy Evidence Points to Diesel?s Role in 1952 London Smog Episode
Researchers obtained archived lung tissue from autopsies of 16 victims of the London smog disaster over 50 years ago.
Researchers obtained archived lung tissue from autopsies of 16 victims of the London smog disaster over 50 years ago. This provided a unique opportunity to examine the form and composition of the particulate matter found in the lungs of those known to have died from exposure to the smog. Pathologists examined samples from different compartments of the lungs: for instance the airway, airspace, interstituim, and lymph node. This allowed researchers to see what people had been exposed to just before their deaths and over the longer term.
The study found high volumes of ultrafine carbon particles and various metals including lead. But most significant was the evidence of particles associated with diesel fuel, given that London had made a switch from electric trams to diesel buses early in 1952.
Hunt, A., Abraham, J.L., Judson, B., and Berry, C.L. Toxicologic and Epidemiologic Clues from the Characterization of the 1952 London Smog Fine Particulate Matter in Archival Autopsy Lung Tissues. Environmental Health Perspectives. Vol. 111, No. 9, pp. 1209-1214, July 2003.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/] makes the full article available for free online.
