Differing views: the environment and pollution problems

Attitudes towards many environmental problems often have little to do with rational analysis and are thus not susceptible to scientific evaluation. A person's view towards the environment may be based on subconscious and irrational fears that have been shaped by where and how he lives (city lover vs. ex-urbanite); his training and position (biologist vs. engineer); his economic status (rich vs. poor) and his philosophic cast of mind (optimist vs. pessimist).