ABSTRACT
New technology can clearly have long-lasting effects that are not readily apparent during the initial development and application of the methods. The internal combustion engine, for example, utilized a new hydrocarbon energy resource to mechanize and industrialize world economy. The generation of hydrocarbon smog and the ultimate dependence of world economies on the availability of oil, however, were complications of the new technology that were not readily forseen. Even a technological development as trivial as the fluorocarbon propellants used in aerosol cans has been accompanied by a growing concern that the propellants may be causing significant damage to the ozone layer that protects the earth from intense ultraviolet radiation. The list of real or potential problems that have arisen as a direct result of technology is long and continues to grow.
