THE 1970 CLEAN AIR ACT MAY BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH

In our October issue, we reported evidence that the 1970 Clean Air Act is legally nebulous and technically unsound. But now a new element enters the picture. The director of EPA's National Environmental Research Center, Dr. John Finklea, has announced the discovery of dangerous side effects of catalysts. a dubious method of emission control into which the auto industry was bludgeoned by the EPA a year ago. Apart from the job catalytic convertors are intended to do, namely, oxidizing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, they also convert the sulfur in the gasoline to particulate sulfate and to sulfuric acid, both widely recognized health hazards. According to Dr. Finklea, particulates such as sulfates are related to "lung disease. aggravated heart disease in older people and a more frequent occurrence in asthma . . . Long term exposure to relatively low levels of sulfate could result in subtle decreases in lung functions in children."

Though the quantities of sulfates produced by catalysts in automobiles would be small, smaller than the amounts produced by other sources, the concentrations building up along highways and other traffic corridors could present a health hazard.

The 1970 Clean Air Act is almost certain to be amended as the required deadlines draw nearer exposing sections of the act as technically unsound legally deficient, and practically unenforcible. But Congress is unlikely to tackle that job until some time next year. Meanwhile, the auto industry is locked into the catalyst course, and if this course should have to be abandoned again, the losses will have mounted to hundreds of millions of dollars. The bill will be paid by consumers who will buy the gas guzzling, lowpowered, high priced 1976 models, children of Ralph Nader's vendetta against the auto industry.