EDITORIAL PAGE; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I was well aware of William Fyfe’s view on the earth’s ecosystems (T.N.M., Jan. 27/92) when I made my remarks about “political environmentalists.” I agree that overpopulation is the root cause of all environmental problems. I also agree with his statement that we should do the best we can, with the knowledge we possess and the resources available.

The first error of most studies on physiological damage is when massive doses are imposed on tiny creatures, then interpolated on a linear relationship to a zero concentration. Body effect is anything else than linear and man cannot build a cleaning machine 100% efficient to attain it. The second error is to apply these imaginings to industry, when industrial random sampling is assumed to be an exposure index. Industrial sampling is extremely random and designed for one purpose: locate areas not up to environmental regulations so they can be quickly corrected. Unless a degree of accuracy for random sampling versus total exposure is established, the exposure index has no value. I agree that all scientific data and conclusions need to be critically analyzed.

The greatest harm is created when politicians pick up these inaccurate conclusions, which results in political solutions to scientific problems that are neither economic nor scientific.

The decision to tear down a school because there was a radon-producing soil below the foundation was a wasteful political solution. There was more than one way to remove or reduce the hazard economically.

Unless resources are used wisely, there is no chance that improvement in the environment will take place. Certainly Canada cannot do it if it used all its resources on environmental improvement only.

Honest people must expose present-day environmentalism for what it is — “a pseudo religious movement” designed to frighten people into its fold. Fyfe is a start in the right direction.

R.W. Thompkins

Emeritus Professor

Mining Engineering

Queen’s University

Kingston, Ont.