Poisoned Air

Concern Over Poisoning of Atmosphere

Pollution of the atmosphere in urban areas of the United States, once no more than a tolerable annoyance, in the short space of 15 years has become a disturbing threat with overtones of deadly menace. Smoke that used to darken and smirch cities like Pittsburgh has given place to the smog that periodically chokes Los Angeles and other American communities. Meanwhile, people of country and city alike, east and west, face a dread evil of uncertain proportions in the new phenomenon of radioactive fall-out.

Up to World War II, control of air pollution was mostly a question of smoke abatement. Since then the vast growth of industrial production, and in particular the expansion of the chemical industries, have made air contamination ...