Handbook of Environmental Health

Frank R. Spellman is the author or co-author of more than 70 books on the natural sciences, as well as environmental and health sciences. He has served as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice, a variety of law firms, and a number of non-governmental organizations on environmental issues and health-related matters. He is formerly an assistant professor of environmental health at Old Dominion University.Melissa L. Stoudt is a radiation controls training instructor at an atomic power laboratory. Previously, she instructed students and officers of the US Navy in proper radiation controls and handling of radioactive material. She is coauthor of Nuclear Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (Scarecrow Press 2011).

With environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, and diseases spread by vectors and contaminated food in the news, people need information about the effects of these problems. This book offers an overview of the major fields that compose this discipline. The introduction defines environmental health, its concerns, and the consequences of contamination. The rest of the book covers specific areas of environmental health: ecology, toxicology, epidemiology, food-borne disease, vector-borne disease, air quality, water quality, radiation, and occupational health. Each chapter begins with a vignette illustrating a problem, followed by key concepts of the topic, discussion questions, and a bibliography. The book is aimed at health-care professionals who may encounter conditions caused by environmental contamination, but students and those interested in the subject will find it useful. A background in basic science and mathematics will be necessary to use the information effectively. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.