1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND LAW
While many of the world’s people were enjoying the benefits of technological
and economic expansion and higher living standards, many scientists and the
public became aware that this extraordinary development was not without
cost. Indeed, the impact of global environmental changes that have
accompanied development in various areas has become a growing concern.
One such concern is the impact on human health. As early as in the 1950s and
1960s, many urban dwellers and residents living in the vicinity of industrial
plants began to recognize undesirable changes occurring in the environment,
particularly a general deterioration of the quality of air and water. A great deal
of both field and laboratory research was conducted, with the results revealing
the seriousness of environmental pollution problems. Subsequently, it was
widely recognized that there was an urgent need to curb further deterioration
of the environment and protect human health against the adverse effects of
environmental pollution.
Recognition of the need led to the establishment in many countries of new
national policies on the environment, particularly in the more developed
countries. In the U.S., the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was
signed into law on January 1, 1970. Concomitantly, the Council on
Environmental Quality was established with the responsibility for studying
the condition of the nation’s environment on a regular basis. In the same year,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to be in charge of
the environmental programs within the U.S. Increased awareness of the effects
of environmental pollution on living systems, particularly on humans, has
precipitated legislation and regulation around the world. In the U.S., the first
Clean Air Act was written in 1970 and it has been amended three times since, in
1974, 1977, and 1990. This legislation was actually a compilation of
amendments to an earlier one, but was tighter and required the establishment
of ambient air quality standards with a margin of safety such that the most
sensitive people would suffer no adverse health effects.
In 1971, the EPA identified six pollutants as requiring a national ambient
air quality standard. These pollutants were:
particulate matter
sulfur dioxide (SO 2 )
carbon monoxide (CO)
nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )
photochemical oxidants
hydrocarbons
They were known to influence human morbidity and mortality, and to have
adverse effects on visibility, materials, vegetation, and other factors related to
public welfare. The EPA also specified for the first time that the federal
government would determine the best available technologies to be used in
achieving performance standards for industrial plants, automobiles, and other
Introduction
3
[16:55 26/8/04 P:/CRC PRESS/4365 MING-HO.751 (1670)/4365-001.3d]
Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-001 Page: 3 1-12
While many of the world’s people were enjoying the benefits of technological
and economic expansion and higher living standards, many scientists and the
public became aware that this extraordinary development was not without
cost. Indeed, the impact of global environmental changes that have
accompanied development in various areas has become a growing concern.
One such concern is the impact on human health. As early as in the 1950s and
1960s, many urban dwellers and residents living in the vicinity of industrial
plants began to recognize undesirable changes occurring in the environment,
particularly a general deterioration of the quality of air and water. A great deal
of both field and laboratory research was conducted, with the results revealing
the seriousness of environmental pollution problems. Subsequently, it was
widely recognized that there was an urgent need to curb further deterioration
of the environment and protect human health against the adverse effects of
environmental pollution.
Recognition of the need led to the establishment in many countries of new
national policies on the environment, particularly in the more developed
countries. In the U.S., the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was
signed into law on January 1, 1970. Concomitantly, the Council on
Environmental Quality was established with the responsibility for studying
the condition of the nation’s environment on a regular basis. In the same year,
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established to be in charge of
the environmental programs within the U.S. Increased awareness of the effects
of environmental pollution on living systems, particularly on humans, has
precipitated legislation and regulation around the world. In the U.S., the first
Clean Air Act was written in 1970 and it has been amended three times since, in
1974, 1977, and 1990. This legislation was actually a compilation of
amendments to an earlier one, but was tighter and required the establishment
of ambient air quality standards with a margin of safety such that the most
sensitive people would suffer no adverse health effects.
In 1971, the EPA identified six pollutants as requiring a national ambient
air quality standard. These pollutants were:
particulate matter
sulfur dioxide (SO 2 )
carbon monoxide (CO)
nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )
photochemical oxidants
hydrocarbons
They were known to influence human morbidity and mortality, and to have
adverse effects on visibility, materials, vegetation, and other factors related to
public welfare. The EPA also specified for the first time that the federal
government would determine the best available technologies to be used in
achieving performance standards for industrial plants, automobiles, and other
Introduction
3
[16:55 26/8/04 P:/CRC PRESS/4365 MING-HO.751 (1670)/4365-001.3d]
Ref: 4365 MING-HO YU Chap-001 Page: 3 1-12