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3. Public perception
Issues associated with drilling discharges have received a growing degree of public attention as reflected by articles in the New solids controlientist. These articles have not focused specifically on synthetic mud pollution as distinct from mineral oil based muds but as the environmental data described above becomes more established it is clear that the distinction between the two is irrelevant. The issue has also been adopted in the party political arena attracting further recent coverage in local and national media and public interest in the subject is growing. Criticisism is largely directed at the DTI for endorsing less stringent legislation than other European countries.