This book discusses the need for a regulated and informed forum for international trade in hazardous waste. The authors argue that with careful planning, health and ecological risks can be minimized and net economic benefits realized fairly. The book examines the key parameters that should be considered by potential trading nations to ensure an optimally safe and mutually beneficial partnership. The authors provide comprehensive coverage of the political, environmental, industrial and economic issues involved in this complex and increasingly controversial practice.

With land space running out and increasingly stringent environmental legislation being passed, affluent nations have turned to poorer countries to handle some of their hazardous waste. Some developing countries have continued to accept waste shipments, while others have imposed bans but cannot enforce them effectively. This lack of regulation has led to a political backlash against international trade in wastes, culminating in a call by the United Nations for a global ban. This book discusses the need for a regulated and informed forum for international trade in hazardous waste. The authors argue that with careful planning, health and ecological risks can be minimized and net economic benefits realized fairly. The book examines the key parameters that should be considered by potential trading nations to ensure an optimally safe and mutually beneficial partnership. The authors provide comprehensive coverage of the political, environmental, industrial and economic issues involved in this complex and increasingly controversial practice. The book should be of interest to those working in industries involved in transporting waste and policy makers and agencies at both local and national

Environmental contamination issues are a complex problem with worldwide implications. Risks to both human and ecological health as a result of toxic materials present or introduced into the environment are a matter of grave concern to modern society. The effective management of environmental contamination problems has therefore become an important environmental priority that will remain a growing social challenge for years to come. Risk assessment promises a way for developing appropriate strategies to aid environmental management decisions in this arena. Risk assessment is a tool used to organize structure, and compile scientific information in order to help identify existing hazardous situations or problems, anticipate potential problems, establish priorities, and provide a basis for regulatory controls and/or corrective actions. This book attempts to provide a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the many facets/aspects relating to chemical risk assessments. It presents some very important tools and methodologies that can be used to help resolve environmental contamination problems in a consistent, efficient and cost-effective way. Overall the book represents a collection and synthesis of the principal elements of the risk assessment process that pertain to environmental contamination problems. It offers an understanding of the scientific basis of risk assessment and its applications in the environmental industry including a portrayal of how the risk assessment process fits into regulatory policies. The subject matter of this book can indeed be used to aid the resolution of a variety of environmental management problems.

Contaminated sites and facilities may pose significant risks to the local populations because of the potential health and environmental effects associated with environmental contamination problems. Also affected are property owners and financiers due to reduced property values and possible financial liabilities. The effective management of contaminated sites is therefore an important environmental issue, requiring careful planning. This book addresses the issues relevant to the investigation and management of contaminated sites, emphasising problem diagnosis/characterisation and the development of site restoration/corrective action programs. The book focuses on methodologies that will allow scientifically justifiable/defensible, technically feasible, and economically viable corrective action assessment and response decisions to be made. This includes methods for developing effectual site restoration tasks, methods for evaluating the progress of corrective action programs, and the application of risk assessment methods as a decision-making tool. The goal of the book is to synthesise technically sound principles and techniques that can be applied globally to contaminated sites in different regions of the world.