Natural radiation arises from many sources, from the unstable atoms within our own bodies and in the materials around us, from the Sun, and even from beyond the Solar System. Additional sources include the legacy of testing nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, and nuclear accidents. All these sources have provided means of dating environmental materials and tracing the movements of substances through land, sea, and air. But ionising radiation also interacts with DNA, which has led to a remarkable range of studies to examine how and how quickly these unstable atoms are accumulated by both humans and biota, and their various effects on both. Providing an overview of the sources, uses and impacts of ionising radiation in the environment, and the frameworks developed to manage exposures to them, this is a valuable reference for graduate students and researchers interested in radioecology, environmental science and radiological protection.

Shipping is responsible for transporting 90% of the world's trade. This book provides a comprehensive review of the impact shipping has on the environment. Topics covered include pollutant discharges such as atmospheric emissions, oil, chemical waste, sewage and biocides; as well as non-pollutant impacts including invasive species, wildlife collisions, noise, physical damage, and the environmental effects associated with shipwrecks and shipbreaking. The history of relevant international legislation is also covered. With chapters written by eminent international authors, this book provides a global perspective on the environmental impact of ships, making it a useful reference for advanced students and researchers of environmental science, as well as practitioners of maritime law and policy, and marine business.

The 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station led to serious radioactive contamination of the environment. Due to transportation by seasonal wind and ocean currents, these radioactive materials have now been observed in many places in the Northern Hemisphere. This book provides a unique summary of the environmental impact of the unprecedented accident. It covers how radioactive materials were transported through the atmosphere, oceans and land. The techniques used to investigate the deposition and migration processes are also discussed including atmospheric observation, soil mapping, forest and ecosystem investigations, and numerical simulations. With chapters written by international experts, this is a crucial resource for researchers working on the dispersion and impact of radionuclides in the environment. It also provides essential knowledge for nuclear engineers, social scientists and policymakers to help develop suitable mitigation measures to prepare for similar large-scale natural hazards in the future.

The diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique is a means of measuring the concentration and speciation of metals in natural waters. Edited by one of the pioneers of the technique, this unique volume provides a complete and authoritative guide to the theory and applications of DGT. The book includes explanations of the fundamental principles of DGT, accessible to readers with a modest background in chemistry, as well as more advanced chapters that provide a thorough treatment of the physical and chemical dynamics of this technique and evaluate how well it mimics the biological uptake process. Chapters on natural waters, soils and sediments illustrate the applications of DGT, and detailed instructions are included on how to use DGT in practice. Combining the fundamentals of DGT with more advanced principles, this is an indispensable text for students, researchers and professional scientists interested in the chemistry of natural waters, soils and sediments.

This is the first comprehensive text on the theory and practice of aquatic organic matter fluorescence analysis, written by the experts who pioneered the research area. This book covers the topic in the broadest possible terms, providing a common reference for making measurements that are comparable across disciplines, and allowing consistent interpretation of data and results. The book includes the fundamental physics and chemistry of organic matter fluorescence, as well as the effects of environmental factors. All aspects of sample handling, data processing, and the operation of both field and laboratory instrumentation are included, providing the practical advice required for successful fluorescence analyses. Advanced methods for data interpretation and modeling, including parallel factor analysis, are also discussed. The book will interest those establishing field, laboratory, or industrial applications of fluorescence, including advanced students and researchers in environmental chemistry, marine science, environmental geosciences, environmental engineering, soil science, and physical geography.

Pigments act as tracers to elucidate the fate of phytoplankton in the world's oceans and are often associated with important biogeochemical cycles related to carbon dynamics in the oceans. They are increasingly used in in situ and remote-sensing applications, detecting algal biomass and major taxa through changes in water colour. This book is a follow-up to the 1997 volume Phytoplankton Pigments in Oceanography (UNESCO Press). Since then, there have been many advances concerning phytoplankton pigments. This book includes recent discoveries on several new algal classes particularly for the picoplankton, and on new pigments. It also includes many advances in methodologies, including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and developments and updates on the mathematical methods used to exploit pigment information and extract the composition of phytoplankton communities. The book is invaluable primarily as a reference for students, researchers and professionals in aquatic science, biogeochemistry and remote sensing.

Humic substances are highly-abundant organic compounds formed in soils and sediments by the decay of dead plants, microbes and animals. This book focuses on the important binding properties of these compounds which regulate the chemical reactivity and bioavailability of hydrogen and metal ions in the natural environment. Topics covered include the physico-chemical properties of humic matter and interactions of protons and metal cations with weak acids and macromolecules. Experimental laboratory methods are also discussed, together with mathematical modelling. Finally the author looks at how the results of this research can be used to interpret environmental phenomena in soils, waters and sediments. This comprehensive account of cation binding by humic matter is a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, environmental scientists, ecologists and geochemists.

Environmental Toxicology is a comprehensive introductory textbook dealing with most aspects of the subject, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Early chapters deal with basic and advanced concepts, methods and approaches. The next tier discusses the environmental toxicology of individual or groups of substances. The third part addresses complex issues, in which many of the concepts, approaches and substances covered in earlier tiers are incorporated. The fourth part includes chapters on risk assessment, rehabilitation and regulatory toxicology. The book concludes with a summary of present and future areas of emphasis. Each chapter contains a comprehensive list of references and further reading, case studies from different jurisdictions, and student exercises. Environmental Toxicology is primarily a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in environmental toxicology, environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, applied ecology, environmental management, and risk assessment. It will also be valuable for specialists in ecology, environmental science, and chemistry.

This book, first published in 2000, provides a comprehensive review of UV radiation effects in the marine environment. A multidisciplinary approach is adopted to discuss all aspects from a physical, chemical and biological perspective. The book begins by describing the attenuation of UV radiation in the atmosphere and sea water, outlining the photochemical reactions involved and highlighting the role that such chemistry can play in influencing the biogeochemical cycling of various elements. The deleterious consequences of such radiation on organisms and strategies adopted to mitigate these harmful repercussions are discussed. The organisms considered range from virus and bacteria through phytoplankton and zooplankton to fish and mammals. The book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in photobiology, photochemistry and environmental science. It will also be useful as a supplementary text for courses in oceanography, climatology and ecology.

Involving a wide range of scientists working on intertidal sediments, this 1997 book is of importance to all environmental scientists. Individual chapters explore the underlying biogeochemical processes controlling the behaviour of carbon, the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, and contaminants such as toxic organics, trace metals and artificial radionuclides in intertidal environments. The biogeochemistry of these environments is critical to understanding their ecology and management. All of the chapters include both a comprehensive review and the results of recent research. The authors are active researchers in this diverse and ecologically important environment. This book is mainly for researchers and managers working on these environments, but it will also serve as a valuable advanced undergraduate and graduate reference text in environmental chemistry, environmental science, earth science and oceanography.

This authoritative volume reviews the environmental chemistry and toxicological effects of a marine pollutant of exceptional potency, tributyltin (TBT), and outlines the international response to control TBT. TBT compounds have been widely utilized in marine anti-fouling paint formulations to obtain increased fuel efficiencies and long lifetimes for maritime vessels and structures. However, its extreme toxicity has resulted in numerous adverse biological effects, and its persistence ensures that such problems are likely to continue. A wide variety of disciplines are brought together to illustrate the general principles, pathways and problems involved in identifying and quantifying an environmental toxin, elucidating deleterious biological consequences, and the legal framework that can invoke mitigation via regulation. This text not only has wide appeal for undergraduate courses in environmental science, chemistry and marine ecology, but also forms a valuable sourcebook for environmental planners and serves as a 'successful' case study for undergraduate courses in environmental law, planning and science.

The new edition of this textbook introduces the basic chemical concepts underlying a sound understanding of environmental science and ecology. Fundamental chemical principles are explained and illustrated with real examples from the environment. From an introduction to atomic and molecular structure, the text progresses to more advanced areas within physical, inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry. Important new sections for this new edition include an introduction to the concepts of biogeochemical cycling, and the role environmental chemistry plays with respect to climate, notably global warming and ozone depletion. The case studies have been up-dated, and a section about toxic chemicals has been added. While the primary aim is to satisfy the needs of the non-chemist, the text also serves to introduce environmental precepts to chemists who wish to apply their expertise to environmental issues. This volume is especially suitable for undergraduates in environmental science, environmental chemistry and ecology at universities, colleges and technical institutes.

The central role of soil chemistry in the ecosystem and other disciplines is becoming increasingly important. For example the effects of the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and accelerated use of pesticides, on soil fertility has been a focus of much high-level debate. This text begins by defining the relationship between soil chemistry and other fields such as plant science and pollution science. A detailed description of the components of soils follows, including inorganic, mineral and organic matter. The book addresses cogent issues such as soil fertility and soil pollution. In a concluding chapter, a review of future analytic advances in the study of soil chemistry is given, emphasising the importance of the soil chemist in equitable and sustainable land use and agricultural policy. The book is an ideal starting point for the student undertaking undergraduate study in the environmental and soil sciences.