Studies in Environmental Science Series

Atmospheric Chemistry

Radon was discovered in 1900 but it was not until the 1950's that an awareness of its potential as a hazard to humans developed. This resulted primarily from a recognition of the high levels of exposure for uranium miners. Measurement of high concentrations of radon in homes led environmental health agencies to focus on radon as a health hazard and has resulted in concern from scientists, the medical profession and the general public. It is in this context that the author undertook the writing of this book. A need for a broader understanding of radon in the general environment in addition to that of indoors has become apparent. Since much of the author's research has to do with outdoor radon and its decay products, it seems appropriate to have a book available stressing studies on outdoor radon as well was that found indoors. This book is intended to fill a gap in our knowledge of radon concentration in the outdoor atmosphere as well as to provide results of previously published indoor measurements. In addition, work on radon decay product ion concentrations in these environments contributes a unique set of results on effects of radon and its decay products on the electrical characteristics of the atmosphere. These studies are important both from their significant contribution to human dose as well as their role in the atmospheric electrical environment.

Biogeochemical Cycling of Mineral-Forming Elements

Bioengineering, Thermal Physiology and Comfort

From 1944-1971, the Hanford Reach of the Colombia River in Washington State received quantities of radioisotopes, heat and chemicals from up to 8 plutonium reactors. Subsequently, from 1971-1984 the same part of the river provided cooling water for 3 power-production facilities. Environmental concerns promoted a series of continuing studies to examine various potential adverse effects. No significant impairment of the rivers ecosystem was detected. This book reviews these studies and places them in a historical framework. It provides a unique overview of studies made over a 40-year period which are now scattered through various published and unpublished documents. It should be of interest to all those concerned with aquatic ecology and environmental concerns.

This book provides an overview of the major chemical aspects of pesticides giving detailed descriptions of the various groups of pesticides in current use - insecticides, acaricides, nematocides, rodenticides, fungicides and herbicides. The organic syntheses are discussed in detail, as are the biochemical aspects of the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of these chemical agents. The ecological aspects of the use of pesticides - nowadays an important consideration - are also discussed. The main trends of development in the field are also dealt with, e.g. the development of insecticides which present less of a threat to human beings and animals than the ones presently used, whose point of attack is the nervous system. Research is now concentrated on developing chemical compounds which affect the biochemistry or the special behavioural features of insects, instead of acting upon their nervous system. Newly discovered chemicals with selective action which are still in the developmental and experimentational stages are also described. Because of its comprehensive character, the book will be a useful source of information to those engaged in practical work in this field, as well as to researchers in the agricultural sciences.

This book covers the proceedings of a study week held to bring together the most varied experiences in the many disciplines which form the background of ecology. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the present state of knowledge and the need for research in order to gather the information necessary for action to protect the environment and biosphere. Many aspects of the anthropogenic effects on the atmosphere have been studied. However more research is needed to quantify the impact of the various chemicals on the changes occurring in the atmosphere. Acid rain formation mechanisms, although investigated, are not yet fully understood. It is thus necessary to program carefully our future, after further interdisciplinary research, in order to avoid irreversible damage to our environment. The guidelines of this action, as a result of the presentations and discussions, are reported in the conclusions. The main points stressed are: tropospheric chemistry, the problem of the conservation of the ozone layer, the growth of carbon dioxide and climate changes, atmospheric acidity, the effects of changes on water, soils and biota as well as the particular problems of the tropical world. The book will be ideal for postgraduates studying atmospheric chemistry and for environmental protection agencies.

Industrial Waste Water Management

Studies in Environmental Science, Volume 21: Air Pollution by Nitrogen Oxides presents the proceedings of the US–Dutch International Symposium on Nitrogen Oxide, held in Maastricht, The Netherlands on May 24–28, 1982. This book provides research and development information related to the national and international policies on nitrogen oxides in the United States, The Netherland, Japan, and elsewhere in Europe. Organized into five sessions encompassing 94 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the atmospheric cycle of nitrogen oxide in terms of source strength, destruction rates, and atmospheric chemistry. This text then examines the fundamental physical and chemical processes involved in the formation of nitrogen oxides. Other chapters consider the regional pulmonary deposition of nitrogen dioxide in man, guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits by using a general mathematical model formulation for the transport of gases in the lungs. This book discusses as well the emission control methods and systems with low nitrogen oxide capability for possible application in The Netherlands and other parts of Europe. This book is a valuable resource for government administrative officials, research scientists, air pollution control experts, and students.

This multi-author work deals with the practical aspects of teratogens - chemicals which cause birth defects. It is designed for use as a unique guide to these chemicals in which one can find all relevant information. The issues covered include: how to obtain information about the teratogenic potential of chemicals; teratogenic chemicals in undergraduate chemistry laboratories; safe handling of teratogenic chemicals; teratogenicity of pesticides and other pollutants in the environment; occupational exposure and pregnancy outcome; identification and prevention of reproductive hazards in industry; and the long-term effects of chemicals on the developing brain. A list of approximately 5,000 chemicals known to cause reproductive effects is given. A comprehensive bibliography is included with each chapter providing up-to-date references for more in-depth coverage. The monograph will be of interest to academic and industrial chemists, health professionals, as well as both undergraduate and graduate students in health and related sciences.

Some of the world's leading scientists in fluoride research have contributed to the 49 research and review papers in this book. While different methods for fluoride determination have been known for many years, information concerning the determination of submicrograms of fluoride is lacking. This volume contains articles that describe newly developed techniques used for fluoride determination and their application to the analysis of biological samples. In addition, facts about inorganic fluoride air pollution in several countries and its influence on vegetation, animals, and humans are described. Although the book is primarily directed to investigators in the area of fluoride research, it should be of value to public health officials, medical, dental, and veterinary scientists, ecologists, and environmental scientists.

Many parts of the world suffer from urban air pollution and, despite the vast amount of knowledge about its causes, most countries are slow to implement counter-measures. An outstanding exception is Tokyo which, once blanketed in a mantle of smog, now enjoys ``clean'' air in spite of highly concentrated activity and congested traffic. Based on the successful Japanese experience, this book describes all aspects of the measures necessary to combat air pollution. It begins with a well-documented history of the fight against air pollution and describes the processes and mechanisms of reaching a social consensus on pollution control. The essential steps in the process are the establishment of ambient air quality standards, the introduction of the total allowable mass of emission, and the legal control of each emission based on diffusion equations. The scientific background to this approach is fully explained, from epidemiology to computer simulations of air quality. An up-to-date account of emission control technology is also given, and the controversial issue of health damage compensation is examined, based on actual experience. An important feature of the book is that it is written by authors who were actually in the forefront of the battle against air pollution in Japan. Two of them worked successively as Director General of the Bureau of Air Quality of the central government, and a third helped local governments to force the central government to implement the most stringent auto-emission controls in the world. The book is intended not only for scientists, engineers and administrative planners dealing with pollution control, but also for anyone concerned about the serious global problem of urban air pollution.

Physicochemical Methods for Water and Wastewater Treatment

This book contains the proceedings of a symposium on freshwater and marine algal biofouling sponsored by the Phycological Society of America in conjunction with the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS). The book brings together for the first time, a selection of contributions reflecting current research in this field. The book is primarily directed to researchers at all levels in the field of freshwater and marine algal biofouling, and is intended to provide the basis for the development of a greater awareness between the work of the two groups, to their mutual benefit. Knowledge of the common ground and underlying similarities should also be beneficial to workers in both fields. Each chapter is self-contained, with its own list of references etc., and several chapters are extensively illustrated with original high-quality photographs and micrographs. The volume is also indexed.

Providing a wealth of reference material for research scientists and policy makers, these proceedings address the extremely complex problem of acidification - a phenomenon which is causing serious deterioration of natural environments in Europe and North America. Papers review the effects of acidification on the aquatic environment, flora, fauna and vegetation, and materials, and also review cultural properties, the ecology as a whole and the economic impact of acidification. The papers on forest-dieback cover potential stress factors and the effects on materials and cultural properties. Scientific research results are presented which deal with models as tools for abatement strategies, and underline the application of models in policy-making. The review papers of scientific research on acidification are followed by the official report of the conference, and presentations by representatives of the EEC member countries giving an overview of national research programmes and policies regarding acidification.

The main theme of this symposium was the application of chemical methods for water and wastewater treatment and their effect on the environment. The participants represented many countries and many disciplines and, taken together, their papers provide a very interesting overview of the way in which chemical processes are used in different parts of the world. The contributions from the USA are mainly devoted to methods for reducing the environmental hazard of alternative energy sources such as oil shales and tar sands. A fresh interest in coal and lignite is also apparent in the papers from Canada and from western and eastern Europe. Many papers and discussions deal with the related technology of desulphurisation of coal and oil during combustion or in exhaust gases, much of the research in this area being inspired by the problems of acid rain and the damage to forests in the northern hemisphere.

Mounting concern for the state of the environment has led to a substantial increase in the collection of environmental data in the past two decades. This trend raises issues with regard to the quality assurance and quality control of the data gathering process, from sampling to analysis. The evaluation of environmental data in terms of quality, and relevance for use in the management of toxic chemicals in the enviroment, has reached a critical phase. An enormous volume of data is being generated, on both residue levels and their effects, to meet short- and long-term needs for regulatory procedures and (environmental) impact assessments. Therefore, it is important to verify not only the quality of the data collected, but also the choice of relevant test parameters. This volume deals with the evolution of analytical methodologies to the current state-of-the-art techniques, quality assurance/quality control of data acquirements, and testing procedures for screening of toxic chemicals - including their hazard identification, persistence, and fate processes in the environment. The models currently employed in environmental impact assessment and risk assessment are also discussed in detail. Public involvement and participation in regulatory decision-making processess is also described. It is intended for managers and scientists involved in environmental management and research of toxic chemicals in the environment.

These proceedings describe the current state-of-the-art of ozone research. A wide range of topics is discussed including: emissions, transport and transformation of precursors of ozone and of ozone itself, the distribution of ozone, the deposition of ozone at the earth's surface, and its effects on man and the environment. Attention is also given to the role of stratospheric ozone and the role of the ultraviolet radiation which is transmitted through the ozone layer. Finally it describes in detail present and future policy measures to reduce the ozone in the lower atmosphere and to protect the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Many of the papers describe recent developments and new research results. Research carried out in both in Europe and in the United States is described, as are the policy measures which are being taken by both European and U.S. governments.

Asbestos minerals have novel properties which make them highly desirable for industrial use. While the health hazards of asbestos have long been recognized and are well documented in the medical literature, ecological and environmental research involving asbestos fibers has only been undertaken in the past 25 years and the significant deleterious effects of asbestos materials on soil and plant ecology has been much less well publicised. This book examines non-occupational exposure and environmental effects of asbestos relating to animal and plant growth in the natural environment. Major nutrient imbalances and excess concentrations of trace metals have been identified as main causes for the poor plant response. Given the complexity of the asbestos analysis and the extent of the problem, this book attempts to bring together the multitude of subjects pertaining to asbestos in the natural environment with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of the chemical characteristics of asbestos-rich materials and their effect on plant growth.

In 1980, Nagra, the Swiss National Cooperative for the Storage of Radioactive Waste, began a comprehensive field investigation programme to assess the feasibility and safety of a repository for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste in northern Switzerland. An international team of scientists has carried out a comprehensive study on the isotope hydrogeology of deep groundwaters. One of the major implications of this work pertains to the storage of radioactive waste. The study goes far beyond an in-depth regional study as it draws together the results of diverse techniques, many of which have been re-evaluated or further developed. This book presents in great detail the results of one of the most comprehensive isotope hydrology studies ever undertaken.

The Chemistry for Protection of the Environment series of conferences has become a most prestigious gathering of leading international scientists and engineers. Like its predecessors, this sixth conference brought together chemists and chemical engineers involved in environmental protection activities from all over the world.

Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 1981, it has been widely used as a textbook at university level for graduate courses in environmental management, environmental science and environmental technology (for non-engineers). As this second edition is significantly improved, it should find an even wider application than the first. In the second edition, the section on ecotoxicology and effects on pollutants has been expanded considerably, as has Chapter 4 on ecological principles and concepts. Further improvement has been made by the addition of a section on ecological engineering - the application of ecologically sound technology in ecosystems - and an appendix on environmental examination of chemicals. The problems of agricultural waste have been included in Part B, and in Chapter 6 on waste water treatment, several pages have been added about non-point sources and the application of ``soft'' technology. Throughout the book, more examples, questions and problems have been included, and several figures and tables have been added to better illustrate the text.

This volume considers, in depth, some valuation methods and aspects of cost benefit analysis, and policy making in environmental economics. Part I contains a number of contingent valuation studies for non-market assets. Part II consists of contributions on the valuation of health and life, and deals with the benefits of reduced morbidity from air pollution control. In Part III, cost benefit analysis for environmental policy-making is discussed in a disequilibrium setting, and in a macroeconomic context. Finally, Part IV deals with aspects of policy-making, particularly benefit estimation for complex policies, and the international aspects of transboundary air pollution in Europe. The book should not only appeal to students and researchers in university departments of economics and ``environmental sciences'' but also to those working in public organisations and associated advisory institutes which are concerned with environmental problems.

The growing awareness of environmental problems provided the stimulus for this 4th International Symposium on Biotechnology, Interbiotech '90, to address many aspects of the relationship between biotechnology and the environment. The papers are mainly devoted to the contribution of biotechnology in solving environmental problems, including biological waste water treatment, utilization of municipal sewage sludge, detoxification of polluted soil and complex utilization of lignocellulosic wastes. There is examination of possible dangers in such cases as the release of r-DNA organisms into the environment. The relationship of biotechnology and energy (e.g. biogas, landfill gas fuel, photosynthetic systems for fuel production) is also discussed.

In the past few decades, freight transport on roads has grown considerably because of the quick and flexible movement of goods. With an expanding market due to product specialization, there will be an increase in the demand for freight transport. There are however, several negative implications for the environment (air and noise pollution), human health and other more far-reaching phenomena such as acidification, photochemical air pollution and the greenhouse effect. Solutions to this problem are probed in this book including the stimulation of technological breakthroughs, new transport policies and better traffic management. The book provides a survey of present and potential approaches to reconcile the strong need for increasing transport and the necessity to stop the current destruction of natural resources and harm to human health.

Long before "green" issues became a subject of widespread concern, both editors of the present book were heavily involved in research relating to pollutants in the highway environment. The result was the First International Symposium on Highway Pollution in 1983 with subsequent Second and Third Symposia held in London and Munich respectively. The proceedings of these three conferences were published respectively as Volumes 33, 59, and 93 of The Science of the Total Environment which provided individual insights into developing research projects. This book is an attempt at a more coherent overview of highway pollution in which leading international authorities were invited to contribute their works. This book covers all aspects of air, water and noise pollution in the vicinity of highways. Sources, transport and effects are reviewed and control by engineering and legal procedures are considered. The current state of knowledge is put into perspective in this unique work.

This book contains the results and conclusions of extensive research on the causes and effects of acidification of forests/forest soils and heathland in the Netherlands. In 1985 the Dutch Priority Programme on Acidification was started in order to give a more concrete form to the increasing interest of policy-makers in the effects of air pollution on ecosystems in particular. In the last three years, the research has focused on obtaining a more accurate estimate of the emission of ammonia on the deposition of SOx, NOy and NHx, and also on quantifying effects on forest and heathland ecosystems. This quantification of effects included experimental work model analyses, and derivation of critical loads and levels for forest and heathland ecosystems. Furthermore, scenario analyses were made with the Dutch Acidification Systems Model (DAS) in order to evaluate the effectiveness of policy measures. The research itself, which formed the basis for this book, has been described in the reports on individual projects. A summary of the scientific results and conclusions is given in thematic reports (added as annex). An independent Review Team has provided a critical assessment of the research carried out since 1988. The Review Report has been incorporated as annex.

Having no competitive works, this unique publication presents a single structure for the analysis, explanation and solution of environmental problems, regardless of their location, nature or scale. In this problem-oriented approach, a coherent framework interconnects the study of facts and values, environmental systems, social causes and ethical premises. Counterbalancing current biases, the author emphasizes the fundamental, normative, economic and social-scientific aspects of truly interdisciplinary environmental science. For instance, the normative side of environmental problems are often neglected, resulting in policy designs and evaluations containing inefficient mixtures of sophisticated models and poorly grounded normative premises; this is the first major study to enrich the field with more normative consistency and groundedness. It is also the first text to consistently identify the social causes of environmental problems, rather than focusing on the physical-scientific aspects, and thus design deeper and more effective policies. Furthermore, a tinge of post-modern thinking runs throughout the book, with special care being taken, however, to constantly keep in view the practical relevance of theory for problem-oriented work. The book will be of interest to environmental scientists and managers wishing to improve the consistency and depth of their work, to social scientists and geographers wishing to connect their discipline to the environmental problems field, and to general scientists interested in the connections between philosophy and practice.

The objective of this book is to present a comprehensive picture, first of the fundamentals of general contamination of solid surfaces and water, and in the second part, to review the main practical procedures and means of applied decontamination used in the fields of activity. The most emphasis on radioactive contamination deals with decontamination of the operational facilities in nuclear power plants. Other special decontamination branches of current interest are also dealt with briefly. The art of decontamination is being enriched by the progress achieved in relevant scientific disciplines and employs these relative advances. The current volume discusses in detail the following trends in decontamination: Firstly, the development and use of new decontamination methods that are highly efficient, non-agressive to decontaminated materials, and economically feasible; secondly, the utilization of progressive elements of automation and robotics; thirdly, the development and use of such decontamination formulations that would minimize the volume of wastes and would produce wastes in a form in which they could be either easily further treated or safely disposed of without risk to human health or the environment; finally, the choice of suitable materials used both for the structural and the technological parts of nuclear installations with regard to their minimal contaminability and ease of decontamination.

The increasing concern for odour abatement, and more generally for reduction of air pollution, has caused a rapid growth in the development of air pollution control techniques, several of which are based on biological degradation of the polluting compounds. This book presents a state-of-the-art overview of recent developments in biological techniques for air pollution control. It describes in detail processes for the prevention of odour nuisances and reduction of odour emissions. It also deals with process design and construction of equipment as well as with odour policy measurements at an international level.