Environmental Chemistry: A Global Perspective Book

This comprehensive text is intended to provide upper level undergraduate students with an investigation of heterogeneous natural systems in the environment. The links between and within the various environmental components -- air, water, soil -- are emphasized. There has been insufficient material of this type in existence that supplies both the depth of chemistry needed to explain natural processes and the breadth of material that would present a well rounded introduction to such systems. While the text focuses on basic knowledge and general principles, examples are taken from around the world. This book describes the chemistry of natural environmental systems, their composition and the processes and reactions that operate within and between the various components. Without focusing specifically on pollution, we also discuss ways in which these systems respond to peturbations, either those that are natural or those that are caused by humans. Background material from subjects such as atmospheric science, limnology, and social science is provided in order to establish a setting for a description of relevant chemistry. Emphasis is on general principles that can be applied in a variety of circumstances. At the same time, these principles are illustrated with examples taken from around the world. Because issues of the environment related to every society, care has been taken to relate the subject material to situations in urban and rural areas in both highly industrialized and low-income countries.Read More