Systems approach toward nationwide air-pollution control I. The problem, the system, the objective

There is currently an acute awareness of the serious nature and spread of air pollution over many parts of the United States and other industrialized countries. Not only is air pollution costly, it is a hazard to health and life. The most recent federal estimate1 set the direct annual cost of air-pollution damage (in 1968) to materials, homes, vegetation, and health in the U.S. at $16.1 billion¿and this is not the full accounting. Far more costly in human terms have been the episodes of intense air pollution that have taken a tragic toll of lives several times during this century: more than 1000 deaths in 1909 at Glasgow, Scotland; a large toll during 1936 in the Meuse Valley, northern Europe; 20 deaths and an estimated 6000 ill in 1948 at Donora, Pa.; and the infamous London ``episode´´ of 1952 in which 4000 persons died within a few days. It may be conjectured that mere happenstance alone has preserved cities such as New York or Los Angeles from disasters of this magnitude. In view of the seriousness of the present pollution problem, IEEE Spectrum is presenting a three-part article¿of which this is the first part¿intended to explore a systems approach to large-scale air pollution. Part I covers the overall concept of a nationwide system, Part II will explore the necessary technical requirements, and Part III will outline mathematical models and describe control techniques.