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192
SECTION VI
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
When Virgil, that famous Roman poet of the 1st century B.C.,
said "he destroys his health by labouring to preserve it" he was,
I feel sure, referring to the hypochondriac and not to those seeking
to preserve the quality of their surroundings.
Environmental pollution, aspects of which I covered in my
Report for 1968, has recently been afforded increased publicity
nationally. To a large extent this can be attributed to the growing
realisation that greater longevity and an increasing population
demands careful re-assessment and a more realistic approach than
hitherto to the conservation of our natural resources. Such has
been the awakening of the country's conscience that a Royal
Commission on Environmental Pollution has been established. Its
terms of reference are wide and, ipso facto, its task monumental.
Direct chemical pollution of soil, water and air by industry, not
excluding our essential services, would seem to be the greatest
present and potential hazard but other problems arising indirectly,
such as contamination of food, wild-life, etc., are becoming of
some moment. Undoubtedly, some causes of pollution are obvious
but others are infinitely more difficult to determine for, in certain
circumstances, many common substances could be held to be
harmful.
For our advances in technology and material progress, which
cannot be opposed, we must recognise that there is a price to pay
other than in cash. We need to see that the cost is neither too
high nor that it results in a debasement of the quality of life.
In this respect cost yard sticks are useful financial disciplines
but, because in times of economic stress they tend to settle for
expediency, long-term planning for some aspects of preventive
medicine sometimes becomes impossible. Furthermore, cost effectiveness
is incapable of taking account of human misery and future
services could be adversely affected by too rigid an adherence to a
fiscal policy.
However, whilst it cannot be denied that environmental pollution
is of extreme importance it must be admitted that constant
reiteration is likely to lead to monotony which, in turn, may give
rise to apathy. For the interested, therefore, I suggest a re-reading
of the relevant section of my previous report concerning pollution.