Search

This is the first of three Books that together provide an integrated picture of the Aegean Sea, presenting the natural components of the system (Book I and Book II) as well as the human presence in the extended area (Book III). The Aegean Sea, also called Aegean Archipelagos, is an open, complex, and diverse marine system situated between the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, with different compartments and interactions. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the Aegean Sea's natural systems, shedding light on its geodiversity, geological dynamics, air-land-sea interaction, hydrology, suspended matter and sediments. Divided into 4 parts, the book introduces the diversity, geological dynamics, and evolution of the natural system of the Aegean Sea (Parts 1 and 2), followed by a section devoted to the land-sea interaction in the Aegean coastal system where experts in the field explore freshwater and matter inputs into the Aegean coastal system, as well as the coastal morphodynamics and evolution of the Aegean Sea, its adjacent land areas, and islands. In Part 3, the book delves into the air-sea interaction over the Aegean Sea, presenting its intricate dynamics, including heat and freshwater fluxes, wind waves, tides, and atmospheric deposition. The book closes with a section focused on the hydrology, chemistry, and dynamics of water masses and the sea bottom, providing insights into suspended matter and fluxes, sediments, climate changes, and the intricate nutrient and carbon dynamics within the Aegean Sea ecosystem (Part 4). Given the breadth and depth of its coverage, this book serves as a valuable resource for researchers, scholars, and students interested in marine geology, oceanography, and environmental analysis, as well as policymakers and conservationists seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Aegean Sea's complex natural systems.

This book is a unique and authoritative review of chemical fronts in the ocean world. It includes regional chapters on chemical fronts in all major oceans (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, Arctic, and Southern) and marginal seas (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Yellow Sea, and the East Siberian Sea). Thematic chapters focus on diverse topics such as cross-frontal transfer of nutrients; diapycnal mixing and its impact on nutrient fluxes in western boundary currents (Gulf Stream and Kuroshio); front-driven physical-biogeochemical-ecological interactions; dynamics of coloured dissolved organic matter; pollutant concentration and fish contamination in frontal zones; distribution of microplastics in the ocean, and Lagrangian methods to study the transport of marine litter.This volume will appeal to a broad audience, including researchers, instructors, students, and practitioners of all kinds involved in scientific and applied research, environment protection and conservation, and maritime industries including fisheries, aquaculture, and mining. Chapter'Lagrangian Methods for Visualizing and Assessing Frontal Dynamics of Floating Marine Litter with a Focus on Tidal Basins'is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book presents 41 selected articles written by leading researchers from the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, part of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The articles are grouped by the following topics: (1) Geochemistry, (2) Meteoritics, Cosmochemistry, Lunar and Planetary Sciences, (3) Biogeochemistry and Ecology, and (4) Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry, and Radioecology. The articles present recent experimental data, theoretical investigations, critical reviews, the results of computer modeling in the above-mentioned fields.Intended to provide a scientific “snapshot” of the institute, the book also includes content on its history, main scientific achievements and current goals, together with detailed descriptions of its 25 laboratories and three museums so as to promote new international collaborations.Given its scope, the book will be of interest to all scientists and graduate students working in the areas of geochemistry, analytical chemistry and radiochemistry, earth and environmental sciences, biogeosciences, meteoritics and planetary science, and to those seeking new collaboration opportunities in these areas in Russia.

This book outlines the current status of the environment in the Republic of Adygea in Russia. The book assesses the environmental conditions, ecological state, climate and vegetation change, anthropogenic loads to soil, water and atmosphere as well as highlighting the potential of water resources, renewable energy and development of tourism, agriculture and industry in this region. It also presents the mechanisms of legal, ecological and economic regulation and environmental insurance in the Republic of Adygea. This book introduces the Republic of Adygea to readers who are not familiar with the Republic and its beautiful landscapes, history and people. It offers a valuable source of information for a broad readership, from students and scientists interested in environmental sciences, to policymakers and practitioners working in the fields of environmental policy and management.

This classic textbook is an introduction to the systematics and the use of stable isotopes in geosciences. It is subdivided into three parts: i) theoretical and experimental principles, ii) fractionation processes of light and heavy elements, iii) the natural variations of geologically important reservoirs. Since the publication of the previous edition improvements in multi-collector ICP mass-spectrometry have increased the ability to measure isotope ratios with very high precision for many elements of the periodic table. The amount of published data has increased tremendously in the last years; thus, conclusions based on a limited database are now better constrained. In this new edition, therefore, 47 elements with resolvable natural variations in isotope composition are discussed. This increase of elements, together with advances in the calculation of equilibrium isotope fractionation using ab initio methods, has led to an unbelievable rise of publications, making substantial major revisions and extensions of the last edition necessary. Many new references have been added, which enable quick access to recent literature.

This book is devoted to the most relevant issues in crystal chemistry and mineral typomorphism; the structure, physico-chemical and technological properties of minerals; and the computational modeling of mineral structure and properties. Considerable attention is paid to the latest advances in and applications of physical methods of investigation for mineral structure and composition, in particular, X-Ray diffraction, spectroscopic (optical, vibrational, ESR, Moessbauer, etc.) and microscopic (SEM, TEM, AFM, etc.) studies, as well as chemical and isotopic analysis methods. The current research trends in space and planetary mineralogy (meteorites, regolites, tektites) are also discussed. Though specifically intended for the specialist earth and planetary science readership, the book will be of interest to a broad range of scientists. It gathers the proceedings of the Tenth All-Russian Youth Scientific Conference “Minerals: structure, properties, methods of investigation.” Jointly organized by the Institute of Geology and Geochemistry, the Institute of Mineralogy (Urals Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Ural Federal University, the event was held in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on May 27–June 1, 2019.

This book provides a comprehensive summary of research to date in the field of stable iron isotope geochemistry. Since research began in this field 20 years ago, the field has grown to become one of the major research fields in'non-traditional'stable isotope geochemistry. This book reviews all aspects of the field, from low-temperature to high-temperature processes, biological processes, and cosmochemical processes. It provides a detailed history and state-of-the art summary about analytical methods to determine Fe-isotope ratios and discusses analytical and sample prospects.

This volume reviews the oil inputs to the Mediterranean Sea from sources such as shipping, offshore oil installations, and oil refineries, presented in a number of national case studies. A regional overview is also presented for the Adriatic Sea. Topics include mapping of oil slicks in the Adriatic, oil exploration and exploitation activities in the waters of the Levantine Basin (Eastern Mediterranean), the oil pollution preparedness and response activities of individual Mediterranean states, bilateral and regional cooperation among the various states, and the risk of pollution from shipping in sensitive sea areas, for example. Together with the companion volume Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea: Part I - The International Context, it addresses both national and international measures in the region, making it of relevance to the agencies and government bodies tasked with remediating or preventing oil pollution, as well as policymakers and practitioners in the fields of shipping, ports and terminals, oil extraction and marine management. It provides researchers with essential reference material on tools and techniques for monitoring oil pollution, and constitutes a valuable resource for undergraduate and post-graduate students in the field of marine oil pollution.

The Legacy of Carbon Dioxide: Past and Present Impacts covers the truly varied roles carbon dioxide has played and continues to play in the character of our planet. Chapters address the synthesis of CO2 in stars, the evolution of the atmosphere over billions of years, the chemical and physical properties of CO2 and how those influence common phenomena. How well this knowledge is understood and how it was determined, including existing uncertainties in our confidence and the stress from competing possibilities are discussed. Much of the technological jargon in various incorporated sciences has been modified to ease consumption by the non-expert.Features: Provides a historical panorama on how much the world has changed over the eons and the vast influence of carbon dioxide in these changes Follows CO2 through acidic explosive waters, volcanic episodes, sequestered reservoirs, and the chemistry of life Examines the broad scope of chemical and physical attributes carbon dioxide is capable of and their impacts Much of the technological verbiage in various incorporated sciences has been modified to ease consumption by the non-expert. This book is a valuable resource for readers interested in the science of carbon dioxide as well as natural science, the environment, scientific methods, chemistry, and geological sciences.

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.This volume focuses on microscopic plastic debris, also referred to as microplastics, which have been detected in aquatic environments around the globe and have accordingly raised serious concerns. The book explores whether microplastics represent emerging contaminants in freshwater systems, an area that remains underrepresented to date. Given the complexity of the issue, the book covers the current state-of-research on microplastics in rivers and lakes, including analytical aspects, environmental concentrations and sources, modelling approaches, interactions with biota, and ecological implications. To provide a broader perspective, the book also discusses lessons learned from nanomaterials and the implications of plastic debris for regulation, politics, economy, and society. In a research field that is rapidly evolving, it offers a solid overview for environmental chemists, engineers, and toxicologists, as wellas water managers and policy-makers.

The indiscriminate use of medications and their inadequate disposal have resulted in them being released into the environment via municipal, hospital and industrial discharges. This volume critically examines the presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems, the hazards they entail, and how to minimize their impact on the environment. The topics covered include: historical findings that have made the development of the discipline ecopharmacovigilance possible; the main exposure routes, fate and life cycle of pharmaceuticals in water; occurrence data and the impact on biodiversity; methods used for the detection, analysis and quantification of pharmaceuticals in water and for their removal; current legislation on the presence of emerging contaminants in water; biosensors for environmental analysis and monitoring; and the measures needed to reduce the existing problems. This book is aimed at students, academics and research workers in the fields of toxicology, ecology, microbiology and chemistry, as well as those in the pharmaceutical industry, health sector professionals, and members of government bodies involved in environmental protection and legislation.

The book starts with an introduction on silicon isotopes and related analytical methods, and explains the mechanisms of silicon isotope fractionation. Silicon isotope distributions in lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere are shown based on results from field studies, and silicon isotope relevance for applications are presented.

This volume presents up-to-date research on the Nile Delta and discusses the challenges involved in and opportunities for improving its productivity. The topics addressed include: groundwater in the Nile Delta and its quality; the mapping of groundwater with remote sensing technologies; land degradation; salt-affected soils; on-farm irrigation; the remediation of agricultural drainage water for sustainable reuse; the use of satellite images to estimate the bathymetry of coastal lakes; the assessment of the Nile Delta coastal zone and its management; its sediment and water quality; and fishing ports, fish and fisheries. The book closes with a review of the latest findings on the Nile Delta and offers conclusions and recommendations for future research to fulfill the requirements for sustainable development. It provides a unique and topical resource for researchers, graduate students and policymakers alike.

This volume focuses on modelling the fate of chemicals in the environment and the human body to arrive at an integrated exposure assessment. It covers five broad topics, namely: future challenges in exposure assessment; the evolution of human health and environmental risk assessment; standard documentation for exposure models; modelling different environmental components (i.e. surface waters, atmosphere, soil, groundwater, plants, aquatic organisms and mammals); and the fate of contaminants in humans.This work draws on the authors'and editors'extensive experience and a range of different research activities, including case studies, that have led to the development of MERLIN-Expo, a standardised software package for simulating the fate of chemicals in the main environmental systems and in the human body in an integrated manner. It will be of considerable interest to researchers and students, risk managers, and policy- and decision-makers whose work involves environmental protection and human health.

This volume offers up-to-date and comprehensive information on various aspects of the Nile River, which is the main source of water in Egypt. The respective chapters examine the Nile journey; the Aswan High Dam Reservoir; morphology and sediment quality of the Nile; threats to biodiversity; fish and fisheries; rain-fed agriculture, rainfall data, and fluctuations in rainfall; the impact of climate change; and hydropolitics and legal aspects. The book closes with a concise summary of the conclusions and recommendations provided in the preceding chapters, and discusses the requirements for the sustainable development of the Nile River and potential ways to transform conflicts into cooperation. Accordingly, it offers an invaluable source of information for researchers, graduate students and policymakers alike.

This book focuses on environmental aspects of Boka Kotorska Bay in Montenegro (South Adriatic Sea), an area that has been shaped by seasonal tourism, and explores the use and limitations of its natural resources. The individual chapters highlight its geographic and oceanographic characteristics, climate, history and development, biology, fisheries, agriculture, coastal zones, shipping, marine tourism and pollution. Above all, the environmental impact of tourism on marine, coastal and shoreline areas and the resulting conflicts are discussed in detail. The volume is intended for specialists working in various fields of environmental sciences and ecology, water resources and management, land reclamation and agriculture, and regional climate change.

This volume discusses the current challenges related to the reuse of wastewater. It reviews the analytical methodologies for evaluating emerging contaminants and their transformation products, the sensitivity of various bioassays for assessing the biological effects of treated wastewater, and the bioavailability and uptake of organic contaminants during crop irrigation. It describes in detail the physicochemical and microbiological alterations in soil resulting from irrigation with treated urban wastewater, and discusses our current understanding of antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants and in downstream environments. The book also includes an analysis of the effect of wastewater entering drinking water sources and production, and provides updated information on wastewater reuse for irrigation in North Africa. It presents an important integration tool for water recovery, known as water pinch analysis, and finally showcases two other examples of reuse – one in the paper industry and one in landfill management. It is of interest to experts from various fields of research, including analytical and environmental chemistry, toxicology and environmental and sanitary engineering.

This volume offers an overview of the occurrence of emerging organic contaminants in Mediterranean rivers and their relevance to their chemical and ecological quality under water scarcity. With chapters covering the effects under multiple stress conditions of pharmaceuticals, polar pesticides, personal care products, and industrial chemicals, the observations presented can be applicable to other parts of the world where water scarcity is an issue. It is of interest to environmental chemists, ecologists, environmental engineers, and ecotoxicologists, as well as water managers and decision-makers.

This volume synthesizes the relevant data that is fundamental to our understanding of trace metal biogeochemistry and the ecology of biological communities of deep-sea vent systems. It presents the combined results of biological and geochemical research and analyzes the microdistribution of animals and the spatial structure of vent communities. Careful consideration is given to the export of iron and other trace metals from hydrothermal vents. The environmental conditions to be found in deep-sea hydrothermal community habitats, along with the trace metal behavior in biotope water are characterized and the sources and forms of trace metals taken up by dominant hydrothermal vent animals are discussed. Special attention is paid to the poorly investigated deep biosphere of the sub-seafloor igneous crust. The book is illustrated with a wealth of exceptional deep-sea photos taken by the manned submersible “Mir”, and a dedicated chapter focuses on the role of deep manned submersibles in ocean research. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in the fields of oceanography, geochemistry, biology, the environmental sciences and marine ecology.

This volume is a tribute to Professor Otto Hutzinger, the founding editor of The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, in recognition of his pioneering work and contribution to our understanding of the sources, fate, exposure and effects of persistent organic pollutants. It consists of fourteen chapters written by individuals who have been inspired by his work and have followed in his footsteps by refining our knowledge of this field and opening new research directions. In Professor Hutzinger's tradition of passing on valuable information to others, the authors present recent advances in areas such as inventories, remediation, and analytical determinations. Levels and trends in abiotic environments, biota, and human exposure via food, as well as the risks to the environment and humans from polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins, furans, and PCBs are also discussed. Other chapters deal with the relevant topics of DDT and its metabolites along with halogenated and phosphorus flame retardants.

This volume offers a detailed overview of currently applied and tested wastewater treatment technologies and the integration of advanced processes to remove trace organic contaminants and microorganisms. It discusses the potential of enhanced biological treatment to produce effluent suitable for reuse, new processes for urban wastewater disinfection and the reduction of antibiotic resistant bacteria, as well as the effect of advanced oxidation processes on wastewater microbiome and chemical contaminants. It also presents membrane bioreactors, moving bed bioreactors, light and solar driven technologies, ozonation and immobilised heterogeneous photocatalysis and provides an evaluation of the potential of constructed wetlands integrated with advanced oxidation technologies to produce wastewater safe for reuse. Furthermore, the volume discusses water reuse issues and standards, the status of membrane bioreactors applications, and the treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate for enhancedwater recovery during wastewater treatment. Finally, it presents recent developments in potable water reuse and addresses various important issues in this framework, like the proper protection of public health, reliability and monitoring. This volume is of interest to experts, scientists and practitioners from various fields of research, including analytical and environmental chemistry, toxicology and environmental and sanitary engineering, as well as treatment plant operators and policymakers.

This book focuses on scientific and technological aspects of groundwater-resources assessment and surveillance. It describes relevant risks and investigates selected techniques for the monitoring and mitigation of the individuated threats to groundwater quality. The authors discuss the concepts of groundwater-resources protection and offer examples of both geogenic and anthropogenic degradation of groundwater quality, such as heavy metals from mining activities and natural water-rock interactions, as well as risk of contamination due to geological CO2 storage practices etc. The volume also covers non-invasive monitoring techniques and briefly addresses innovative sensor technologies for the online assessment of water quality. Furthermore, the role played by geochemical techniques, the potential of environmental isotopes and the support provided by physical modelling are highlighted. The chapters guide the reader through various viewpoints, according to the diverse disciplines involved, without aiming to be exhaustive, but instead picking representative topics for their relevance in the context of groundwater protection and control.This book will be of interest to advanced students, researchers, policy-makers and stakeholders at various levels.

This volume provides a detailed overview of water pollution and control of several selected Chinese reservoirs. It explores sediment contamination as well as algal blooms and their impact on water quality. Several chapters also discuss various methods of quality control, such as mixing-oxygenation combined with microbial remediation technologies. Due to their broad geographical distribution and different nutrition levels, the investigated reservoirs, the Jinpen, Shibianyu, Fenhe, Zhelin and Zhoucun reservoirs, can be regarded as representative for China. This comprehensive work will appeal to researchers, advanced students and reservoir managers.

This volume offers a comprehensive review of the chemical, biological and hydromorphological quality of the Danube. The first part examines the chemical pollution of surface waters, focusing on organic compounds (with special emphasis given to EU WFD priority substances and Danube River Basin specific pollutants), heavy metals and nutrients. Attention is also given to pollution of groundwater and drinking water resources by hazardous substances and to radioactivity in the Danube. The second part highlights the biology and hydromorphology of the Danube. It focuses on benthic macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos, macrophytes, fish, phytoplankton as well as microbiology, with chapters dedicated to gaps and uncertainties in the ecological status assessment and to invasive alien species. Further chapters dealing with the hydromorphology, sediment management and isotope hydrology complete the overall picture of the status of the Danube.

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of environmental aspects of the Sava River, which is the greatest tributary to the Danube River and the major drainage river system of South Eastern Europe. Hydroelectric power plants, river traffic, intensive agricultural activities, heavy industry and floods have considerable influence on the environment and biota in the basin. Summarizing the results that were gathered in the course of EU, bilateral and national projects, the book highlights the most important stressors and helps readers to better understand the impact of anthropogenic activities on the function of river basins. Topics include: transboundary water cooperation between the riparian countries; climate change projection, including its impact on flood hazards; evaluation of anthropogenic pollution sources; pollution of sediments, metal bioavailability and ecotoxicological and microbiological characterization of the river. The biological part also addresses quality aspects related to wildlife in river aquatic ecosystems (algae, macrophytes, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates and fish) and riparian ecosystems (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). The general state of biodiversity and pressures caused by invasive aquatic species are also discussed.

This volume presents a unique and comprehensive glimpse of current and emerging issues of concern related to potable water. The themes discussed include: (1) historical perspective of the evolution of drinking water science and technology and drinking water standards and regulations; (2) emerging contaminants, water distribution problems and energy demand for water treatment and transportation; and (3) using alternative water sources and methods of water treatment and distribution that could resolve current and emerging global potable problems. This volume will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and environmental engineering students interested in global potable water sustainability and a guide to experts affiliated with international agencies working toward providing safe water to global communities.

Natural and Laboratory-Simulated Thermal Geochemical Processes compares a series of thermal natural geochemical events with thermally laboratory-simulated processes. The emphasis is on the geothermal events occurring in nature compared with those simulated in the laboratory, thus furnishing important information at the molecular level for such processes. The book covers the following topics: -Generation of petroleum and its thermal cracking; -Pyrolysis of oil-shales; -Formation of coal and its gasification and liquification; -Thermal liquification of biomass; -Geothermal energy; -Thermal generation of fullerenes; -Thermal formation of diamonds; -Thermal analysis of organo-clay complexes; -Geochemical conditions for life emergence.

Understanding acid-base equilibria made easy for students in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, environmental and earth sciences. Solving chemical problems, be it in education or in real life, often requires the understanding of the acid-base equilibria behind them. Based on many years of teaching experience, Heike Kahlert and Fritz Scholz present a powerful tool to meet such challenges. They provide a simple guide to the fundamentals and applications of acid-base diagrams, avoiding complex mathematics. This textbook is richly illustrated and has full color throughout. It offers learning features such as boxed results and a collection of formulae.

The analysis of materials containing several elements used to be a difficult problem for analytical chemists, so a well established sequence of wet chemical qualitative tests were performed to ensure each element was detected. Quantitative tests could then be carried out on the sample, according to the range of elements present. Most analytical chemists were very familiar with these techniques, having been taugth them from a very early stage in their education and careers. The analytical chemist can now call on a range of specialist instrumental techniques which can detect the presence of many elements, often simultaneously, and often quantitatively, providing rapid results on samples which, in the past, could take days. The drawback is that the instruments tend to be expensive, suited to particular sample types or matrices and complex in both setting up and in the interpretation of results. Furthermore the general analytical chemist may have access and familiarity with only one or two methods. Written by an international team of contributors, each experts in their particular fields, this book familiarizes analytical chemists with the range of elemental analysis techniquers, to enable them to specify the most appropriate test for any given sample. In addition, it contains important chapters on sample preparation and quality control, essential elements in obtaining accurate and reliable analytical results. As such, this book will be essential reading for all analytical chemists. The techniques of elemental analysis are important in many other disciplines, so the book will be of particular interest to those commissioning a wide range of analytical measurements, such as chemists, geologists, environmental scientists and biologists. The breadth and depth of coverage will also make the book very useful for advanced students.

These Proceedings contain both oral and poster contributions to the first interna­ tional conference'Field Screening Europe - Strategies and Techniques for On-Site Investigation and Monitoring of Contaminated Soil, Water and Air', held in Karls­ ruhe September 29 - October 1, 1997. Environmental monitoring and the assessment of chemical contaminations are be­ coming more and more important. The integrated study of environmental con­ tamination in the field is a rather recent approach.'Field screening'indicates such field analytical tools, (quick) methods and strategies for on-site or in-situ environmental analysis and assessment of contamination. The classical strategy for investigating contaminants consists of the following steps: site studies, sampling, sample transport to the laboratory, sample preparation, and analysis. This strategy is rather expensive and time consuming. Some investiga­ tions, including sample preparation, may last several days. In many cases, the results must be available immediately and are of importance for further decisions. Field screening is an alternative or complement to this strategy that attempts to be cheaper and faster and may achieve the same quality of results. The most important argument for field analytical methods is that the superior accuracy and high costs of laboratory methods are disproportional to the possibility of arti­ facts from sampling and errors originating from spatial variations of contaminants.

Chemical additives are used to enhance the properties of many industrial products. Since their release into the environment is a potential risk for man and nature, their fate and behavior have been investigated in the framework of the European Union-funded project RISKCYCLE. The results are presented in two volumes, Global Risk-Based Management of Chemical Additives I: Production, Usage and Environmental Occurrence and Global Risk-Based Management of Chemical Additives II: Risk-Based Assessment and Management Strategies. This book is the second of the two volumes and features two main parts. In the first part, experts in the field discuss different models related to the assessment of the potential risks posed by chemical additives and analyze their benefits and drawbacks. In the second part, specific case studies in which the models have been applied are presented and the reliability of the models is evaluated.This volume is an invaluable source of information for scientists and governmental agencies dealing with the risk assessment of chemicals on a global scale.

Brominated flame retardants are one of the last classes of halogenated compounds that are still being produced worldwide and used in large quantities in many applications. They are used in plastics, textiles, electronic circuitry, and other materials to prevent fires. This volume covers the state-of-the-art of the analysis, fate and behaviour of brominated flame retardants. Experts in the field provide an overview of the compounds'physico-chemical properties and uses, their occurrence in the environment and biota, advanced chemical analytical methods, degradation studies, toxicological effects and human exposure. This book is a valuable and comprehensive source of information for environmental scientists interested in brominated flame retardant issues, and for authorities and producers.

Today more than 5 million chemicals are known and roughly 100,000 of them are frequently used, with both numbers rising. Many of these chemicals are ultimately released into the environment and may cause adverse effects to ecosystems and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA) is a promising tool for identifying predominant toxicants in complex, mostly environmental mixtures combining effect testing, fractionation and chemical analysis. In the present book leading experts in the field provide an overview of relevant approaches and tools used in EDA. This includes diagnostic biological tools, separation techniques and advanced analytical and computer tools for toxicant identification and structure elucidation. Examples of the successful application of EDA are discussed such as the identification of mutagens in airborne particles and sediments, of endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems and of major toxicants in pulp and paper mill effluents. This book is a valuable, comprehensive and interdisciplinary source of information for environmental scientists and environmental agencies dealing with the analysis, monitoring and assessment of environmental contamination.

As nanotechnology enters everyday life, engineered nanoparticles (ENP) will find their way into nature, including surface and groundwater. Here, distinguished experts of water chemistry present dedicated methods for the analysis of nanoparticles in the aquatic environment, their distribution and fate. This includes the influence of complex matrices such as wastewater, brown water with natural organic matter (NOM), and high salt concentrations as well as available and future standardized methods. The background of geogenic, natural nanoparticles is considered in a discussion of known environmental effects, including strategies to test for potential effects on human and environmental health.

Since their first industrial use polymers have gained a tremendous success. The two volumes of'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks'elaborate on both their potentials and on the impact on the environment arising from their production and applications. Volume 11'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks I: General and Environmental Aspects'is dedicated to the basics of the engineering of polymers – always with a view to possible environmental implications. Topics include: materials, processing, designing, surfaces, the utilization phase, recycling, and depositing. Volume 12'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks II: Sustainability, Product Design and Processing'highlights raw materials and renewable polymers, sustainability, additives for manufacture and processing, melt modification, biodegradation, adhesive technologies, and solar applications. All contributions were written by leading experts with substantial practical experience in their fields. They are an invaluable source of information not only for scientists, but also for environmental managers and decision makers.

Chlorinated paraffins are one of the last classes of chlorinated compounds that are still being produced worldwide and used in high quantities in many applications. They are particularly used in cutting oils in the metal industry, but also as lubricants, plasticizers, flame retardants and as additives in adhesives, rubber, paints and sealants. This volume covers the state-of-the-art of methods for the synthesis and analysis of chlorinated paraffins. Experts in the field provide an overview of their worldwide occurrence and utilization and describe their toxicological properties. International regulations and production volumes are presented as well as an example of a risk assessment study that was carried out in Japan. This book is a valuable and comprehensive source of information for environmental scientists interested in the occurrence and toxicology of chlorinated paraffins and for authorities and producers.

Azo dyes play an important role as coloring agents in the textile, food, and pharmaceutical industry. Due to the toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of azo dyes and their breakdown products, their removal from industrial wastewaters has been an urgent challenge. Promising and cost-effective methods are based on their biodegradation, which is treated in this volume. The topics presented by experts in the field include: the classification of azo dyes; toxicity caused by azo dyes; aerobic and anaerobic azo dye biodegradation mechanisms; the role of bacteria, fungi, algae and their enzymes in biodegradation; the impact of redox mediators on azo dye reduction; the integration of biological with physical and chemical processes; the biotransformation of aromatic amines; reactor modelling for azo dye conversion; the biodegradation of azo dyes by immobilized bacteria and fungi; and factors affecting the complete mineralization of azo dyes.

Since their first industrial use polymers have gained a tremendous success. The two volumes of'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks'elaborate on both their potentials and on the impact on the environment arising from their production and applications. Volume 11'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks I: General and Environmental Aspects'is dedicated to the basics of the engineering of polymers – always with a view to possible environmental implications. Topics include: materials, processing, designing, surfaces, the utilization phase, recycling, and depositing. Volume 12'Polymers - Opportunities and Risks II: Sustainability, Product Design and Processing'highlights raw materials and renewable polymers, sustainability, additives for manufacture and processing, melt modification, biodegradation, adhesive technologies, and solar applications. All contributions were written by leading experts with substantial practical experience in their fields. They are an invaluable source of information not only for scientists, but also for environmental managers and decision makers.

and used in munitions. Rather the requirements for the agent's military effects took precedence. In addition, the interaction among the political, technical, and legal challenges connected with the known or possible risks posed by CW agents is complex and sometimes not well understood. This is usually because technical considerations, when acted on, are almost invariably informed by political ones, such as various legal requirements. The book contains nine chapters covering different aspects of the research on environmental consequences of war and its aftermath and covers in one additional chapter more general issues such as prevention of war and its environmental c- sequences, the legal, political, and technical background to selected environmental and human health effects of CW agents, and the atmospheric transport and depo- tion of persistent organic pollutants under warfare conditions to more specific ones related to two main tragic examples: the war in the Balkans and the Gulf War. Aspects of the war in the Balkans cover contamination by heavy metals in Serbian national parks, the impact of NATO strikes on the Danube river basin, and the problems associated with transuranium elements. The Gulf War in Kuwait covers other problems related to the impact of oil contamination, the impact on grou- water resources, and the soil damage of ground fortifications among other envir- mental and health problems.

Minerals, organic matter and microorganisms are the major solid components in soil systems. These three constituents do not function independently but rather interact with each other constantly at all times and everywhere in the soil ecosystem. The interactions profoundly affect a series of physical, chemical and biological processes of soils including the behavior, transformation and fate of various nutrients and pollutants. The research on these interactions should, thus, be an important issue for Soil and Environmental Scientists. Therefore, the International Society of Soil Science established the Working Group MO in 1990, which was promoted to a new Commission 2. 5 Soil Physical/Chemical/Biological Interfacial Interactions of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2004. To date, the Working Group has sponsored four international symposia and these conferences were held in Edmonton (Canada, 1992), Nancy (France, 1996), Naples (Italy, 2000) and Wuhan (China, 2004), respectively. The 4th International Symposium on Interactions of Soil Minerals with Organic Components and Microorganisms (ISMOM2004) was the first Inter-Congress Symposium of IUSS Commission 2. 5. The conference was cosponsored by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Doctors P. M. Huang (Canada), A. Violante (Italy), J. -M. Bollag (USA), J. Berthelin (France), J. Zhou (China) and Q. Huang (China) served in the Symposium Organizing Committee.

Modern geochemistry possesses not only the vigor of geology and chemistry but also the rigor of mathematics. This book presents quantitative treatments of a wide range of fundamental problems related to geochemistry and geology. It shows that trace elements, isotopes, and equations are integrative tools in modern geochemistry for studying various Earth processes. In many chapters, simple models are presented first, and more parameters are gradually added so that the sophisticated models can be perceived as natural outgrowths of simple ones. The book will help scientists and graduate students in Earth Sciences improve their capacity to understand, apply, criticize, and appreciate the available models and possibly to develop their own models. This understanding will provide penetrating insights into fundamental principles in geochemistry, geology, analytical chemistry, and mass spectrometry as well as any other fields in the natural sciences.

Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics: Chromatography in Geology focuses on the applications of chromatography in geology, including partition and diffusion, ion exchange, mineral identification, and hydrogeochemistry. The manuscript first takes a look at the chromatographic processes and techniques. Discussions focus on precipitation chromatography, complex ion formation, role of chromatographic processes in chromatography, and partition and diffusion. The preparation of test columns, paper chromatography, adsorption and partition columns, chromatobox, and ion exchange are also tackled. The book then examines applications of chromatography to geology, including natural water sampling and stream analysis, hydrogeochemistry, soil, rock, and ore analysis, prospecting for fine gold, and analysis of coal ash. The identification of metal ions in minerals and mineral identification, analysis of magnesian limestones, and copper, gold, and silver assays are also discussed. The manuscript is a dependable source of data for readers interested in the applications of chromatography in geology.