Document bBvyeodOxjJY9nr19jmzwnZao

URL-P OvmkaJ A Ejtcinming J155--lMh 5t. K W., W`hinfi^n, D C 20036 Editor MichteJ Hryhn LETTERS Wpft -3Df Managing Editor: William F Fall well Aaaiatant Managing Editor*: David M Kiefer, Jamri H Kneter Donald J Sois$on Staff Editor Ernest L Carpenter v Senior Editors: Earl V Anderson (New York), Lou \ R Ember. Jeffrey L Fox. Wilbert C, Lepkowski, Howard J Sanded fvnr r-$D Aaaociatr Editors: Doron Dagani. Rebecca L. Rawls, Richard J Seltaer AttUUnt Editor. Pamela S. Zurer Editorial Aaaiatant: Theresa L Rome Editing Services: Joyce A Richards (Head), Need for increased world food production Dolores Miner (Editorial Attisunt) News Bureaus: New York: (212)697*3223 William J. Storek (Business Editor). Stephen C. Stinaon and David Webber (Associate Editors) Chicago. (312) 236-7325 Ward Worthy (Head). Joseph Htggin (Associate Editor). Houston (713) 522-6125 Bruce F. Creek (Head). Washington- (202) 872-4496 Janice R Long (Government Editor). David J. Hanson (Associate Editor) West Coast. (415) 665-4971 Rudy M. Baum (Head). Foreign Bureau: London. (01) 540-0414 Dcrmot A. O'Sullivan (Head) and Patricia L. Layman (Associate Editor) Indexer: Nancy R CJeboff Graphics and Production: Elmer M. Pusev Jr. (Head). Leroy Corcoran (Manager), John V. Sinnett (Art Director). Barbara Hayes (Designer). Linda Mattingly (Staff Artist). Diane K- Lilienkamp (Costing! Business Manager: Arthur Poulos Circulation Development; Cynthia C. Smith SIR: In his tetter in the Feb. 21, page 2. Usue of C&EN, Paul R. Wunz Jr. expresses a point made by many; namely, why produce more food iJ it only leads to more people which in turn creates further demands on the food system? Why not concentrate on population control? There is no question that the balance between people and food must be brought under control. In the short-tenn of the next several decades, however, there is no choice but to produce more food if we rule out the calami ties of mass starvation, major war, or drastic believe that birth control, not food production, is the simple answer. 1 point out, however, that virtually all authorities on world hunger agree that poverty, not overpopulation, is the major problem. And population and poverty are not necessarily related: The world's three most densely populated nations--Singapore, The Netherlands, and Japan--have no food prob lems. So, in the short-term, we must increase food production significantly. There is every reason to believe the world will be able to feed itself in the years ahead providing we more fully ADVISORY BOARD: Robert A Alberty, William O. Baker. John D. Baldeschwieler. Eula Bingham, Wilham A. BJanpied. John l. Brauman, George E. Brown Jr., Catherine FenseUu. Mary Good, S. Alien Heinmgcr, James D. Idol )r , Ray R Irani, Kurt Mislow, George C Pimentel. Bryant W Rossitrr Published bv AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (202)572-4600 John K Crum. Executive Director EDITORIAL BOARD: John G Verkadc (CW- man). (>{ Directs*. 0d!'i*in Clayton F Callis, Picfidtni-Ll.\ml Wanen D. Niederhauser, Immediate Pont'Preform Robert W Pam-. Wendell L Dilling, Rjchard M Lemmon. John H* Nelson, and Louis D. Quin. reductions in standards of living as a solution to the problem. If India, for example, begin ning in 19S0, had reduced the birth rate to the replacement value (two children per couple), its population would continue to expand from 675 million to over M0 million by the year 2000. In fact, world population is expected to double by approximately the year 2020. This means world food production must increase by at least as much as it has since the dawn of agriculture 12.000 years ago. and this must be done without adding significantly more land implement existing technologies, vigorously pursue the promise of new chemical and ag ricultural research, improve distribution, and initiate enlightened governmental policies where needed. If these practices are followed, we can meet world food needs and also buy the time nec essary to achieve population stabilization and avoid social unrest created bv starvation and hunger. Bryant W. Rossiter, Chairmen CHZMRA WNII, lniernational Conference, C Copyright 1963, American Chemical Society to the system. on Chemistry (r World Food Supplies: Subscription Service: Send all new and renewal subscriptions with payment to: Director of Finan cial Operations, A^S. 1155--16th 5U N.W., Washington, D.C 20036 All correspondence and. Faced with this challenge, it is tempting to The Heir Frontiers telephone calls regarding changes of address,, claims for missing issues, subscription service, status of record* and accounts should be directed --.to; Manager. Membership L Subscription Services. /ACS, PO Box 3337, Columbus, Ohio 43210. (614) rM2l*377b Changes of Addrets: Include both old and new , T> ^Caddrt saes with ZIP code numbers and mailing la)*el ' 3D *Trom a recent issue. Allow four weeks for cnarjge p--become effective. Claims for missing numbers 1 pyjll not be allowed if loss was due to failure; of of change of address to be received in the L*r4iine specified; if claim is dated (a) North Amer^a: *p%nore than 90 days beyond issue date, (b) *1) other ^foreign, more than one year beyond issue date.ior ^if the reason given is "missing from files." Subscription Rates 1963. Printed or mitrofidie <i mi ^jpditions: nonmembers U.S. 1 yr S34, 2 yr. 564; Coutside VS 1 yr, 156,2 yr. 5112. Air freight rates ^Available on request. Rates above do not apply to k_fionmember subscribers in Japan, who must enter p /"Subscription orders with Manner* Co. Ltd., 3-10 ^fihonbashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103, Japan. LXcL (03) 272-7211. Single copies: Current 52 00. y-4Utes for back issues and volumes are available ^-from Distribution Office. ACS, 1155-- J6th St., pH CD <fd.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. An annual index is ^available for 335 at the same address. Back and i Current issues available on microfilm and micro- 'tiche Contact Microform Program. ACS ^Chemical 6 Engineering News (ISSN 0009-2347) i' published weekly except for the last week: in December by the American Chemical Society at 1155-- Ibth St.. NW., Washington. D.C 20CD6. Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C, and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send Regulating substances by animal testing SIR; In his letter on "High-dose cancer ex periments" (C&EN, Feb. 14, page 4). Joel B. Swam considers the merits ofaiumal tests for the regulation of carcinogenic chemicals and concludes: "In sum there is excellent scientific basis for classifying and regulating substances on the basis of high-dose animal experi ments." In the past, this view was widely accepted. In fact, it was the basis for the Delaney Clause regulating the suitability of food additives. Since then, however, it has lost supporters until today it can no longer be defended. It was medical science that finally clarified the value of animal testing in a publication by the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association entitled "Carcinogen ^Regulation" (JAMA, July 17,1961, page 253).) (JIt includes the following paragraph: J "The Council's consultants agree that to identify carcinogenicity in animal tests does not per *e predict either risk or out come in a human experience. Moreover, an on Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer expressed a similar opinion--quoted below--in its report "Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer," page 316, Na tional Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1982: .. Laboratory animals can be regarded as uniform and controlled populations 'standing-in* for human beings. However, the animals are not human, and the etiolo gy of the cancers they develop may not du plicate that for cancers in humans." In view of these pronouncements, coming from highly qualified scientific judges, state ments, such as "there is scientific reason for regulating substances solely on the basis of high-dose animal experiments," are mislead ing and incorrect. Ernest W. Volkman Fellow, AAAS, LaIrobe. Pa. The proposed R&D budget address changes to Membership 6 Subscription Services. P.O. Box 3337, Columbus. Ohio 472)0. ACS assumes no responsibility' for the statements and opinions advanredJi$ the funultiTitors to its publications, dvertising Management CENTCOM LTD. (Far Ikt of offices ace page 39) agent can metabolize differently in diverse species and even strains of mice. Thus, s substance can be carcinogenic for certain organs in one speries but relatively harm less in other organs or in other species." The National Research Council's Committee SIR: 1 think it is a sad commentary on the priorities of this Administration (and by re flection on the American people) that 65*- of the proposed R&D budget is aimed at im proving our war-making capacity, white a Continued on page 51 4 April 4.1983 CIN