118 The Environmental Debate
linear rate. Acceleration arises from both popu-
lation growth and technological advance. One
of the most significant new elements in man’s
economic thinking is that the rate of economic
growth can be accelerated by planned research
and development. Accordingly, our expendi-
tures for industrial research and development
have been expanding impressively over the past
decade. By comparison, expansion in research
activities on the attendant health hazards has
been substantially less.
Growing public concern about air and water
pollution, food additives, and toxic residues
and radiation exposure has, in some cases, led
to pressures or demands for control actions for
which rational scientific and technological pro-
cedures do not now exist.
To a large extent, the programs and activities
for dealing with recognized environmental health
problems have been developed and carried out each
somewhat independent of the other, in response
to a specific urgency.... Too often the important
interrelated biological and social implications have
not been given adequate attention.
...A unifying concept is needed if the
approach to specific problems is to be most
effective.
New chemicals, many of them with toxic
properties or capabilities, are being produced
and marketed, and put into use at a rapid rate.
These include plastics, plasticizers, additives to
fuels and foods, pesticides, detergents, abrasives.
It is estimated that 400-500 totally new chemi-
cals are put into use each year. With many of
these products, new waste byproducts are cre-
ated which must be disposed of.
Although many commonly used chemi-
cals are checked for toxicity, much is still
unknown about their long-term potential haz-
ards. The total dose of chemicals absorbed by
man through numerous channels in minute and
diluted amounts over his lifetime may be damag-
ing his health.
* * *
Water and air, food and milk, solid wastes,
insects and rodents, and shelter are among the
channels through which man’s health may be
endangered. Controls directed at these vehicles
may eliminate or reduce not only known hazards,
but unknown or little understood ones as well.* * *
Today, the modern supermarket and frozen
food locker permit the use of a wide variety of
foods, with resulting nutritional benefits. But
modern methods of growing and processing
foods introduce new hazards of pesticide spray
residuals, preservatives and other food additives,
and even contaminants related to packaging,
which require attention for control.Source: Surgeon General, “Environmental Health,” Report
to the House Committee on Appropriations (Washington,
D.C.: Public Health Service, Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, January 1960), in Departments of
Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare Appropriations
for 1961, Hearings before the Subcommittee on
Appropriations, House of Representatives, 86th Cong.,
2nd sess. (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office,
1960), pp. 4-5, 6, 7-8, 9, 10.