Since the late 1970s the world has experienced a technological revolution propelled by extraordinary scientific progress and rapidly advancing technology. Computers, telecommunications, robotics, biotechnology, lasers, and new materials have brought the global economy to the threshold of a new industrial age. These technological advances are generating profound economic and social changes in many countries, but there is little information on their risks to mankind and the environment. The characteristics of a technology that make it beneficial to one group of people may make it harmful to another and/or to the environment. Advanced technologies frequently use potentially hazardous materials or processes. And in spite of the many precautions and back-up systems used to avoid accidents, some catastrophes have recently occurred. Proponents of advanced technologies point out that they are often safer than some technologies already in use, but no technology is without risk.

Biotechnology, with its advanced techniques of genetic engineering, will have both beneficial and deleterious environmental effects, but the knowledge of those effects is still in its infancy. Industrial applications of genetic engineering probably will be introduced subject to strict safety measures to ensure that genetically engineered organisms are contained. The possibility of accidental release of such organisms, however, cannot be ruled out.

Likewise, the deliberate release into the environment of such organisms for agricultural or environmental purposes may cause health hazards and/or damage to particular ecosystems.

The semiconductor industry uses large quantities of toxic metals, chemicals, and gases. It may be creating great health and safety problems for its workers, the public generally, and the environment. More or less similar problems may be encountered in manufacturing new types of optical fibres, ceramics, composites, and other new materials. An important issue is that most such new materials cannot be easily decomposed; their disposal will create problems never previously encountered. Video display terminals have come into general use in most countries with the increasing use of computers. The manufacture of such terminals creates environmental problems similar to those experienced in the semiconductor industry.

Prevention generally is better than cure. Information on new technologies should be disseminated, therefore, as soon as it is available to allow an assessment of the various risks to society and the environment, and to identify the gaps in knowledge calling for further research by the scientific community. Once the risks have been assessed, measures should be taken to prevent or minimize possible hazards.