ABSTRACT
Not long ago, the nation's natural resources were exploited indiscriminately. Waterways served as industrial pollution sinks; skies dispersed smoke from factories and power plants; and the land proved to be a cheap and convenient place 72to dump industrial and urban wastes. However, society is now more aware of the environment and the need to protect it. The American people have been involved in a great social movement known broadly as "environmentalism." Society has been concerned with the quality of the air one breathes, the water one drinks, and the land on which one lives and works. While economic growth and prosperity are still important goals, opinion polls show overwhelming public support for pollution controls and pronounced willingness to pay for them. This chapter presents the reader with information on pollutants and categorizes their sources by the media they threaten.
