Complex environmental problems are often reduced to an
inappropriate level of simplicity. While this book does not seek to
present a comprehensive scientific and technical coverage of all
aspects of the subject matter, it makes the issues, ideas, and
language of environmental engineering accessible and understandable
to the nontechnical reader.
Improvements introduced in the fourth edition include a complete
rewrite of the chapters dealing with risk assessment and ethics,
the introduction of new theories of radiation damage, inclusion of
environmental disasters like Chernobyl and Bhopal, and general
updating of all the content, specifically that on radioactive
waste.
Since this book was first published in 1972, several generations
of students have become environmentally aware and conscious of
their responsibilities to the planet earth. Many of these
environmental pioneers are now teaching in colleges and
universities, and have in their classes students with the same
sense of dedication and resolve that they themselves brought to the
discipline. In those days, it was sometimes difficult to explain
what indeed environmental science or engineering was, and why the
development of these fields was so important to the future of the
earth and to human civilization. Today there is no question that
the human species has the capability of destroying its collective
home, and that we have indeed taken major steps toward doing
exactly that.
And yet, while, a lot has changed in a generation, much has not. We
still have air pollution; we still contaminate our water supplies;
we still dispose of hazardous materials improperly; we still
destroy natural habitats as if no other species mattered. And worst
of all, we still continue to populate the earth at an alarming
rate. There is still a need for this book, and for the college and
university courses that use it as a text, and perhaps this need is
more acute now than it was several decades ago.
Although the battle to preserve the environment is still raging,
some of the rules have changed. We now must take into account risk
to humans, and be able to manipulate concepts of risk management.
With increasing population, and fewer alternatives to waste
disposal, this problem is intensified. Environmental laws have
changed, and will no doubt continue to evolve. Attitudes toward the
environment are often couched in what has become known as the
environmental ethic. Finally, the environmental movement has become
powerful politically, and environmentalism can be made to serve a
political agenda.
In revising this book, we have attempted to incorporate the
evolving nature of environmental sciences and engineering by adding
chapters as necessary and eliminating material that is less germane
to today's students. We have nevertheless maintained the essential
feature of this book -- to package the more important aspects of
environmental engineering science and technology in an organized
manner and present this mainly technical material to a
nonengineering audience.
This book has been used as a text in courses which require no
prerequisites, although a high school knowledge of chemistry is
important. A knowledge of college level algebra is also useful, but
calculus is not required for the understanding of the technical and
scientific concepts.
We do not intend for this book to be scientifically and technically
complete. In fact, many complex environmental problems have been
simplified to the threshold of pain for many engineers and
scientists. Our objective, however, is not to impress nontechnical
students with the rigors and complexities of pollution control
technology but rather to make some of the language and ideas of
environmental engineering and science more understandable.
PAV
JJP
RFW
An introduction to the more important aspects of environmental
science and technology.
Well organized and suitable for both the technical and
non-technical reader.
Ideal for the student taking courses in this field who does not
have an extensive engineering, mathematical, or environmental
background.
General
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