Given the presence of a wide variety of contaminants in the environment, it is important to understand what drives a contaminant from one medium to another, as well as the manner and extent to which a contaminant associates with the different media or phases within a local environmental system. Partition and Adsorption of Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systems forms a comprehensive resource on the behavioral characteristics of contaminants so that appropriate strategies can be adopted to either prevent or minimize their adverse impacts on human welfare and natural resources. Cary Chiou’s far-reaching text depicts the processes by which nonionic organic contaminants are sorbed to natural biotic and abiotic substances. This book focuses on physical principles and system parameters that affect the contaminant uptake by soil from water, air, and other media; by fish from water; and by plants from soil and water. As contaminant uptake by natural organic substances is often predominantly a partition interaction, the partition characteristics in several solvent-water model mixtures are treated in detail to elucidate the relevant physicochemical parameters. The account of contaminant sorption to soils, fish, and plants is strengthened by companion chapters on: Fundamentals of solution theory Interphase partition equations Fundamentals of adsorption theory Vapor adsorption on mineral and carbonaceous solids No other single source in the field delivers as compelling a combination of background understanding and "state-of-the-science" comprehension of current issues. Ideally suited for a graduate-level environmental course, Partition and Adsorption of Organic Contaminants in Environmental Systems also serves as a technical guide to current and future research in the field.

Examines in a pedagogical way all pertinent molecular and macroscopic processes that govern the distribution and fate of organic chemicals in the environment and provides simple modeling tools to quantitatively describe these processes and their interplay in a given environmental system Treats fundamental aspects of chemistry, physics, and mathematical modeling as applied to environmentally relevant problems, and gives a state of the art account of the field Teaches the reader how to relate the structure of a given chemical to its physical chemical properties and intrinsic reactivities Provides a holistic and teachable treatment of phase partitioning and transformation processes, as well as a more focused and tailor-made presentation of physical, mathematical, and modeling aspects that apply to environmental situations of concern Includes a large number of questions and problems allowing teachers to explore the depth of understanding of their students or allowing individuals who use the book for self-study to check their progress Provides a companion website, which includes solutions for all problems as well as a large compilation of physical constants and compound properties

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SERIES The current expansion of both public and scientific interest in environ mental issues has not been accompanied by a commensurate production of adequate books, and those which are available are widely variable in approach and depth. The Environmental Management Series has been established with a view to co-ordinating a series of volumes dealing with each topic within the field in some depth. It is hoped that this Series will provide a uniform and quality coverage and that, over a period of years, it will build up to form a library of reference books covering most of the major topics within this diverse field. It is envisaged that the books will be of single, or dual, authorship, or edited volumes as appropriate for respective topics. The level of presentation will be advanced, the books being aimed primarily at a research/consultancy readership. The coverage will include all aspects of environmental science and engineering pertinent to man agement and monitoring of the natural and man-modified environment, as well as topics dealing with the political, economic, legal and social con siderations pertaining to environmental management. J. CAIRNS and R.M. HARRISON v Preface The behaviour and effects of chemicals in our environment is a fascinating subject for scientific investigation. Furthermore, an understanding of these processes is of fundamental importance in our modern world, and should enable us to understand and limit the adverse effects of pollutants.

In contrast to the classical books which largely focus on separate, individual physicochemical and biological aspects, this book aims to integrate the frontiers of knowledge on the fundamentals and the impact of physicochemical and biological interactions and processes of AOCs in soil, sediment, water and air. The specific objectives of this book are to address: (1) fundamental biophysico-chemical processes of AOCs in the environment, (2) occurrence and distribution of AOCs in air, water, and soil, and their global cycling, (3) the state-of-the-art analytical techniques of AOCs, and (4) restoration of natural environments contaminated by AOCs. The book also identifies the gaps in knowledge on the subject matter and as such provides future directions to stimulate scientific research to advance the chemical science on biophysico-chemical interfacial reactions in natural habitats. By virtue of complex nature of the interactions of AOCs with different environmental components and matrixes, no single available technique and instrument is satisfactory yet for determining their fate, transport, availability, and risk in the environment. In order to fully understand the biophysico-chemical interactions and processes of AOCs in the environment, it is critical to know chemical, physical and biological properties of AOCs and their analytical techniques. The book is unique because of its multidisciplinary approach as it provides a comprehensive and integrated coverage of biophysico-chemical reactions and processes of AOCs in various environments, associated analytical techniques, and restoration of natural environments contaminated by AOCs.

See journals under US Geological survey. Circular 1007.

This volume addresses the issue of environmental protection and risk assessment of organic contaminants in the soil environment. It is based on selected papers presented during the second International Conference on Contaminants in Soil Environment, held in December 1999 in Delhi, India.