Pollution and threats to the environment Books

Book SynopsisAmong the many intense light sources, excimer lasers have a unique set of properties that place them at the forefront of tooling for material processing.Table of ContentsPreface. 1. Excimer Lasers: Current Status and Future Development; U. Rebhan, et al. 2. Compact Phototriggered Switchless Lasers and Very Large X-Ray Preionized Excimer Lasers: Innovative Technologies and New Excimer Lasers; M. Stehle. 3. Maintenance Issues of Excimer Lasers in a Production or Industrial Research Environment; G. Ogura. 4. Pulsed-Laser Ablation; D. Bäuerle, et al. 5. Photophysical Ablation of Organic Polymers; B. Luk'yanchuk, et al. 6. Dynamics of the Vapor Plume in Laser Materials Ablation; E. Stangl, et al. 7. Surface and Three-Dimensional Processing by Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition; O. Lehmann, et al. 8. Chemical Vapour Deposition of Crystalline and Amorphous Carbon, Silicon and Germanium Films; P. Hess. 9. Laser Excitation and Detection of Surface Acoustic Wave Pulses; P. Hess. 10. Gas and Adsorbed-Phase UV Photochemistry of Tetramethyltin (TMT) Probed by In-Situ Optical Diagnostics and Surface-Sensitive Techniques; E. Borsella, et al. 11. Materials Analysis Based on Quantitative Laser Ionization; H. Schroeder, et al. 12. Time-Resolved Diagnostics of Excimer Laser-Generated Ablation Plasmas Used for Pulsed Laser Deposition; D.B. Geohegan. 13. Excimer Laser Induced Permanent Electrical Conductivity and Nanostructures in Polymers; R. Sauerbrey, H.M. Phillips. 14. Photoablation and Surface Modification of Polymers with the Excimer Laser Radiation; S. Lazare, et al. 15. Process of Generating 3d-Microstructures with Excimer Lasers; H.K. Tonshoff, J. Mommsen. 16. Non-Coherent Structure Formation onUV-Laser Irradiated Polymers; E. Arenholz, et al. 17. An Innovative High Repetition Rate Shot Per Shot Acquisition System and its Application to a New Kind of Tropospheric LIDAR Measurement; D. Durieux, et al. 18. Detection of Heavy Metals in Environmental Samples Using Laser Spark Analysis; H. Schroeder, et al. 19. Applications of Excimer Laser Based Remote Sensing Systems to Problems Related to Water Pollution; R. Fantoni, et al. 20. Applications of Lasers in Microelectronics and Micromechanics; D.J. Ehrlich. 21. Excimer Laser for in situ Processing in Microelectronics; M. Meunier, et al. 22. Soft X-Ray Radiation from Excimer-Driven Laser-Plasma Sources; Application to Submicron Lithography; F. Bijkerk, A.P. Shevelko. 23. Excimer Laser Beam Interaction with Metals and Ceramics. Part I: Fundamental Aspects; K. Schutte, H.W. Bergmann. 24. Excimer Laser Beam Interaction with Metals and Ceramics. Part II: Materials Aspects and Applications; H.W. Bergmann, K. Schutte. 25. Pulsed Excimer Laser Crystallization and Doping for the Fabrication of Poly-Si and SiGe TFTs; E. Fogarassy, et al. 26. Excimer Laser Surface Treatment of a S.G. Cast Iron: Possible Application for the Running-In Part of the Automotive Motors; D. Pantelis, et al. 27. Transient Structural Modifications of Sintered Commercial Aluminum Nitride Ceramics Resulting from Low Fluence Excimer Laser Irradiation; A. Jadin, et al. 28. How to Implement New Technology on a Production Line: Via-Hole Drilling with KrF-laser as an Example; F. Bachmann. 29. Coronary Angioplasty with Excimer Laser; S. Avrillier. 30. Corneal Opt

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive synthesis of past, current, and potential future conditions regarding atmospheric sulfur, nitrogen oxides, ammonium, and mercury deposition; surface water chemistry; soil chemistry; forests; and aquatic biota in New York.Trade Review"This volume is an essential resource for those interested in science that supports policy about sulfur, nitrogen, and mercury pollution in New York and beyond. Timothy J. Sullivan is well suited to explain this scientific topic, having been part of its history. The science of environmental response and recovery is even more critical in the United States today in an era of climate change, as well as around the world as nations like China struggle with similar environmental challenges in a growing economy." -- Ivan Fernandez, Distinguished Maine Professor in the School of Forest Resources and the Climate Change Institute at the University of MaineTable of Contents1 Background and Purpose1.1.Atmospheric Deposition in New York1.2. Air Quality Management1.2.1. Clean Air Act1.2.2. Regional Haze Rule1.2.3. Federal Water Pollution Control Act1.2.4. Other Legislation1.3. Ecosystem Functions and Services1.4. Goals and Objectives2. Resource Sensitivity to Atmospheric Deposition2.1. Geology2.2. Soils2.3. Forest Vegetation2.4. Hydrology and Hydrodynamics2.5. Wetlands2.6. Surface Water2.6.1. Streams and Lakes2.6.1.1. Acid-Base Chemistry2.6.1.2. Nutrients2.6.2. Estuaries and Near-Coastal Marine Waters3. Principal Stressors3.1. Sulfur, Nitrogen, and Mercury Emissions and Deposition3.1.1. Sulfur Emissions and Deposition3.1.1.1. Sulfur Emissions into the Atmosphere3.1.1.2. Sulfur Deposition3.1.2. Nitrogen Oxide and Ammonia Emissions and Deposition3.1.2.1. Nitrogen Emissions into the Atmosphere3.1.2.2. Nitrogen Deposition and Other Watershed N Sources3.1.3. Mercury Emissions and Deposition3.1.3.1. Mercury Emissions into the Atmosphere3.1.3.2. Mercury Deposition3.2. Watershed Disturbance3.2.1. Timber Harvest and Fire3.2.2. Land Use Change3.2.3. Invasive Species3.2.4. Other Disturbances3.2.5. Multiple Stress Response3.3. Mercury Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification3.4. Climate Change3.4.1. Influence of Soil Freezing on N Cycling3.4.2. Extreme Events4. Chemical Effects of Atmospheric Deposition4.1. Sulfur4.1.1. Upland Sulfur Cycling Processes4.1.2. Wetland Sulfur Cycling Processes4.1.3. Surface Water Sulfur Cycling Processes4.2. Nitrogen4.2.1. Upland Nitrogen Cycling Processes4.2.2. Wetland Nitrogen Cycling Processes4.2.3. Fresh Surface Water Nitrogen Cycling Processes4.2.4. Coastal Nitrogen Cycling Processes4.2.5. Nitrogen Saturation4.3. Dissolved Organic Carbon4.3.1. Upland Processes4.3.2. Wetland Processes4.3.3. Surface Water Processes4.4. Base Cations and Aluminum4.4.1. Upland Processes4.4.2. Wetland and Surface Water Processes4.5. Acid-Base Interactions4.5.1. Soil-Water Interactions4.5.2. Upland Processes4.5.3. Base Cation Depletion4.5.4. Wetland and Surface Water Processes4.5.4.1. Chronic Acidification Processes4.5.4.2. Episodic Acidification Processes4.6. Nutrient Interactions4.6.1. Terrestrial Effects4.6.2. Wetland Effects4.6.3... Surface Water Effects4.6.3.1. High Elevation Lakes4.6.3.2. Great Lakes4.6.3.3. Coastal Waters4.7. Mercury Interactions4.7.1... Upland Processes4.7.2... Wetland Processes4.7.3... Surface Water Processes5. Biotic Effects of Atmospheric Deposition5.1. Terrestrial Resource Response to Acidification, Eutrophication and Mercury Input5.1.1... Red Spruce Response to Acidification5.1.2... Sugar Maple Response to Acidification5.1.3... Vegetation Response to Nitrogen Supply5.1.4... Avian Response to Acidification5.1.5... Mercury Methylation5.1.6... Effects of Mercury on Humans5.2. Effects on the Biology of Freshwater Ecosystems5.2.1... Phytoplankton5.2.2... Zooplankton5.2.3... Benthic Macroinvertebrates5.2.4... Fish5.2.4.1. Effects of Acidification on Fish5.2.4.2. Effects of Mercury on Fish5.2.4.3. Effects of Environmental Factors on Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish5.2.5... Fish-Eating Birds and Mammals5.2.5.1. Fish-Eating Birds5.2.5.2. Fish-Eating Mammals5.2.6... Other Life Forms5.2.7... Community Metrics5.2.7.1. Taxonomic Richness5.2.7.2. Indices of Biotic Integrity5.3. Effects on Coastal Aquatic Biota5.3.1... Phytoplankton in Coastal Waters5.3.2... Submerged Aquatic Vegetation5.3.3... Shellfish and FishChapter 6. Historical Patterns of Effects6.1. Paleoecological Studies6.2. Watershed Model Hindcast Studies6.3. Recent Trends in Monitoring Data6.3.1... Wet and Dry Deposition6.3.2... Soils6.3.3... Surface Waters 6.3.3.1. Chemistry6.3.3.2. BiologyChapter 7. Extrapolation of Site-Specific Data to the Broader Region7.1. Methods of Regionalization7.2. Regionalization of Survey Data 7.3. Regionalization of Long-Term Monitoring DataChapter 8. Projected Future Responses of Sensitive Resources to Reductions in Acidic Atmospheric Deposition8.1. Modeling Approaches8.1.1... MAGIC8.1.2... PnET-BGC8.1.3... SPARROW8.1.4... WATERSN8.1.5... ASSETS8.2. Projections Based on Existing and Future Emissions ControlsChapter 9. Critical Load9.1. Approaches9.2. Critical- and Target-Load Calculations9.3. Utility to Policy Makers9.4. Linkages to Biological ResponseChapter 10. Climate Linkages10.1. Temperature10.2. Water Quantity and QualityChapter 11. Linkages with Ecosystem Services11.1. Forest and Freshwater Aquatic Resources11.2. Coastal ResourcesChapter 12. Active InterventionChapter 13. Summary and Important Data Gaps and Recommendations

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of essays investigating Rachel Carson's 1962 book, Silent Spring. The contributors explore the book's effectiveness in conveying its disturbing message and the rhetorical strategies that helped to create its wide influence.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlarming environmental degradation makes ever more urgent the reconciliation of political economy and sustainability. Landand the Given Economy examines how the landed basis of human existence converges with economics, and it offers a persuasive new conception of land that transcends the flawed and inadequate accounts in classical and neoclassical economics.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores the interplay between bodies, soil, industrial emissions, and the wealth of dynamic particulate matter that passes in between. At the same time, the book emphasizes the crucial function of narrative expression for making sense of this modern-day reality and for shifting existing power dynamics as exposed communities exercise their voices.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Iron and Water provides important information about Minnesota’s early environmental movement from someone who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. Grant J. Merritt’s involvement as a citizen activist, an environmental attorney, and the head of a state environmental agency offers significant insights into the efforts to protect the natural resources that have shaped Minnesota today."—Kevin Proescholdt, author of Glimpses of Wilderness"In this beautifully told and often dramatic story, Grant J. Merritt’s singular voice narrates both a memorable family history and key battles to protect Lake Superior and other resources. Iron and Water is a monumental addition to our environmental literature."—Dave Dempsey, author and senior advisor at FLOW (For Love of Water)"Iron and Water is really about the passionate commitment and valiant effort of a man and his concerned colleagues to ensure that Minnesota’s environment is protected. In that respect, Grant Merritt’s enthralling story is a model for activists everywhere."—Foreword Reviews"Iron and Water is a short book, but it is a wealth of history that many younger Minnesotans might not be aware of. For folks who lived through the stories, it’s a reminder of how things have changed, as Merritt would say, some for the better, some not."—Bulletin"Merritt has a unique perspective."—The Star Tribune"Iron and Water is the absorbing and genial story of a champion of Minnesota’s natural resources. It’s is engaging, funny in spots, frustrating at times, and ultimately inspiring."—Agate MagazineTable of ContentsContentsPrologueThe Merritt Family and the Mesabi Iron RangeThe Mesabi Iron RangeThe Merritts Build into Duluth“What Rockefeller Did to Us”My Early Years in DuluthEntering Politics in the SixtiesEnvironmentalism and the Reserve Mining ControversyWhat Is Being Dumped in Lake Superior?The Stoddard ReportAn Old Fashioned with Robert TraverThe First Earth DayMinnesota DFL PoliticsThe Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyTaconite TailingsEstablishing Environmental PoliciesI’m in Trouble with the LawReserve Mining and AsbestosThe Minnesota Experimental CityWe Defeat Reserve Mining and Save Lake SuperiorCitizen ActivistFrom Public Servant to Private PracticeBattling for the Environment in the SuburbsFighting a Virus in Lake SuperiorParks and TrailsRecognizing Progress—and Staying AlertA Lifetime of Change on Isle RoyaleEpilogueAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTourism is at once both a beloved pastime and a denigrated form of popular culture. Romanticized for its promise of pleasure, tourism is also potentially toxic, enabling the deadly exploitation of the cultures and environments visited. For many decades, the environmental justice movement has offered toxic tours, non-commercial trips intended to highlight people and locales polluted by poisonous chemicals. Out of these efforts and their popular reception, a new understanding of democratic participation in environmental decision-making has begun to arise. Phaedra C. Pezzullo examines these tours as a tactic of resistance and for their potential in reducing the cultural and physical distance between hosts and visitors. Pezzullo begins by establishing the ambiguous roles tourism and the toxic have played in the U.S. cultural imagination since the mid-20th century in a range of spheres, including Hollywood films, women's magazines, comic books, and scholarly writings. Next, drawing on parTrade ReviewPezzullo's topic and approach are as fresh as her subject matter is fetid.... Her exposure of corporate cooptation of environmentalism ('astroturfing') is eloquent. The discussion of AstraZeneca's manufacturing cycle of making cancer causing herbicides, cancer treatment drugs, and sponsorship of Breast Cancer Awareness is revelatory and awful.... Pezzullo throws the political work of the tour into sharp relief, not merely toxic tours, but potentially all tours. This is excellent work because it points to the possibility of a more active and engaged type of tourism as opposed to a passive and alienated one. - Dean MacCannell, author of The Tourist: A New Theory of the Leisure Class

Read more less

Book SynopsisThrough much of history, humanity's relationship with the earth has been plagued by ambivalence - while enjoying and appreciating the forces of nature, we have also sought to plunder, alter and control them. The author of this study uncovers the cultural roots of our ecological crisis.

Read more less

Book SynopsisInventing Pollution examines new understandings of pollution, centered not on organic decay but on coal combustion, that emerged in the late 19th century in Britain. This change, Thorsheim argues, gave birth to the smoke-abatement movement and to new ways of thinking about the relationships among humanity, technology, and the environment.Trade Review“Anybody interested in the story of how an industrial society learned to manage its interactions with the physical environment would benefit from reading Inventing Pollution.” * Business History Review *“The chapters devoted to the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries set a new standard for our understanding of how, in technological, legislative, and local regulatory terms, the behemoth of nineteenth-century smoke fog came gradually to be tamed, only to be replaced by new collective fears of invisible emissions from new industrial processes.” * Journal of British Studies *“Inventing Pollution is a valuable reminder that air pollution was causing environmental, medical, and political controversies long before it became a focus for protests and regulations in the 1960s. By tracing the many responses to ‘smoke pollution’ in the first industrial nation over the past two centuries, Peter Thorsheim has established himself as a leading environmental historian … His book will be of wide interest on both sides of the Atlantic.”“Drawing on an impressive range of source materials, including some excellent photographs, cartoons, and advertisements, this concise and clearly-written study explores public understandings of air pollution in Britain over the past two centuries.” * Journal of Social History *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAir pollution has been recognised as a potential problem for forests for nearly 150 years. Today, sulphur dioxide, fluorides, heavy metals and ozone are a significant problem, usually from large scale sources in industrial and urban areas. Problems are exacerbated in those regions where there is a poor understanding of the factors involved in forest decline and destruction and no rigorous control over it has been established. This book is the first report from the International Union of Forest Research Organization's (IUFRO) Task Force on Environmental Change and provides an assessment of the extent of air pollution impacts on forests in heavily polluted regions. It includes case studies from Russia, Ontario (Canada), California and the Mediterranean region. It is also the first volume in a new book series covering many areas of forestry research, published by CABI Publishing in association with IUFRO.Table of Contents1: Air Pollution and Forests in Heavily Industrialised Regions: an Introduction, J Oleksyn and J L Innes 2: Risks to Forests in Heavily Polluted Regions, A Luttermann and B Freedman, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada 3: General Characteristics of the Damage to Forest Ecosystems in Russia Caused by Industrial Pollution, N P Vassilieva et al, All-Russian Institute for Nature Conservation, Moscow, Russian Federation 4: The Impacts of Air Pollution on the Northern Taiga Forests of the Kola Peninsula, Russian Federation, O Rigina, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea, Sweden and M V Kozlov, Department of Biology, University of Turka, Turka, Finland 5: The Impact of Heavy Metals on the Microbial Diversity of Podzolic Soils in the Kola Peninsula, G A Evdokimova, The Institute of the North Industrial Ecology Problems, Kola Science Centre, Apatity, Russian Federation 6: Air Pollution Impacts on Subarctic Forests at Noril’sk, Siberia, V I Kharuk, Sukachev Institute of Forest, Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation 7: Landscape Degradation by Smelter Emissions Near Sudbury, Canada and Subsequent Amelioration and Restoration, K Winterhalder, Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada 8: Impact of Air Pollution on the Forests of Central and Eastern Europe, K Vancura et al, Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic 9: Ozone Impacts on Californian Forests, P R Miller and M J Arbaugh, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, Riverside, USA 10: Ozone in the Mediterranean Region: Evidence of Injury to Vegetation, M –J Sanz and M M Millan, Centre for Environmental Studies of the Mediterranean, Valencia, Spain 11: Revitalisation and Restoration of Boreal and Temperate Forests Damaged by Air Pollution, M V Kozlov, Department of Biology, University of Turka, Turka, Finland 12: International Activities to Reduce Pollution Impacts at the Regional Scale, K Bull, ITE Monks Wood, Huntingdon, UK and G Fenech, Environment Canada, Downsview, Canada 13: The Future for Forests in Heavily Polluted Regions, J L Innes and J Oleksyn

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book describes the environmental problems associated with agriculture, particularly the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and the disposal of animal waste. These have become major policy issues in many countries, with the main polluting effect being on water quality. As with other types of pollution, significant reductions in agriculture's contribution to water pollution requires the application of either enforceable regulatory approaches or changes in the economic environment, so that farmers adopt environmentally-friendly production practices. Providing a review and guide to the policy options and their economic administrative and political merits, the reader can develop an understanding of these options and their merits in the emerging policy context. The principal focus is on the developed world, particularly North America and Europe. The book is aimed at advanced students, researchers and professionals in agricultural economics and policy, and environmental and pollTable of Contents1: Agriculture and Water Quality: the Issues, J S Shortle and D G Abler, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA 2: Environmental Instruments for Agriculture, R D Horan, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA and J S Shortle 3: Voluntary and Indirect Approaches for Reducing Externalities and Satisfying Multiple Objectives, R D Horan, M Ribaudo, Economic Research Service, Washington DC, USA and D G Abler 4: Estimating Benefits and Costs of Pollution Control Policies, M Ribaudo and J S Shortle 5: Non-point Source Pollution Control Policy in the US, M Ribaudo 6: Policy on Agricultural Pollution in the European Union, N Hanley, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK 7: Decomposing the Effects of Trade on the Environment, D G Abler and J S Shortle

Read more less

Book SynopsisBiopesticides Series, No. 1During recent decades there has been a steady increase in the use of chemical pesticides in both developed and developing countries. This has caused widespread concern about their impact on human health and on the environment. This is particularly the case in less developed countries which may lack appropriate resources to minimise risks and rectify problems.The purpose of this short book is to provide a review of: Chemical pesticide markets, including global figures, exports from developed countries, and markets in Latin America, Asia and Africa Information on the scale of manufacture, import, export and use of chemical pesticides Examples of direct risks to human welfare in terms of acute poisonings caused by occupational exposure and pesticide residues in food Examples of problems with the storage of obsolete stocks of pesticides in developing countries.The focus is on acute problems in developing countries, particularly in Latin America, Asia and Africa, Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Questionnaire design and target researchers 3: Results of the surveyDelivery and response 4: Type of employment of respondents 5: Research funding of respondents 6: Research Interests 7: Constraints to Biopesticide Research and Development 8: Barriers to Commercialisation 9: Differences between specialisms 10: Differences between regions 11: Discussion 12: Conclusion 13: Appendices

Read more less

Book SynopsisNitrate is ubiquitous. It is present in water, soil, plants and food, and is also a normal human metabolite. The main external sources of nitrate are vegetables and drinking water. This book examines the relationship between nitrates and human health. During the last 50 years or so, nitrate has been feared as the source of the rare condition called methaemoglobinaemia, or "blue baby syndrome", for young infants. Nitrate has also been implicated with causing cancer, through increased formation of carcinogenic compounds. Both claims are based on dubious evidence. This book sets out research results to disprove these assumptions, and goes on to explore the beneficial effects of nitrate in preventing infections, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. It is essential reading for researchers in medicine, and those in agriculture and food industries.Table of Contents1: The history of nitrates in medicine 2: Nitrate, the nitrogen cycle and the fertility of nature 3: The nitrogen cycle 4: The increasing fertility of nature 5: The metabolism of nitrate 6: The basic features 7: The two sources of nitrate: dietary intake and endogenous synthesis 8: The metabolic conversions of nitrate in the body and its fate 9: Nitrate excretion with saliva and its transformation to nitrite in the mouth 10: Nitrate and nitrite in the stomach 11: Nitrate metabolism: a summary 12: Nitrate in body fluids 13: Healthy humans 14: Pathological conditions 15: Conclusions 16: The case against nitrate - a critical examination 17: The risk of methaemoglobinaemia in infants 18: The risk of cancer 19: Other grievances 20: Conclusions 21: Nitrate regulations: presentation and discussion 22: Maximum nitrate levels in drinking water 23: Maximum nitrate levels in food 24: The acceptable daily intake and the reference dose for nitrate in man 25: Concluding comments 26: The beneficial effects of nitrate 27: The anti-infective effects of nitrate 28: Nitrate, blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases 29: Dietary nitrate and gastric cancer 30: Other beneficial effects 31: Conclusion 32: Summary and Conclusions

Read more less

Book SynopsisInternational forums have identified the need for comprehensive, transparent, scientific methods, for the pre-release testing and post-release monitoring of transgenic plants to ensure environmental safety. There is also wide recognition that the regulatory and scientific capacity for conducting these types of assessments needs to be strengthened. In response to these requirements, a GMO Guidelines Project was established - under the aegis of the International Organization for Biological Control - to develop biosafety testing guidelines for transgenic plants. This book is one of the first outputs from this project. The book aims, using the case study of Bt maize, to detail generic approaches to the evaluation of environmental impact of GM technologies. This book focuses on transgenic maize in Kenya. This maize includes genetic material derived from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which naturally produces proteins that are toxic to some insects. The book explores bothTable of Contents1: Bt Maize, Risk Assessment and the Kenya Case Study, 2: The Maize Agricultural Context in Kenya, 3: Problem Formulation and Options Assessment (PFOA) for Genetically Modified Organisms: The Kenya Case Study, 4: Transgene Locus Structure and Expression of Bt Maize, 5: Biodiversity and Non-Target Impacts: a Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya, 6: Gene Flow and its Consequences: a Case Study of Bt Maize in Kenya, 7: Resistance Risks and Management Associated with Bt Maize in Kenya, 8: Risk Assessment of Bt Maize in Kenya: Synthesis and Recommendations,

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is widespread public concern about the effects of nitrate derived from farming on water quality and public health. But research on nitrate during the past decade has revealed wide discrepancies between public perceptions and reality. The main problems from nitrate are ecological changes in coastal and estuarine waters and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. This gas, largely derived from nitrate, is a threat to the ozone layer in the stratosphere and is also a greenhouse gas. This book builds on Farming, Fertilizers and the Nitrate Problem (CABI, 1991) by Addiscott, Whitmore and Powlson but has been restructured to take account of new developments and to bring out more clearly the role of politicians and economists in the 'nitrate problem'.Table of Contents1: Dependance on Nitrogen 2: The Chemistry and Physics of Nitrate 3: The Biology of Nitrate 4: Nitrogen Fertilizer 5: Losses of Nitrogen from Arable Land 6: Losses of Nitrogen from Grassland 7: Nitrate in Freshwater and Nitrous Oxide in the Atmosphere, A J Gold, University Rhode Island, Kingston, USA and C A Oviatt, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, USA 8: Nitrate in Coastal Waters, A J Gold and C A Oviatt 9: Nitrate and Health, N Benjamin, Peninsular Medical School, Plymouth, UK 10: The Politics and Economics of Nitrate 11: Nitrate in Africa: The 'Western Hegemony', K Giller, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands 12: Risk 13: Coming to Terms with Nitrate: Public Attitudes to Science 14: Coming to Terms with Nitrate: Land Use"

Read more less

Book SynopsisCryptosporidium, in its various forms, is a widely recognised cause of outbreaks of waterborne disease. Regulatory bodies worldwide are increasingly requiring the development of fit-for-purpose detection methods for this protozoan parasite, but analysis is often problematic. Bringing together international academic and industry-based experts, this book provides a comprehensive review of the current state of analytical techniques for the detection of Cryptosporidium, as well as looking at likely future developments. In particular, the issues of species identification and oocyst viability are addressed. Quality assurance issues and potential problems associated with the new Cryptosporidium regulations are also highlighted. The extent of the perceived problems and the regulatory backdrop against which the analysis must be carried out are also discussed. Scientists in the water industry, environmental testing laboratories, researchers, consultants, environmental health professionals, food Trade Review"... provides a unique and excellent overview of the challenges faced by any laboratory wanting to detect and enumerate Cryptosporidium in water." * Water SA, Vol 28, No 3, July 2002, p 345 *"... I would expect to see it on the library shelves of any institution seriously concerned with the quality of drinking water." * International Journal of Environment and Pollution, Vol 18, No 2, 2002 *"... well presented ... a particularly useful resource for specialists in the area of environmental monitoring and water quality assessment." * Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Vol 77, Issue 10, October 2002, p 1192 *"... it is ideally structured and presented to act as a baseline introduction to Crytosporidium analysis within the water industry." * Chromatographia, 57, February 2003, No 3/4, p 261 *Table of ContentsCryptosporidium: The Analytical Challenge; Molecular Epidemiology and Systematics of Cryptosporidium parvum; Molecular and Phenotypic Analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts of Human and Animal Origin; Complying with the New Cryptosporidium Regulations; Cryptosporidiosis in Healthy Adult Volunteers; Trial of a Method for Continuous Monitoring of the Concentration of Cryptosporidium Oocysts in Treated Drinking Water for Regulatory Purposes; A Dielectrophoresis System for Rapid Analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum; A Review of Methods for Assessing the Infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum Using In-vitro Cell Culture; Applications of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry in the Analysis of Cryptosporidium; Some Observations on Factors which Affect Recovery Efficiency in Cryptosporidium Analysis; Development of a Novel Method for the Capture, Recovery and Analysis of Cryptosporidium Oocysts from High Water Samples; The Experience of the Leap Proficiency Scheme With Respect to Cryptosporidium Testing; An Evaluation of the Current Methods for the Detection and Enumeration of Cryptosporidium in Water; Automated Detection and Viability Assessment; Can We Believe Our Results?; Subject Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis* Comprehensive coverage, up--to--date, densely illustrated and fully referenced throughout. * Varied environmental concerns of different regions are represented by a broad geographical spread of examples. * Author is a distinguished engineering geologist with extensive international experience. .Table of ContentsIntroduction. Volcanic Activity. Earthquake Activity. Mass Movements. River Activity. Marine Activity. Arid And Semi-Arid Lands. Glacial And Periglacial Terrains. Water Resources. Soil Resources. Problem Soils. Rock Masses, Their Character, Problems And Uses. The Impact Of Mining On The Environment. Waste And Its Disposal. Environmental Geology And Health. Land Evaluation And Site Assessment

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs it has grown in length and level through successive edtions, the same author's Introduction to Ore Geology (now Ore Geology and Industrial Minerals) has left behind its original audience: first- and second -ear students. This new textbook, designed to fill that niche , was written specifically for introductory courses.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Some aspects of mining and mining economics; Nature and morphology of mineral deposits; Textures and structures of ore and gangue minerals; Genesis of mineral deposits; Geothermometry, geobarometry, paragenetic sequence, zoning and classification of ore deposits; Diamond deposits; The carbonatite-alkaline igneous ore environment; Pegnatite and greisen deposits; Orthoagmatic deposits of chromium, platinum, titanium and iron associated with basic and ultrabasic rocks; Orthomagmatic copper-nickel-iron (-platinoid_ deposits associated with basic and ultrabasic rocks; The skarn environment; Disseminated and stockwork deposits associated with plutonic intrusives; Stratiform sulphide and oxide deposits; The vein association and related deposits; Strata-bound deposits; Sedimentary deposits; Residual deposits and supergene enrichment; Industrial minerals; Water - the essential mineral; Gas and oil; Coal; Nuclear energy; Geothermal energy; Metamorphism of ore deposits; Mineral deposits in space and time; Table of mineral formulae

Read more less

Book SynopsisPresents the story of the evolution of the author, from a chemical and bioprocess scientist to the vice president in charge of a major company's corporate environmental division, to engaging in international research to discover the source of POPs (persistent organic pollutants) in cold northern waters from the Great Lakes to the Arctic.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis account of the industrialization of the Merrimack River Valley is a tale of environmental degradation and engineering triumph. It shows how water came to be defined as private property. The book is a reminder of the contribution of interdisciplinary approaches to the heritage of an area.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffers a timely and deeply researched account of one of the largest environmental disasters in western US history. It examines the origin, evolution, and causes of the harmful environmental and human health effects caused by mining operations in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Mining District - the “Silver Valley” - from 1885 to 1981.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFocusing on the practical aspects of using economic incentives to achieve environmental goals, this book analyzes the design and implementation of market based programs and identifies critical issues for creating successful programs in the future.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWritten by an award-winning historian of science and technology, Planet in Peril describes the top four mega-dangers facing humankind climate change, nukes, pandemics, and artificial intelligence. It outlines the solutions that have been tried, and analyzes why they have thus far fallen short. These four existential dangers present a special kind of challenge that urgently requires planet-level responses, yet today''s international institutions have so far failed to meet this need. The book lays out a realistic pathway for gradually modifying the United Nations over the coming century so that it can become more effective at coordinating global solutions to humanity''s problems. Neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but pragmatic and constructive, the book explores how to move past ideological polarization and global political fragmentation. Unafraid to take intellectual risks, Planet in Peril sketches a plausible roadmap toward a safer, more democratic future for us all.Trade Review'The term 'existential threat' may be overused by those who explore global governance; but it undoubtedly describes climate change and pandemics, two of the four mega-dangers that preoccupy Michael Bess in Planet in Peril. It is hard to believe that international cooperation remains a tough sell in 2022. Imagine: global problems require global solutions! Bess spells out concrete, and hopefully doable, steps toward overcoming polarization and fragmentation. Let's hope he's right.' Thomas G. Weiss, CUNY Graduate Center'We are threatened by our own cleverness, and it is easy to get paranoid. This book, by one of our best historians of science and technology, offers a sane, balanced, and deeply informed look at the major threats and lays out a rational way forward.' Donald Worster, author of Shrinking the Earth and A Passion for Nature'In Planet in Peril, Michael Bess brings his singular voice, intellectual courage, and good judgment to bear on the four mega-dangers facing humankind – climate change, nuclear weapons, pandemics, and artificial intelligence. He avoids the simplistic thinking that characterizes too much of the public debate on these issues and offers insightful, viable solutions. It is one of those rare books that is both a joy to read and a roadmap for solving daunting problems.' Michael Vandenbergh, Vanderbilt University'Written in vivid prose and combining history, science, technology, and politics in reflection and analysis, Planet in Peril offers a single explanatory framework for understanding these seemingly disparate challenges, sketching a plausible roadmap toward a safer, more democratic future for us all.' Josh Hamel, Chapter 16, a Publication of Humanities TennesseeTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Existential Threats: The Four Most Pressing Dangers Facing Humankind: 2. Fossil fuels and climate change; 3. Nukes for war and peacetime; 4. Pandemics, natural or bioengineered; 5. Artificial intelligence: extreme reward and risk; Part II. Strategies and Obstacles: The Solutions We Need, and What's Preventing them from Being Realized: 6. How to beat climate change; 7. Wise governance for nukes and pandemics: where to go faster and where to slow down; 8. Controlling things vs. controlling agents: the challenge of high-level AI 160; 9. The international dimension: where every solution stumbles; Prologue to Parts III, IV, and V: Does history have a direction? Hegel, Smith, Darwin; Part III. Sensible Steps for Today's World: Powerful Measures we Can Implement Right Away: 10. Do it now: five points of leverage; 11. Constructive moves on the international front for the next 25 years; 12. Breaking the political logjam; 13. Lessons from the green movement: how to build lasting change in the absence of full consensus; Part IV. The Middle-Term Goal: New International Tools for the Late 21st Century: 14. A promising track record: the dramatic growth of international institutions and networks since 1900; 15. How to escape the sovereignty trap: lessons and limitations of the EU Model; 16. Taking the UN up a notch: planet-level solutions for the year 2100; 17. The other path to 2100: ruthless competition, fingers crossed; Part V. The Long-Term Goal: Envisioning a Mature System of Global Governance for the 22nd Century: 18. Global government in a world of democracies and dictatorships: what it might look like in 2150; 19. Keeping the system accountable and fair; 20. Collective military security and economic sanctions: how to handle rogues, cheaters, and fanatics; 21. What could go wrong?; 22. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPandemics are often associated with viruses and bacteria occurring in wildlife in natural environments. Thus, diseases of epidemic and pandemic scale are mostly zoonotic, some of which include AIDS, Zika virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19. The book seeks to explore the documented history of pandemics and various epidemics that have the potential of turning into pandemics with the warming climate, pollution, and environmental destruction.The book covers some of the most essential elements of the diseases of pandemic nature and their relationship with the environment: Environment as a reservoir of human diseases Climate change: emerging driver of infectious diseases Occurrence and environmental dimensions of specific pandemics and epidemics Pandemics, environment, and globalisation: understanding the interlinkage in the context of COVID-19 Climate change and zoonotic diseases: malaria, plague, dengue, encephaTable of ContentsChapter 1 Occurrence and Environmental Dimensions of Specific Pandemics and Epidemics Chapter 2 Climate Change: Emerging Driver of Infectious Diseases Chapter 3 Economic Outcomes of Emerging Pandemics and its Implications on the Environment Chapter 4 Tuberculosis: An old enemy of mankind and way to next pandemic Chapter 5 Pandemics, Environment, and Globalisation: Understanding the Interlinkage in the Context of COVID-19 Chapter 6 Climate Change and Zoonotic Diseases: Malaria, Plague, Dengue, Encephalitis Chapter 7 Environmental dimensions of Zika Virus triggered outbreak and its association with neurological complications like Guillain-Barrésyndrome and microcephaly Chapter 8 Emerging contaminants in the environment and their linkage with COVID-19 Chapter 9 Lassa fever in Nigeria: case fatality ratio, social consequences and prevention Chapter 10 Contribution of anthropogenic factors in the global advancement of Zika virus

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book identifies four key forms of air pollution: indoor, urban, regional and global. It discusses how these four types of pollution are manifest in today’s society and examines the scientific and policy challenges that stand in the way of progress.Table of ContentsForeword, Professor James Lovelock 1. Air pollutants and their sources Chapter 2. Historical context Chapter 3. Indoor air quality Chapter 4. Urban air quality Chapter 5. Regional air quality Chapter 6. Global air quality and climate change Chapter 7. Effects of future scenarios on climate change Chapter 8. The way forward

Read more less

Book SynopsisTextile materials shed microfibres during different phases of their life cycle. While much attention has been paid to the impact of microplastics on the environment, there has been less focus on the impact of microfibre pollution, which also poses a serious environmental threat. Microfibre Pollution from Textiles: Research Advances and Mitigation Strategies shines a light on the hidden effects of textile microfibre pollution and examines its generation in manufacturing, use including laundering, and disposal. It details advancements and gaps in the quantification and characterization techniques that are emerging in the growing field of study of microfibre pollution in textile technology.The book Examines the contributions of the textile and fashion industries to microfibre pollution, from production to disposal Reviews recently developed methods and technological advancements in the identification and quantification of microfibres from textiles Addresses emerging sustainable mitigation strategies and sustainable textile production methods that can potentially reduce or eliminate microfibre shedding Details the state-of-the-art on existing regulations and standards and provides scope for future research in the area of standard development By bridging the gap between environmental and textile studies, this book is aimed at researchers and advanced students in textile and environmental science and engineering.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA shift towards implementation of renewable energy has disadvantages, such as power availability, storage capacity, and accompanying costs, and therefore the potential of clean fossil fuel technologies to ensure the stability of electricity generation needs to be reconsidered until these challenges will be overcome. These clean technologies can help prevent the greenhouse effect and, at the same time, guarantee energy security, as coal is a widespread, price-stable raw material that is available in large quantities. This book focuses on the carbon chain, starting from the formation of CO2, through its capture, possible cleaning, to the production of useful products such as dimethylether, methanol, and carbonated cement prefabricates. The comprehensive case study presents the research results of an international team established within the CCS-CCU technology for carbon footprint reduction using bio-adsorbents (BIOCO2) project.

Read more less