ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION — FRENKIEL 275 



Those methods consist essentially of one or more of the following: 

 (1) Improvement of chemical or physical processes with consequent 

 reduction of the quantity of pollutants produced; (2) collection of 

 pollutants at their sources; (3) transformation of noxious pollutants 

 into inoffensive ones; and (4) improvement of the methods for evacu- 

 ating pollutants into the atmosphere. When these methods are suffi- 

 cient to eliminate the inconveniences and dangers of contamination 

 and are still economically acceptable, then the atmospheric pollution 

 problem can be easily solved. Often, however, under certain meteoro- 

 logical conditions, there still remains too much pollution even after all 

 these methods have been applied. 



The question then arises : What other methods can be used to reduce 

 further the atmospheric contamination? An obvious answer is that 

 one should improve the methods already existing and, more particu- 

 larly, develop new ones that will give better results. Science and 

 technology will have to play an important role in such development. 

 As in many other technical problems, scientific work on atmospheric 

 pollution depends on basic research in various fields of science. That 

 a better understanding of those problems is necessary and that basic 

 research will be helpful should be self-evident. But what is important 

 to know now is: What can we do about atmospheric pollution with 

 the help of the knowledge presently available ? Can we, for instance, 

 eliminate the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere from the 

 various industrial plants or other sources of pollution without altering 

 the useful operation of the industry or of those sources ? The answer 

 is a very simple one: Yes, we can. 



You may then wonder why it is not being done in those urban 

 areas where atmospheric pollution is an already well-recognized 

 nuisance. There are no doubt many reasons for the lack of effective 

 action, but they do not include the one that says action is technically 

 impossible because of our limited understanding of the basic problems 

 of atmospheric pollution. If we are ready to pay the price of the 

 necessary equipment and to accept the possibly complicated methods 

 of pollution abatement, we can reduce the contamination to any 

 desired degree. The expenses and inconveniences required to achieve 

 these results should be measured by the importance that is placed on 

 the need for the reduction of atmospheric pollution. 



How important is the reduction of atmospheric pollution at pres- 

 ent? There is still need for much research to provide a quantitative 

 determination of the dangers, inconveniences, and costs of atmospheric 

 contamination. Nevertheless, it is a recognized fact that several 

 urban areas produce too much pollution already and that a further 

 increase in the contamination of their atmosphere may become very 

 dangerous under certain meteorological conditions. Urban areas 



