editorial
Pollution control technology New technology will have to be developed to solve tomorrow’s pollution problem-and many of today’s
A h i s month, ES&T presents its 1969-70 POLLUTION CONTROL DIRECTORY. The first directory, published in 1968, proved useful and popular with those who select pollution control equipment, instruments, materials, and services. Undoubtedly, some of the success of the directory-and, for that matter, of ES&T i t s e l f d a n be attributed to the fact that it covers all aspec’ts of pollution and environmental control, not just a few. There also is little doubt that many people who have pollution control responsibilities have only recently assumed them, and so are relatively unfamiliar with the technology that is availablenow-to help solve their problems. While the directory’s usefulness is considerable, at the same time, it is important to recognize that the extent to which any such guide can help is limited. This limit corresponds exactly to the limits of current technology. (Pollution control technology
is in an early stage of development-the result of belated recognition of a need for action.) Current technology is not sufficient to solve all of today’s pollution problems, let alone tomorrow’s; if it were sufficient, pollution control would be entirely a matter of moral and financial commitment, devoid of a technological component. Certainly, commitment-both moral and financial-is called for; commitment, not only to utilize today’s pollution control technology but, more important, to develop tomorrow’s. And no one is in a better position or has more incentive to fulfill these promises than the people who have the problems which present knowledge cannot solve. The POLLUTION CONTROLDIRECTORY and ES&T’Smonthly issues can help, but they never can substitute for the determined efforts of committed individuals or companies. ’
Volume 3, Number 10, October 1969 879
