Microconstituents in the Environment Comprehensive introduction to managing novel pollutants commonly released into the environment through industrial and everyday processes Microconstituents in the Environment: Occurrence, Fate, Removal and Management provides the readers with an understanding of the occurrence and fate of microconstituents, pollutants that have not previously been detected or regulated under current environmental laws or may cause known or suspected adverse ecological and/or human health effects even at insignificant levels, covering their presence in the environment and possible management strategies. The text is practice-oriented and evaluates a wide range of technologies for pollutant removal and how to implement them in the field. In Microconstituents in the Environment, readers will find information on: Fundamental ideas regarding microconstituents, including their classification, major sources, and detection methods, and their removal via biological treatment techniques Fate and transport of microconstituents in various environmental domains, including mathematical modeling based on remote sensing techniques Physicochemical treatment techniques for microconstituents, including precipitation, absorption, filtration, membrane separation, and oxidation Sustainability and environmental management, including the regulatory framework and requirements for developing a new field application, plus an outlook on green design concepts With its emphasis on management and remediation, Microconstituents in the Environment is a highly useful one-stop resource on the subject for environmental scientists, modelers, government agencies, and research scientists working in the field of environmental pollution.

Bioavailability refers to the extent to which humans and ecological receptors are exposed to contaminants in soil or sediment. The concept of bioavailability has recently piqued the interest of the hazardous waste industry as an important consideration in deciding how much waste to clean up. The rationale is that if contaminants in soil and sediment are not bioavailable, then more contaminant mass can be left in place without creating additional risk. A new NRC report notes that the potential for the consideration of bioavailability to influence decision-making is greatest where certain chemical, environmental, and regulatory factors align. The current use of bioavailability in risk assessment and hazardous waste cleanup regulations is demystified, and acceptable tools and models for bioavailability assessment are discussed and ranked according to seven criteria. Finally, the intimate link between bioavailability and bioremediation is explored. The report concludes with suggestions for moving bioavailability forward in the regulatory arena for both soil and sediment cleanup.

Monitoring pollutants in air, soil and water is a routine requirement in the workplace, and in the wider environment. Passive samplers can provide a representative picture of levels of pollutants over a period of time from days to months by measuring the average concentrations to which they have been exposed. Air monitors are widely used, for instance to measure the exposure of workers to volatile compounds, but also for monitoring the fate of pollutants in the atmosphere. Passive sampling devices are now becomining increasingly used to monitor pollutants in rivers, coastal waters and ground water where contamination results from sources such as domestic and industrial discharges, and the use of agrochemicals. Passive Sampling Techniques in Environmental Monitoring provides a timely collection of information on a set of techniques that help monitor the quality of air, surface and ground waters. Passive sampling can provide an inexpensive means of obtaining a representative picture of quality over a period of time, even where levels of pollutants fluctuate due to discontinuous discharges or seasonal application of chemicals such as pesticides. Recent changes in legislation have increased the pressure to obtain better information than that provided by classical infrequent spot sampling.Brought together in one source, this book looks at the performance of a range of devices for the passive sampling of metals, and of non-polar and polar organic chemicals in air and in water. The strengths and weaknesses and the range of applicability of the technology are considered.* Comprehensive review of passive sampling - covering air, water and majority of available technologies in one volume* Chapters written by international specialist experts * Covers theory and applications, providing background information and guidelines for use in the field

The success of an environmental monitoring study using passive samplers, or any sampling method, begins in the office or laboratory. Regardless of the specific methods used, the general steps include the formulation of a sampling plan, training of personnel, performing the field (sampling) work, processing the collected samples to recover chemicals of inter- est, analysis of the enriched extracts, and interpretation of the data. Each of these areas will be discussed in the following sections with emphasis on specific considerations with the use of passive samplers.