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Surviving the
Killer Smog
Local Resident Speaks to Third-Year Class at Trent University
Bruce
Knapp, well-known writer and local activist, visited the Trent campus
on Thursday, September 19 to speak to a group of third-year students studying
pollution ecology.
A resident of England for a large part of his life, Bruce was part of
the British military in 1952, a year that saw a tragic event unfold. Dubbed
the "killer smog" of 1952, there were over 4,000 excess deaths
reported as a result of the incident.
Bruce introduced himself to the class and played an audio tape he had
created about the event. Professor Magda Havas, co-instructor of the class
with Tom Hutchinson, explained a bit about Bruce’s background before
the tape commenced.
"Of all the lectures you hear this year, this will be one you’ll
remember," she said. "Air pollution episodes are increasing
in Ontario and it is estimated 1,800 people die each year in Ontario because
of pollution. We are lucky to have Bruce Knapp here today to talk about
his experience of living through the London Smog of 1952."
Students listened intently to the account of the tragedy and were subsequently
provided with a time to ask questions.
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