Some Aspects of the Air Pollution Problem

Abstract

Most of you, no doubt, have considered from time to time what a fine world this would be if human nature was just a little different than it is and all we mortals followed what was laid down for us many years ago as the second great commandment—“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” What a difference it would make in the pattern of our everyday lives! Each of us, for example, when we got into our automobile would drive it always at a safe speed with due courtesy to our fellow drivers and the pedestrians on the streets. Murder, robbery and rape would be unknown words; what few policemen we needed would have little to do except assist old ladies up and down the curbs and give directions to the strangers within our gates.

The 30th Anniversary Meeting of the American Meteorological Society (St. Louis, 3–6 January 1950) included a symposium on atmospheric pollution. This opened on the evening of January 3 with a panel discussion; four of the papers given at that time are herewith reproduced.