ABSTRACT
We are fortunate to live in a world where awareness of the detrimental effects of pollution is on the increase. Such awareness will help ensure protection of the biosphere and safeguard future generations. The oil and petrochemical industries, which have been responsible, to a large extent, for the development of the modern world and vast improvements in living standards in many places, are often targeted mercilessly by environmental activists. This is done without due regard to the criticality of oil both as a fuel and as the fundamental raw material for countless pharmaceuticals, dyes, plastics, and consumer products.
