Written by authorities who led the team involved in accident response and damage assessment Focused on identifying plausible root causes, pitfalls in accident response, and weaknesses in current regulatory and management protocols Delivers in-depth understanding of a unique marine chemical accidental to help formulate necessary future policies and regulations related to such disasters Includes many case studies related to the accident illustrated with photos and figures that are true evidence of the disaster, the response, and the mitigation Explain and discusses key research findings in a streamlined manner understandable for a wide audience

This book discusses in detail the facts and findings related to the X-Press Pearl container vessel accident that occurred in May 2021 off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ship was carrying a large consignment of chemicals and diverse hazardous materials that caused a disastrous and vast environmental and social catastrophe in the region. Through many case studies, accumulated knowledge, and experiences, the authors discuss the accident response, risk mitigation, investigation, and damage assessment activities from the very onset of the accident. It helps researchers and regulators understand the facts of this unique marine chemical accident and to formulate necessary future regulations as well as to develop robust safety and sustainability management systems and safety cultures. Features: Written by authorities who led the team involved in accident response and damage assessment Focuses on identifying plausible root causes, pitfalls in accident response, and weaknesses in current regulatory and management protocols Delivers in-depth understanding of a unique marine chemical accident to help formulate necessary future policies and regulations related to such disasters Includes many case studies related to the accident illustrated with photos and figures that are true evidence of the disaster, the response, and the mitigation Explains and discusses key research findings in a streamlined manner understandable for a wide audience A valuable resource for readers in environmental management and policy creation, as well as for researchers, professionals, academics, and students involved in environmental science, chemical engineering, technical safety and sustainability management, maritime, polymer, and ocean sciences. Countries where maritime disasters are a concern will also find this book is an important guide for taking a responsible approach when handling similar situations in the future; not least to avert such events from occurring.

This book presents state-of-the-art knowledge related to concerns about methylmercury (MeHg) in the soil-rice system. It covers increasing concerns about human exposure to methylmercury through the consumption of Hg-contaminated rice and shows the global contamination of soil and how Hg can be mobilized, immobilized, methylated, and demethylated in soils. The authors present the biogeochemical process through which rice plants accumulate Hg. This book comprehensively displays the biogeochemical behavior of Hg in paddy soils and rice plants, as well as the current remediation technologies to mitigate Hg risks from paddy soil ecosystems. Features: Provides cutting-edge knowledge on mercury in paddy field ecosystems Discusses the key biogeochemical transformation processes of mercury in soil Explains the accumulation processes of mercury in rice plants Includes case studies on how to inhibit mercury accumulation in rice plants Shows the application of Hg stable isotope traces in paddy soil-rice field studies Intended for researchers, graduate students, and professionals working in fields such as Geochemistry, Agronomy, and Environmental Science and Engineering, this book will be an important resource for anyone interested in Hg contamination in soils and rice and the related risk for human and environmental health.

From the time it was first published in 1998, Shipping and the Environment has been the leading text on international and US law and practice in this field. Written by renowned legal and insurance practitioners with over 100 years of combined specialist experience, including first-hand knowledge of many major incidents, it is not only a comprehensive reference work but an abundant source of introductory material and practical insights, all explained with a clarity appreciated by lawyers and non-lawyers alike in a broad international readership. While updating its core subjects of pollution from ships, wreck removal and dumping at sea, this enlarged text extends into other modern areas including pollution from offshore operations after Deepwater Horizon, plastics released into the sea, recycling of vessels, polar operations, and the fast-changing restrictions on carbon emissions from ships, as well as safety threats such as cyberattacks, terrorism and modern forms of piracy. With a highly readable introductory chapter amounting to a book within a book, this is a volume of great importance to all whose work or studies are concerned with marine environmental affairs, whether in government, international bodies, industry, technical organizations, the professions, environmental NGOs, the academic world or other walks of life.

Microplastics in the Ecosphere Discover the environmental impact of microplastics with this comprehensive resource Microplastics are the minute quantities of plastic that result from industrial processes, household release and the breakdown of larger plastic items. Widespread reliance on plastic goods and, particularly, single-use plastics, which has been increased by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made microplastics ubiquitous; they can be found throughout the ecosphere, including in the bloodstreams of humans and other animals. As these plastics emerge as a potential threat to the environment and to public health, it has never been more critical to understand their distribution and environmental impact. Microplastics in the Ecosphere aims to cultivate that understanding with a comprehensive overview of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems. It analyzes microplastic distribution in aerosphere, hydrosphere, and soil, tracing these plastics from their production on land to their distribution—overwhelmingly—in maritime ecosystems. The result is a book that will inform researchers and policymakers as we look to tackle this emerging challenge globally. Microplastics in the Ecosphere readers will also find: Introductory information about the production and distribution of single-use plastics An emphasis on management and mitigation strategies designed to reduce contamination over time A multidisciplinary approach, combining concepts and analytical techniques from a range of scientific fields Microplastics in the Ecosphere is a valuable guide for researchers and scientists, advanced undergraduate and graduate students, industry professionals, and policymakers looking to understand the impact of these widespread materials.

Advances in Environmental Pollution Management: Wastewater Impacts and Treatment Technologies has been designed to bind novel knowledge of wastewater pollution-induced impacts on various aspects of our environment. The book also contains novel methods and tools for the monitoring and treatment of produced wastewater.