Attitude change pollution

Biodegradable polymers are likely to be increasingly important materials in the future, finding use in applications as diverse as medicine, agriculture, and pharmacy. For applications such as packaging, they remain expensive. However, with changing public attitudes towards enviromnental pollution, it is likely that objections based purely on cost will dimiiush, and that such applications will also grow in the years ahead. 

Present evaluation of the public health aspects of air pollution should give consideration to a change in the attitude of the public in this regard. The repercussions of the Gauley Tunnel episode on silicosis probably will be dwarfed by the effects of Donora on air pollution. 

Apart from catastrophic releases through accidents, nuclear fuels do not contribute directly to atmospheric pollution. However, the safe disposal of radioactive products and the decommissioning of old nuclear plants are problems that have not yet been acceptably solved. Currently it seems improbable that nuclear energy production will expand beyond the current level of about 6% unless there are significant changes in political and public attitudes. There is also the possibility that the use of solar energy may expand. Photovoltaic cells convert solar radiation directly into other forms of energy. 

---