Eurocourses: Environmental Management – serie

Industrialized nations are facing a broad range of environmental restoration problems associated with contamination of surface-subsurface soils. Remedial action is assigned a high priority because of possibly dangerous drinking water contamination and non-compliance situations. Numerous technologies, both commercially available or in various stages of development, are examined. This book focuses on recent technological developments for environmental control and cleanup. The book acquaints scientists, government officials and managers with technical issues related to environmental restoration in case of contamination, including accidental pollution release.

It is generally acknowledged today that the most effective strategy for toxic and hazardous waste management is: reduction, reuse and recycle. However, to date most of the activity has been in treatment technologies. This book focuses on recent technological issues commercially available or in various stages of implementation. Developments in the US and Europe in the area of waste management policy and regulation are also examined since management and remediation has usually been conducted in response to regulatory requirements. This book serves as a resource on technologies and methodologies for the environmental protection manager involved in decisions concerning the management of toxic and hazardous waste.

Environmental protection has been a matter of public awareness for many years. However, improvement of environmental quality is not always considered in terms of economic advantage. Rigorous evaluation of the relationship between economy and environment suggests a positive feedback between social benefits (public health, education, technology) and economic development. Definition of environmental quality includes determination of origins, distributions and dispersion mechanisms of xenobiotic substances. Risk assessment incorporating measures for preventive/corrective policy may then follow. Environmental protection requires global participation and concomitant exchange of ideas. The present book introduces specialists to environmental issues. In particular it supplements formal training in chemistry disciplines, covering: environmental protection regulations; social cultural factors influencing environmental policy; scientific tools to support the environmental management; pollution dispersion processes; analytical chemistry aspects; protection and management of water resources; and hazardous waste treatments.