Environmental progress and problems: a chemical industry perspective

At the 79th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, a panel discussion was conducted by top environmental leaders detailing some of the country's pollution control accomplishments and the chemical industry's contribution to them. Attention is focused on how to sort out and slate for action major health risks from pollution versus less important ones. Air and water quality, while still far from perfect, are significantly improved from 1970. Air quality standards have been achieved in most areas of the country for sulfur dioxide, total suspended particulates, nitrogen dioxide and lead. Carbon monoxide and ozone levels are still as problem in some metropolitan areas. Water quality has shown less improvement than air quality. The chemical industry has been a major player in this air and water progress.