A decade of study of the air pollution problem has revealed so little support for our air pollution control program and the popular concensus that supports it that the author has had difficulty in even communicating on the subject. An effort is made herein to state what can only be described at present as a minitory viewpoint in such a way as to penetrate the mindset usually encountered when the subject of air pollution is broached.
Prologue
Air pollution is a subject on which I have found it difficult to communicate; primarily because the currently prevailing viewpoints in this field appear to me to be unsupported by, if not in actual conflict with, the available data. To attempt to make this clear by reviewing the record requires more time and space than are generally available. Alternatively, simply to state my views, clearly and succinctly, places me in the unfavorable position of appearing polemic, against the concensus, radical. If my views so appear to you I can only point out that they were not adopted on the spur of the moment but have been under development and test for more than a decade. Prior reviews reaching similar conclusions appeared as Ellsaesser (1971, 1975a). As an example, it is my opinion that the present AQSs (Air Quality Standards) of this state and nation are invalid. They may well have been adopted by sincere and wellintentioned people, but they are nontheless invalid. They were introduced and are defended as essential to protect public health. This, in my opinion and in the opinion of many whom I respect, is not supported by the available data.