ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE III deals with the detection and evaluation of environmental pollutants as well as with their relevance to human health. Environmental components are important determinants of the health status of groups at risk and of the general population. The main objective is the early detection and identification of hazardous substances by physical, chemical and biological methods, risk assessment andprotection of human health. Faced with these problems the volume gives an overview on the mulifaceted aspects of environmental hygiene and medicine. Contributions include basic and innovative approaches in the fields of - Experimental cell biology - Cytotoxicity testing - Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity studies - Inhalation toxicity - Human exposure monitoring - Epidemiology - Important harzardous agents - Environmental control, prevention and legislation.

M. Pliftski Institute of Oceanography, GdaJisk University 46 Pilsudskiego Av. 81-378 Gdynia, Poland 2 The Baltic Sea with 366,000 km is only 0. 1% of the world's oceans but nevertheless, unique in many ways. The Baltic Sea is the largest area of brackish water in the world. As a formation of nature, it is a sea that in many ways resembles a lake. This makes its flora and fauna interesting and well adapted to the brackish water environment. The recent stage of biocoenosis composition is influenced by several features. Historically, during the last glaciation, when the Baltic was sometimes a huge marine bay and sometimes a large, freshwater lake, several ecosystems developed and were successively replaced. The flora and fauna composition of those previous biocoenosis was discovered from the geological layers corresponding to the Yoldic Sea, the Ancylus Lake and the Littorina Sea periods. Recently the marine influence has come from the North Sea water inflow, which greatly affects the salinity of the deep water. The freshwater influence comes from the fluvial water which gives the surface layer a lower salinity value. Salinity in the Baltic regions varies greatly - Gulf of Bothnia 2-4%0, the central Baltic proper 7-13%0, the Kattegat 15-300/00 in the surface water and 32- 34%0 in the bottom water, the Skagerrak 20-300/00 in the surface and 32-35%0 in the bottom water.

As part of its "Programme for the prevention of health hazards cau- sed by industrial substances", the Berufsgenossenschaft der chemi- schen Industrie (BG Chemie, Employment Accident Insurance Fund of the Chemical Industry) began in 1977 to investigate the toxicity of those chemicals which are widely used, have many different applications and are suspected of being dangerous to health, in par- ticular of having long-term effects. The investigations consist of a literature search and - depending on the results - commissions of experimental studies. It is hoped by means of this testing to dose gaps in our knowledge and to increase the scientific validity of the required risk assessments. The results of the toxicological investiga- tions carried out by BG Chemie, and the resulting substance asses- sments have been published in German since 1987 in the form of 189 "Toxikologische Bewertungen" ("Toxicological Evaluations") up to now. In order to make this useful information internationally available, BG Chemie began in October 1990 to publish them as a book series in English, of which the tenth volume (containing 11 indivi- dual evaluations) is presented here. Therefore for 139 existing che- micals, "Toxicological Evaluations" are available in English at the moment, a further 54 are in preparation and will be published soon.

The protection of human health and food and fiber resources against the ravages of pests of many sorts is a continuous struggle by all people in the world. The use of chemical pesticides as an aid in this struggle is now also global. These chemicals are deliberately added to the environment for the purpose of killing or injuring some form of life. Because pesticides are generally less selectively toxic than would be desired, non-target species, including humans, must be protected from injury by these chemicals. This can only be achieved by thorough understanding of the comparative toxicology of these compounds, and by minimizing human (and other desirable species) exposure. The latter can only be achieved by sound regulatory policies that utilize scientific principles and data, properly tempered by both gaps in that data and sociologic and economic considerations. This book contains the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Toxicology of Pesticides: Experimental, Clinical and Regulatory Perspectives" held in Riva del Garda on October 6-15, 1986. This NATO-ASI has been promoted by the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington at Seattle, by the Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano and by the Giovanni Lorenzini Foundation, and has been sponsored by both the Society of Toxicology (USA) and the Italian Society of Toxicology.

As part of its programme for the prevention of health hazards caused by Industnal work substances, the Berufsgenossenschaft der chemischen Industrie (BG Chemie) began in 1977 to Investigate the toxicity of those substances which are widely used, have many different applications and are suspected of being dangerous to health, in particular those having long-term effects on health. The investigations consist of a literature search and - depending on the results - commissions of experimental studies. It is hoped by means of this testing to close gaps In our knowledge and to increase the scientific validity of the required risk assessments. The results of the toxicologi cal investigations carried out by BG Chemle, and the result ing substance assessments have been published In German since 1987 In the form of "Toxikologische Bewer tungen" ("Toxicological Evaluations"). In order to make this useful Information internationally available, the third volume (containing Individual evalua tions of 13 substances) of the senes IS now being published In English, the first volume of which was published in October 1990. Because of the short time between publish ing volume 1,2 and 3, printing of the "Introduction" (consist Ing of a general overview of the programme, lists with names of people involved as well as substances under Investigation) was abandoned In volumes 2 and 3. If more detailed information is required, see volume 1 or contact BG Chemie at first hand. The publication of further individual evaluations and, if necessary, reassessments of previously published evalua tions is planned.

Advances in Controlled Clinical Inhalation Studies represents scientific work presented at the 3rd International Inhalation Symposium held 1991 in Hannover, FRG. The symposium covered the new developments in this field of research. The main pollutants of interest were acid aerosols, fog, and indoor pollutants, while with regard to biological effects, an emphasis was placed on immunotoxicological and biochemical parameters. Tests on high risk groups were also considered. Initial chapters describe the outdoor environment as well as indoor air, measurement and quality - both at home and in the workplace. Besides methods for clinical inhalation and assessing personal exposure, new methodologies are particularly presented. Further chapters focus on the relevance of clinical data for regulatory decisions.

The purpose of this book is to investigate the suitability and applicability of available methods for analyzing the human and ecological risks involved in the release of genetically-modified microorganisms. Main topics include: - risk analysis and assessment; approach to safety assurance; - inventory of available scientific risk assessment methods for biotechnology; - identification of methodology gaps and research needs in biology, ecology or other disciplines; - development of a general framework to guide future biotechnology risk assessment efforts; - international regulatory activities.

Die Naturwissenschaften; Edward Arnold Co.; Research in Veterinary Science; Ltd.; Farm Mechanization and Buildings; Springer Verlag; The Ciba Foundation Ltd.; Journal of Agricultural Science; Journal of The Institute of Biology; The Lancet; The Reproduction and Fertility; Lea and Febiger; Physiological Society (G. B.); The Royal Masson et Cie, Paris; MacMillan Publishing Society; University of Chicago Press; Uni- Co., Inc.; National Academy of Science, versity of Rhodesia; Verhandlungen der U.S.; National Research Council of Canada; Deutschen Gesellschaft fur KreislautJorsch- Nature, London; North Holland Publishing ung; Waverly Press; and W. B. Saunders. Co.; Oxford University Press; Pergamon Press; Physiology and Behavior; Poultry D. L. INGRAM Science Association; Reinhold Publishing L. E. MOUNT Contents Preface Chapter 1 The Thermal Eml'ironment 1 Hot, Thermally Neutral, and Cold Environments 1 Development of Climatic Physiology 3 Physical Principles Chapter 2 Heat Exchange between Animal and Environment 5 Metabolic Heat and Its Dissipation 5 Body Temperature 6 Poikilotherm and Homeotherm 7 Heat Flow 8 Sensible Heat Transfer 9 Evaporative Heat Transfer 16 Calorimetry 21 Chapter 3 Metabolic Rate, Thermal Insolation, and the Assessment of Environment 24 Metabolic Rate and Heat Loss at High Temperatures 24 Thermal Conductance and Insulation 27 Evaporative Heat Loss 31 The Assessment of Thermal Environment 34 Responses of Different Species to High Temperatures 37 Physiological Mechanisms Chapter 4 Evaporative Heat Loss 39 Evaporative Loss from the Respiratory Tract 39 ix x Contents Conservation of Water Loss from the Respiratory 40 Tract in a Hot Dry Climate

The mastery of a variety of biomedical They avoided the self-destruction and dis techniques has led our society to the solu ease that can so readily follow the escalation tion of the problems in environmental con of social disorder in an isolated colony. By trol imposed by space flight. By an unparal following a "code of civility" that may be as leled social cooperative effort, man has much a part of man's biologic inheritance as launched himself successfully on the path of his speech, they established cultures in interplanetary exploration and space travel. which power was exercised with sufficient By a like synthesis of knowledge available to respect to establish a consensus. They fol him, Stone Age man kept a foothold on tiny lowed revered cultural canons, using an Pacific atolls for the better part of a thousand accumulation of rational empiric data from years, despite obliterating hurricanes and social experience to modify and control the inherited biogrammar. This we often fail to limited resources. By combining empiric do. There is growing evidence that it is phys navigational skills, such as the sighting of stars with intuitive feeling for ocean swells iologically possible for the left hemisphere of and other subtle cues, tiny populations were the brain, which deals with logic and lan maintained in communication over vast dis guage, to be cut off from the right hemi tances."

Infant Feeding is about a controversy which fascinated the medical and scientific world, as well as national and international health authorities, politicians, religious groups and consumer organisations, for more than 11 years. It often disturbed public opinion, being concerned, as it is, with nothing less than the life and death of babies. The infant food industry was directly accused of having caused a decline in breast-feeding through the inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes. The problem was said to be particularly acute in poor under-developed communities, because illiterate mothers were unable to understand instructions for its use, water was often contaminated and, in order to "stretch" an admittedly expensive product, it was over-diluted. The inevitable result, said the critics of industry, was malnutrition, gastroenteritis and increased infant mortality. These were very serious charges against companies which had until then been generally considered to provide an important contribution to medical progress and child health. One company was to be particularly singled out: Nestle SA, the Swiss multinational. Perhaps it became the target because it was the longest establishment, and served well as a symbol of the whole industry. It is a story which is full of confrontations, intrigue and passionately-held opinions, based, nevertheless, on a sizeable body of medical science. After countless twists and turns, it has some sort of "happy ending". Yet a great deal remains to be said, as will be seen throughout the book.

From 11 to 15 July 1977 about 60 physiologists, endo crinologists, ecologists and other biologists from 14 countries convened at the University Montpellier for a symposium on Environmental Endocrinology. This meet ing was organized as a Satellite Symposium of the 27th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, Paris, 18-23 July 1977. This volume is a record of the com munications presented at the symposium. The objectives of the program were to examine the role of the endocrine system in a wide spectrum of adjustments and adaptations to changes in environmental conditions by various spe cies of animals, including man, and to promote an ex change of ideas among investigators who have approached these functions from diverse aspects. The diversity of the information and ideas communicated is great. Of necessity, they represent only an extremely modest se lection of the many facets of endocrine function in the interaction of animals with their environments. Be yond the usefulness of the communications individually, we hope that they collectively demonstrate the substan tial heuristic value of the concept of environmental endocrinology as it was perceived by the participants. We acknowledge gratefully the kindness and sympathy of Professor Jaques ROUZAUD, President of the University of Montpellier II, for his generous extension of the hospitality of the University to the Symposium. We are most grateful to Mrs. Monique VIEU who effected so well the secretarial organization of the Sympos."

Environmental Chemistry is a relatively young science. Interest in this subject, however, is growing very rapidly and, although no agreement has been reached as yet about the exact content and limits of this interdisciplinary discipline, there appears to be increasing interest in seeing environmental topics which are based on chemistry embodied in this subject. One of the first objectives of Environ mental Chemistry must be the study of the environment and of natural chemical processes which occur in the environment. A major purpose of this series on Environmental Chemistry, therefore, is to present a reasonably uniform view of various aspects of the chemistry of the environment and chemical reactions occurring in the environment. The industrial activities of man have given a new dimension to Environ mental Chemistry. We have now synthesized and described over five million chemical compounds and chemical industry produces about hundred and fifty million tons of synthetic chemicals annually. We ship billions of tons of oil per year and through mining operations and other geophysical modifications, large quantities of inorganic and organic materials are released from their natural deposits. Cities and metropolitan areas of up to 15 million inhabitants produce large quantities of waste in relatively small and confined areas. Much of the chemical products and waste products of modern society are released into the environment either during production, storage, transport, use or ultimate disposal. These released materials participate in natural cycles and reactions and frequently lead to interference and disturbance of natural systems.

This book is concerned with the psychological effects of unemployment. In writing it I had two main aims: (1) to describe theoretical approaches that are relevant to understanding unemployment effects; and (2) to present the re sults of studies from a program of research with which I have been closely involved over recent years. In order to meet these aims I have organized the book into two main parts. I discuss background research and theoretical approaches in the first half of the book, beginning with research concerned with the psychological effects of unemployment during the Great Depression and continuing through to a dis cussion of more recent contributions. I have not attempted to review the liter ature in fine detail. Instead, I refer to some of the landmark studies and to the main theoretical ideas that have been developed. This discussion takes us through theoretical approaches that have emerged from the study of work, employment, and unemployment to a consideration of wider frameworks that can also be applied to further our understanding of unemployment effects."

M. B. KASTAN Cancer is a disease resulting from alterations of cellular genes which cause phe notypic changes in somatic cells. Usually, when we think about genetic diseases, we think about inheriting one or two abnormal genes from our parents and these gene abnormalities confer the disease phenotype. In contrast, in the majority of cancers, no such inherited gene abnormalities can be identified (which does not mean that they do not exist) and there is no obvious family history suggesting an inherited disease. The vast majority of genes which are altered in the cancer cells are not transmitted through the germ line, but rather become abnormal in somatic cells sometime during the lifetime of the individual. Thus, the critical question which arises is "how do these genetic changes occur in somatic cells?." Epidemiologic data suggest that exposure to environmental carcinogens con tributes to the genesis of at least 80% of all human cancers (DOLL and PETO 1981). Thus, it is natural to suspect that the genetic changes in somatic cells which con tribute to the transformed phenotype arise from DNA damage caused by such exposures. Therefore, understanding how cells respond to DNA-damaging agents is likely to be an important component of our understanding of the genesis of human tumors."

Toxicological Evaluations are critically assessed data and recommendations for occupational safety officers, industrial hygienists, and human and animal toxicologists. They are compiled and constantly reviewed under internationally coordinated programs for establishing the risk potential of existing chemicals to prevent health hazards at the working place. In Volume 13, data for the following chemicals are published: Benzyl chloride, Triethylenediamine, 2-Amino-6-methoxybenzothiazol, Fluorobenzene, alpha-Naphthylamine, Triethylphosphite, Diethylphosphite, Diphenyl-2-ethylhexyl phosphate, alpha-Chlorpropionic acid and sodium-alpha-chloropropionate, Zinc ethylphenyl dithiocarbamate, Dimethoxy thiophosphonyl chloride, p-Chlorbenzotrifluoride.

My introduction to the fascinating phenomena associated with detonation waves came through appointments as an external fellow at the Department of Physics, University College of Wales, and at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds. Very special thanks for his accurate guidance through the large body of information on gaseous detonations are due to Professor D. H. Edwards of University College of Wales. Indeed, the onerous task of concisely enumerating the key features of unidimensional theories of detonations was undertaken by him, and Chapter 2 is based on his initial draft. When the text strays to the use of we, it is a deserved acknow ledgement of his contribution. Again, I should like to thank Professor D. Bradley of Leeds University for his enthusiastic encouragement of my efforts at developing a model of the composition limits of detonability through a relationship between run-up distance and composition of the mixture. The text has been prepared in the context of these fellowships, and I am grateful to the Central Electricity Generating Board for its permission to accept these appointments."

Toxicological Evaluations are critically assessed data and recommendations for occupational safety officers, industrial hygienists, and human and animal toxicologists. They are compiled and constantly reviewed under internationally coordinated programs for establishing the risk potential of existing chemicals to prevent health hazards at the working place. In Volume 11, data for the following chemicals are published: o-Phthalodinitrile, Dimethylaminopropionitrile, Anthraquinone, Triisobutylphosphate, 4-Nitro-4'-aminodiphenylamine-2-sulfonic acid, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-chloreanilino, Antimony-(III)-chloride, Antimony-(V)-chloride, Antimony-(V)-oxide, N, N-Dicyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide, Ethenesulfonic acid, sodium salt.

To be asked to prepare a second edition of a book is heartening for any author or editor. Apart from the opportunity to make the corrections and amendments which are inevitable in a practical manual there is also the possibility to make additions which enhance its usefulness. Above all a further edition usually means that the book has been found to be accept able to a large number of readers and has fulfilled a need. This is indeed the case with Offshore Medicine, which in its description of the medical aspects of offshore work has provided a unique guide to the occupational health of a new industry. The rapid development of offshore exploration for gas and oil which began in the 1960s created a whole new range of related industries. Most attention was focused on the problems of deep diving in the North Sea because of the great expansion of the diving industry, its technological advances and the high mortality of divers in the early years. Diving, however, is only a fraction of the total endeavour concerned with the offshore industry. The much larger population of workers offshore who man the rigs and barges, the toolpushers, helicop ter pilots, crane drivers, scaffolders and roustabouts, geologists and so on, so sympathetically described by A. Alvarez in his recent book Off shore, A North Sea Journey, and the harsh and difficult conditions in which they often have to work are sometimes forgotten."

Since the implementation of catalysts containing platinum-group-elements (PGE) for the control of vehicle emissions in 1975, a controversial discussion has begun on PGE emissions and eventual consequences for the environment. However, a comprehensive overview of the various works and results in different scientific areas is still lacking. This book covers all aspects of anthropogenic PGE emissions and their consequences for man and environment. The interdisciplinary approach is substantiated by contributions from the fields of environmental geosciences, analytical chemistry, biology and occupational medicine. The articles mirror the actual status of scientific work and discuss environmentally related topics. Modern analytical methods for various environmental matrices as well as models of the current and future geochemical behaviour of PGE in the environment are presented. Bioavailability and toxicological and allergic potentials are discussed.

PREFACE xv Il Y a une ou deux decennies les ingenieurs ont crn ou voulu faire croire que l'automatisation des systemes de production et de contrOle permettrait de s'affranchir entierement de ce maillon faillible que constitue l'Homme.On a meme vu une reunion scientifique se reunir sur Ie theme "L'homme element limitatif de l'utilisation des systemes d'armes." Dne telle attitude montre avant tout que 1'0n n'a pas su integrer l'utilisateur dans la conception du systeme considere. Elle consacre la faillite d'un concept. On est revenu a une notion plus realiste de la situation. En effet, meme dans les systemes dits "entierement automatises" on trouve toujours un ou plusieurs hommes, indispensables pour surveiller Ie deroulement du processus, intervenir lorsque se produit une defaillance, voire reprendre en main l'ensemble des operations lorsque survient un incident. Le developpement des automatismes modifie evidemment la tache de 1'0perateur. L'homme contribue moins directement a la production elle-meme, en ce sens qu'on n'exige plus de lui un effort physique. On lui confie, dans des conditions de travail encore inhabituelles et auxquelles il n'est pas specialement prepare, des systemes dont les couts sont tres eleves et qui risquent d'etre deteriores s'il commet la moindre faute. Sans compter les risques qu'il est alors susceptible de faire courir a ses concitoyens. Le bon sens reprenant le dessus, on s'interesse maintenant a la place de l'Homme confronte a ces situations qu'il rencontre de plus en plus frequemment dans l'industrie.

Chemical pesticides continue as a point of major controversy in our society. Increasingly stringent regulatory actions on the part of state and federal agencies, exemplified by the RPAR (Rebuttable Presump tion Against Registration) program of the Environmental Protection Agency, are supported by environmental groups and are generally op posed or viewed with skepticism by agriculturalists. The energy crisis invokes other questions on benefits of pesticides versus nonchemical controls and effects on labor utilization. As DDT and other persistent pesticides have been phased out, the more labile, short-lived chemicals have filled the voids in pest management systems; and effects on nontarget species appear to have declined in recent years as the shift occurred. However, nagging ques tions of the hazard to man and other nontarget species from long-term, low-level exposure to pesticides are frequently raised; and recent suggestions that certain well-known and long-used chemicals cause cancer, increase sterility, and initiate or augment other deleterious effects in test animals have instilled a sense of caution and raised con cern about the continued availability of some pesticides previously considered safe. So the facade of concern and confusion continues. This book is an outgrowth of a symposium at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in February, 1978. An introduction has been added, and some of the papers have been modified since presentation."

This book is a collection of scientific papers presented at the XVIII International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 15-18 September 1969. It is dedicated to General E. de Vries and Dr. K. Vaan drager, President and Vice-President of the Congress, who wished that this unsur passed exchange of scientific information by distinguished authorities of the inter national aerospace medical community be made readily available to all as a valuable source of information. I am deeply grateful to the Congress Committee for honoring me with this editorship, to the authors for submitting generally excellent manuscripts and to the publisher for compiling a book of such high quality. This book contains both Main Theme papers, given by invited lecturers, and selected Free Communications at the Congress. Main Themes were 'physiology of atmospheric pressure' (papers by Ernsting, Meijne, Sluijter, Behnke), 'vestibular problems in aviation medicine' (papers by Melvill Jones, Benson, Oosterveld, Groen, Guedry and Benson, Brandt, Henriksson and Nilsson), 'aviation and cardiology' (papers by Blackburn, Wood) and 'space medicine' (paper by Berry). The Free Communications herein focus on many areas of continuing and timely interest to clinicians and investigators in aerospace medicine. Selection and health maintenance of pilots, medical problems in airline passengers, use of the centrifuge as a therapeutic device, and circadian rhythm effects on man's psychophysiological state receive particular attention."

At the present time there are renewed global efforts to control the major tropical infections and to stem the tide of malnutrition, the two serious, often intertwined, problems that contribute to much of the morbidity and mortality in under privileged populations. Many international organizations have joined hands with national governments and with the private sector to search for new approaches to problems that beset much of the developing world, including countries in the tropical region. This volume continues the tradition of the previous publication in the Series. A variety of fare is offered to readers: explanations of the activities and achievements of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Re search and Training in Tropical Diseases; and studies of infant mortality, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, helminths, lactase deficiency, oral rehydration therapy, functional consequences of iron deficiency, and fertility control. Au thoritative state-of-the-art reviews provide a critical analysis of recent data. I hope the Series will continue to prove useful to all those working in the tropics and to those in the industrialized countries whose awareness of physical health problems of the Third World is relatively limited. R. K. Chandra St. John's, Newfoundland VlI Contents Chapter 1. The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DAVID S. ROWE 1. Origins, Objectives, and Diseases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. The Modus Operandi of the Programme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. 1. Scientific Working Groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. 2. Research Strengthening Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2. 3. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. . . . . . . . . 7 2. 4. Joint Coordinating Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

Toxicological Evaluations are critically assessed data and recommendations for occupational safety officers, industrial hygienists, and human and animal toxicologists. They are compiled and constantly reviewed under internationally coordinated programs for establishing the risk potential of existing chemicals to rpevent health hazards at the working place. In Volume 12, data for the following chemicals are published: Ethylenthiourea, N,N'-Di-sec-butyl-p-phenylenediamine, p-Nitrosophenol, Dichlorotoluene, 2,4-Dichlorotoluene, 3,4-Dichlorotoluene, Glyoxal, Chloracetyl chloride, Copper phthalocyanine, Dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea, Acetoacetanilide, Thiourea, 3,4-Dichlorobutene-1

Diverse driving forces, processes and actors are responsible for different trends in the development of megacities and large urban areas. Under the dynamics of global change, megacities are themselves changing: On the one hand they are prone to increasing socio-economic vulnerability due to pronounced poverty, socio-spatial and political fragmentation, sometimes with extreme forms of segregation, disparities and conflicts. On the other hand megacities offer positive potential for global transformation, e.g. minimisation of space consumption, highly effective use of resources, efficient disaster prevention and health care options -- if good strategies were developed. At present in many megacities and urban areas of the developing world and the emerging economies the quality of life is eroding. Most of the megacities have grown to unprecedented size, and the pace of urbanisation has far exceeded the growth of the necessary infrastructure and services. As a result, an increasing number of urban dwellers are left without access to basic amenities like clean drinking water, fresh air and safe food. Additionally, social inequalities lead to subsequent and significant intra-urban health inequalities and unbalanced disease burdens that can trigger conflict and violence between subpopulations. The guiding idea of our book lies in a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to the complex topic of megacities and urban health that can only be adequately understood when different disciplines share their knowledge and methodological tools to work together. We hope that the book will allow readers to deepen their understanding of the complex dynamics of urban and megacity populations through the lens of public health, geographical and other research perspectives.