The Elements of Environmental Pollution

Front Cover
Routledge, Jul 14, 2017 - Business & Economics - 352 pages

Environmental pollution is one of humanity’s most pressing issues and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Anthropogenic activity is disturbing natural cycles and generating pollutants that are altering the atmosphere, accumulating in the food chain and contaminating the world’s soils, rivers and oceans. Human health and ecosystems continue to be damaged by toxic metals, persistent organic pollutants, radionuclides and other hazardous materials. The Elements of Environmental Pollution provides comprehensive coverage of this essential subject. It explains the key principles of pollution science, assesses human disturbances of natural element cycles and describes local and global pollution impacts, from smoggy cities, polluted lakes and toxic soils to climate change, ocean acidification and marine dead zones. The book is informed by the latest pollution research and benefits from numerous real-world examples and international case studies. A comprehensive glossary provides clear and concise explanations of key concepts.

This textbook will support teaching and learning in environment-related university courses and will be vital reading for anyone with an interest in environmental protection.

 

Contents

1 Pollution
1
2 Carbon C
44
3 Nitrogen N
79
4 Phosphorus P
111
5 Sulfur S
126
6 Arsenic As
143
7 Bromine Br
158
8 Cadmium Cd
166
14 Mercury Hg
235
15 Nickel Ni
254
16 Selenium Se
261
17 Tin Sn
270
18 Uranium U
274
19 Zinc Zn
286
20 Additional environmental pollutants
291
Appendix 1 Scientific notation and units of measurement
300

9 Chlorine Cl
175
10 Chromium Cr
198
11 Copper Cu
206
12 Fluorine F
214
13 Lead Pb
224
Appendix 2 Environmental quality standards
303
Appendix 3 Periodic table of the elements of environmental pollution
309
Glossary
310
Index
319
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2017)

John Rieuwerts is Associate Professor in Environmental Science at Plymouth University, UK.