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ES&T LETTERS History of acid rain Dear Sir: Comments were requested regarding the article "Acid precipita tion in historical perspective" by Ellis B. Cowling, (ES&T, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1982, p. ΠΟΑ). The feature article was timely, well written, and infor mative. The extensive compilation of references and the tabular presentation of important research certainly pro vides a basis for understanding the nature of the present problem. Thus the article is a valuable reference that will permit interested researchers or administrators to examine research data and methodology in greater depth if they desire. Such articles represent real accomplishments of the objectives of environmental education of the scientific community and interested public. Robert L. Jolley Advanced Technology Section Chemical Technology Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830
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366A Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 16, No. 7, 1982
Fermentation technology Dear Sir: Scientists, engineers, technology managers, and corporate research and development executives from U.S. and European pharmaceu tical, food, chemical processing, and biotechnology companies will have an opportunity to get a first-hand look at state-of-the-art fermentation tech nology in Japan during a 16-day June study mission organized by Technol ogy Transfer Institute with assistance from the Division of Microbial and Biochemical Technology at the American Chemical Society. Dr. Elmer Gaden, the Wills Johnson Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia, will lead the mission. Dr. Gaden, active in fermen tation technology since 1947, has served as editor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering since its establishment in 1959, and is credited with playing a major role in the development of "biochemical engineering" in the U.S. Mission members will examine large-scale manufacturing of com mercial chemicals, intermediates, en zyme and amino acids; recovery and purification fermentation technology; solid substrate fermentation and other novel fermentation techniques; as well
as taking an in-depth look at fermentation plant management, quality control, and automatically controlled systems. Technology Transfer Institute is a Japanese management consulting firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Dusseldorf, and Singapore. Founded in Tokyo in 1969, T T I promotes the international exchanges of information and ideas among scientists, engineers, and businessmen and has conducted more than 800 forums, seminars, and study missions during the past 13 years. For a brochure about the upcoming study mission, contact: Nancy A. Dyer, Project Manager, Technology Transfer Institute, One Penn. Plaza, Suite 1411, New York, N . Y . 10119; (212)947-2648. Biological diversity Dear Sir: I am pleased to comment on the question of " W h y maintain biological diversity?" and on why the question needs to be asked at all (ES&T, Vol. 16, No. 2,1982, p. 94A). I agree with the positions taken by my friends and colleagues Ehrlich, Hubbs, litis, and Turner as to why diversity is significant for the survival of our species. However, I would go back one step and examine why this is a problem. The answer is simple. There are too many of us and we have evolved the technological capacity to alter the biospheric system of which we are a part but without, as a species, understanding the consequences. It is useful to categorize the reasons why we are, or should be, concerned about the preservation of biological diversity on our planet. I see three main categories of reasons, each of which will appeal to different people to a lesser or greater degree. • There are ethical and moral reasons. We, as the one species among the earth's millions that has evolved a culture, a science, and a technology, should accept the role of protector of biospheric diversity. Earth's biosphere has been evolving through hundreds of millions of years. Knowing this, it takes a callous, arrogant, egotistical human being to show no concern about terminating a component species that has evolved through millions of years. This ethical consideration appeals to those at least minimally knowledgeable about biospheric science, about biospheric history and function; unfortunately, most of us woefully lack such knowledge. • There are selfish reasons for maintaining biological diversity relative to a monotonous vs. a diversified
environment. Ask any birdwatcher if he or she would be content with a bird world inhabited solely by robins. Assume that we could replace all of our native vegetation with wheat fields to feed our population. Could we find such a planet esthetically and spiritually tolerable? 1 think not. • Categories 1 and 2 will not appeal to everyone. Category 3 should, as it involves the very survival of our species. Every living species is potentially significant in one way or another for the survival of our own. The biosphere is not static; it is a dynamic, evolving system. Maintenance of the genetic diversity existent in the system maximizes our options for solving critical problems as they arise. Examples are so numerous (as cited in the Josephson article) as to make this set of reasons undebatable. W h a t are the prospects? I find myself only slightly less pessimistic than Turner. If he is right, the future of our species and even of the biosphere is predictably uncertain. I find the statement of Jones that "we also have the problem of feeding a burgeoning world population," to be symptomatic of the limitations of the bureaucratic mind. The burgeoning human population is our planet's greatest threat. Control of population growth is the only answer, not destruction of the biosphere to expand its carrying capacity for a few more generations. Is there hope? There is some hope if the educational process can be tailored to give each person some understanding of basic biospheric science. After more than a third of a century of dealing with college students, I am aware that most of them graduate as functional illiterates insofar as biospheric science is concerned. The situation is even worse with high school graduates. The curriculum should include a mandatory course, at the appropriate level in each, dealing with biospheric science and our place in the biosphere. I am convinced that this would improve the quality of policy decisions at all levels of government and of industry relative to our survival in a livable environment. It might make the difference between survival and nonsurvival.
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Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 16, No. 7, 1982 367A
