A Plea for Continuous Fundamental Research on the Problems of River Pollution

Abstract

THE difficulty in deciding a status of pollution in narrow waters is well illustrated by Prof. Meek's letter in NATURE of November 17, and the present writers hold that it is necessary to search widely and deeply before it is likely that the information desired will be obtained. Indeed, the first result of the formation of local sub-committees for the investigation of river pollution referred to by Prof. Meek has been to bring out the lack of critical and co-ordinated information regarding the biological, physical, and chemical conditions in fresh-water streams, rivers, and in estuaries. The absence of this kind of information must render much work on the conditions in polluted waters inconclusive or even futile. The present letter is therefore written to demonstrate in a general way the necessity for organised continuous work on the biological, physical, and chemical conditions in streams, rivers, and estuaries, whether polluted or not.