Introduction to Pollution Science

Understanding pollution, its behaviour and impact is becoming increasingly important, as new technologies and legislation continually lower the tolerable levels of pollutants released into the environment. Introduction to Pollution Science draws upon sections of the authors' previous text (Understanding our Environment) and reflects the growing trend of a more sophisticated approach to teaching environmental science at university. This new revised book discusses the basics of environmental pollution drawing upon chemistry, physics and biological sciences. The book, written by leading experts in the field, covers topics including pollution in the atmosphere, the world's waters and soil and land contamination. Subsequent sections discuss methods of investigating the environment, the impact of pollution on human health and ecological systems and institutional mechanisms for pollution management. Each section includes worked examples and questions and is aimed at undergraduates studying environmental science, but will also prove of value to others seeking knowledge of the field.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction; Chapter 2: The Atmosphere; Chapter 3: The World's Waters; Chapter 4: Soils and Contaminated Land; Chapter 5: Investigating the Environment; Chapter 6: Ecological and Health Effects of Chemical Pollution; Chapter 7: Environmental Management;

About the Author :
Roy Harrison OBE is Queen Elizabeth II Birmingham Centenary Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham. In 2004 he was appointed OBE for services to environmental science. Professor Harrison’s research interests lie in the field of environment and human health. His main specialism is in air pollution, from emissions through atmospheric chemical and physical transformations to exposure and effects on human health. Much of this work is designed to inform the development of policy.

Review :
"designed for courses within degrees in environmental sciences, environmental studies and related areas including taught postgraduate courses, whichare not embedded in a specific physical science or life science discipline such as chemistry, physics or biology. The level of basic scientific knowledge assumed of the reader is therefore only that of the generalist and the book should be assessable to a very wide readership including those outside of the academic world wishing to acquire a broadly based knowledge of pollution phenomena." This is an interesting and highly informative book. The chapters on water, soil and sludge contamination and environmental management deserve special mention. Suited to students on degree courses in environmental science and pollution studies at both undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels.Its wider pollution-oriented content will also be of value to chemistry students.Some chapters, such as those on the atmosphere, investigating the environment and ecological and health effects of chemical pollution, have been modified and updated. Others, such as the chapters on the world's waters, which replaces separate chapters on the oceans and freshwater, and soils and land contamination, have been written by new authors.Each chapter contains case studies anad is now extensively referenced.