Although progress has been made in combatting the most visible and easily controlled forms of pollution (exhaust, industrial waste, sewage, etc.), other pollutants have been largely ignored. Pollutants which are uncontrolled and which are increasingly recognized as dangerous include carbon dioxide, toxic substances such as dioxin, mirex, lindane, mercuric oxide, lead and mercury, and nuclear wastes. Reasons for lack of success in removing these and other pollutants include the following: (1) pollution control efforts have gone into solving those problems which appeared most solvable, (2) more public expenditures have been aimed at correcting problems which have technical solutions, and (3) some important pollutants cannot be controlled by any known technologies. Analysis of data regarding pollutants indicates that uncontrolled pollution exacts real costs on health and property and that cost-effective investment in abatement equipment can yield measurable net benefits. The conclusion is that controlling pollutants will require fundamental changes in life-styles and common business practices. (Author/DB)