POLLUTION OF THE ENVl RONMENT 19’70 has been designated European Conservation Year. This has focused an unprecedented amount of attention on the problems of pollution in modern society. In the debate that is emerging in a torrent of newspaper articles, books and television programmes it is essential that chemists take a responsible, positive stand. It is not sufficient to decry opposition to chemical activities that is based on misinformation or a failure to understand salient facts. Nor can one strike high-minded attitudes to the effect that what scientists do is outside the public domain and should remain a mystery to the uninitiated. It can be forcefully argued that the chemist is responsible for ensuring that the public has a clear understanding of the intricacies behind such simplicitudes as ‘pollution is bad, no pollution is good’. As a groundwork for his own efforts as a member of a community of citizens, it is necessary that the scientist should have access to balanced background information on environmental pollution. It is hoped that the first three articles in this issue of RIC Reviews will contribute some of the essential information to chemists, who will then be able to pass it on, in unhysterical vein, to the community at large.