Includes bibliographical references (pages 26-31).

This pamphlet contains an introduction to some of the basic issues involved with the control of toxic substances. It is hoped that anyone unfamiliar with the field will find it easily understandable, but it is suspected that specialists in related fields will find it somewhat brief: It is intended to be a starting point, not the final word. There is suggested additional reading, which is also general in nature. The pamphlet offers: Useful definitions of pollution and toxics; A categorization of toxics by both chemical properties and effects; A review of the problems in detection and identification of low-level ubiquitous toxics; and perhaps most important, an exposition that toxics are not a new look at an old problem, but are a whole new problem.