EnviroHealth Podcast - Season 2, Episode 1: Dr. Gary Fuller on 'The Evolution of Air Pollution' - Part One

Host Dr. Joseph Levermore speaks with Dr. Gary Fuller, a clean air champion and expert in air pollution from Imperial College London's Environmental Research Group. They discuss the fascinating history of air pollution from the deadly London smog of 1952 to current challenges and research.

Topics Covered:

• Dr. Fuller's unconventional career path from physics to air pollution research
• The Great London Smog of 1952 that claimed approximately 12,000 lives
• Historical perspectives on air pollution through art (Monet, Turner) and measurements
• Victorian London's PM2.5 levels (~200 μg/m³) compared to today's levels (~10-15 μg/m³)
• How smoke was once viewed as a symbol of prosperity and health
• The first air pollution measurement networks in the UK
• The importance of preserving historical air pollution data and samples

Quotes:

"Even though we look back on these times and say they were very polluted, we have to think about now and the health impact of air pollution still today that persists... just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there."

Credits:

• Host: Dr. Joseph Levermore
• Co-host: Steve Campbell
• Guest: Dr. Gary Fuller (Imperial College London)
• Executive Producer: Neil Japtha
• Production: EnviroHealth Podcast

Resources:

For more information about air pollution and its health impacts, visit here.

Connect with us:

Follow EnviroHealth Podcast on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram and Spotify.

© 2025 EnviroHealth Podcast. All rights reserved.

EnviroHealth Shorts - Season 2 Episode 1: The Deadly London Smog of 1952 - Environmental Disaster That Changed Air Pollution History

In this environmental health short, Dr. Gary Fuller shares powerful firsthand accounts of the devastating London smog of 1952, including his own father's harrowing experience navigating through air pollution so thick people couldn't see their own feet. Learn how this catastrophic air pollution event killed thousands—estimates ranging from 4,000 to 12,000 victims—making it London's deadliest environmental disaster prior to COVID-19, surpassing both WWII bombing casualties and Victorian cholera outbreaks.

Air Pollution Topics Covered:

• The formation and deadly impact of the "pea souper" air pollution that descended on London December 5, 1952
• Personal stories of surviving through the impenetrable smog, including cinemas where screens were obscured by pollution
• Dr. Fuller's father's experience helping a lost lorry driver just 500 meters from his depot in hazardous air quality
• Comparison of historical air pollution portrayals (including The Crown's recreation) with the actual environmental health crisis
• How this air pollution disaster catalyzed changes in environmental health policy and air quality management
• Historical context of occupational exposures to air pollution, particularly asbestos, and their health impacts

Environmental Health Discussion Highlight: "It was a huge environmental disaster. But it set about a change in the way in which we recognize air pollution as being harmful to health, and the way in which we manage air quality."

For the full conversation exploring historical pollution levels, artistic depictions of air pollution, and the evolution of monitoring techniques, check out our complete environmental health episode with Dr. Fuller.

EnviroHealth Podcast Credits:

• Hosts: Dr. Joseph M. Levermore and Dr. Steven Campbell
• Environmental Health Expert: Dr. Gary Fuller (Imperial College London)
• Executive Producer: Neil Japhtha
• Production: EnviroHealth Podcast

Environmental Health Resources: For more information about air pollution and its health impacts, visit our environmental health resource page.

Connect with EnviroHealth Podcast: Follow EnviroHealth Podcast for more environmental health content on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram and Spotify.

© 2025 EnviroHealth Podcast. All rights reserved.

EnviroHealth Shorts - Season 2 Episode 1: From Theoretical Physics to Air Pollution

In this short, Dr. Gary Fuller of Imperial College London shares his career trajectory from disillusioned physicist to world-renowned air pollution researcher. What began as a two-week contract in 1993 unexpectedly blossomed into a three-decade career studying the air we breathe. Dr. Fuller reveals how abandoning theoretical physics for more practical environmental work led him to the London Air Quality Network, where his "temporary" position evolved into a lifelong mission.

Topics Covered:

• Dr. Fuller's unconventional path from theoretical physics to air pollution research
• How disillusionment with abstract models pushed him toward practical environmental science
• The serendipitous two-week contract that turned into a 30-year career
• The founding years of the London Air Quality Network (est. 1993)

Quote Highlight: "I arrived to do this for two weeks to help out when the London Air Quality Network was being created back in 1993. And here I am, what, 30 odd years later, and I'm still here."

For the full conversation exploring the deadly London smog of 1952, historical pollution levels, and pioneering measurement techniques, check out our complete episode with Dr. Fuller.

Credits:

• Hosts: Dr. Joseph M. Levermore and Dr. Steven Campbell
• Guest: Dr. Gary Fuller (Imperial College London)
• Executive Producer: Neil Japhtha
• Production: EnviroHealth Podcast

Resources:

For more information about air pollution and its health impacts, visit here.

Connect with us:

Follow EnviroHealth Podcast on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Instagram and Spotify.

© 2025 EnviroHealth Podcast. All rights reserved.

In the eighth episode of the Envirohealth podcast, Joseph Levermore spoke with Dr. Leon Barron, Dr. Andrew Prentis, and Professor Guy Woodward about the risk environmentally present chemicals pose to biotic life and human health.

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In the sixth episode of the Envirohealth podcast, Emily spoke with Dr. Tim Lucas about his work using mathematical and statistical modelling of disease incidence. This interview explores his involvement in the Malaria Atlas Project, where he and others developed disaggregation regression models for predicting malaria incidence.

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In the fourth Episode of the Envirohealth podcast, Joseph spoke with Dr. Keng Tiong Ng about his research on identifying trace chemicals, even illicit drugs, in the aquatic environment.