This comprehensive text provides a concise overview of environmental problems caused by agriculture, (such as pesticide pollution and increased nitrate levels) and offers practical solutions to them. It is well illustrated and contains a fully-referenced introduction to the main contemporary agricultural pollution issues in the UK. It will help provide clear, scientific and technical understanding of the most important sources of agricultural pollution.

Contents:
List of Figures. List of Tables. Acknowledgements. 1. Agriculture and Pollution. 1.1. Setting the Scene. 1.2. Solving the Problem. 2. Nitrates and Nitrogen Loss. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. The Nitrogen Cycle. 2.3 Nitrogen Transformation. 2.4 Nitrogen Fertiliser Use in Agriculture. 2.5. The Causes of Nitrate Pollution. 2.6. Problems Caused by Nitrate Pollution. 2.7. Reducing Nitrate Losses from Agriculture. 3. Phosphorus. 3.1. Introduction. 3.2 The Phosphorus Cycle. 3.3. Phosphorus losses. 3.4. Environmental Implications of Phosphorus Pollution. 3.5. Environmental Problems Caused by Phosphorus Pollution. 3.6. Practical Solutions. 4. Soil Erosion. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. Vulnerability of Soil to Erosion and Degradation. 4.3. Environmental Impacts of Soil Erosion. 4.4. Practical Solutions to Soil Erosion. 5. Organic Wastes. 5.1. Introduction. 5.2. Farm Wastes. 5.3. Non-Agricultural Organic Soil Amendments. 5.4. Practical Solutions. 5.5. Non-Agricultural Organic Wastes. 5.6. Alternative Technologies for Farm Waste Treatment. 6. Gaseous Emissions. 6.1. Introduction. 6.2. Ammonia Emissions. 6.3. Methane Emissions. 6.4. Nitrous Oxide Emissions. 6.5. Carbon Dioxide Emissions. 6.6. Farm Odours. 7. Pesticides. 7.1. Introduction. 7.2. Pesticides and their Application. 7.3. Mode of Action. 7.4. Insecticides. 7.5. Herbicides. 7.6. Fungicides. 7.7. The Causes of Pesticide Pollution. 7.8. Behaviour and Fate of Pesticides in the Environment. 7.9. Environmental Problems caused by Pesticides Residues. 7.10. Practical Solutions. 7.11. New Technology. 7.12. Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides. 8. Genetic Modification. 8.1. Introduction. 8.2. Risks and Benefits. 8.3. Assessing Environmental Risk. 8.4. The Future for GMO's. 9. Policy Strategies for Reducing Pollution. 9.1. Introduction. 9.2. Emergence of Contemporary Agri-Environmental Policy. 9.3. Policy Instruments, Strategies and Implementation. 9.4. Learning from Experience. 9.5. Future Directions. Author Index. Subject Index.

A comprehensive and practical overview of the state of the science, Soil Quality Standards for Trace Elements: Derivation, Implementation, and Interpretation addresses the derivation of soil quality standards for trace elements and the implementation of these standards within regulatory and risk assessment frameworks. Forty experts from 11 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America-a multidisciplinary group of government policy makers and regulators, academics, industry representatives, and consultants-provide a focused discussion on the science and methods underpinning the derivation of soil quality standards for trace elements. Outlines the supporting science for setting environmental and human health standards Covers the application and practical use of soil quality standards for trace elements Contains recommendations on the development and use of soil quality standards for trace elements Identifies best practices in accounting for (bio)availability and exposure modelling in standard setting for soils The book provides a clear description of how to derive and implement soil quality standards for trace elements in order to assess human and environmental risks. It covers scientific developments useful for resolving discrepancies in the setting and implementation of soil quality standards. It provides useful tips, including do's, and don'ts on how to deal with issues such as variation of the natural background and soil type dependent toxicity.

A balanced, comprehensive overview of Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), Derivation and Use of Environmental Quality and Human Health Standards for Chemical Substances in Water and Soil addresses the selection and prioritization of substances for standard derivation. With integrated content and up-to-date information on assessment of regulations that affect the derivation and use of EQS, it examines the derivation of these standards and their implementation to protect human health and the environment. The book is based on contributions from thirty-five scientists, regulators, and policy makers from eleven countries with individual expertise across disciplines such as risk assessment, environmental, health, economic, and social sciences. These scientists summarize current knowledge on aquatic and terrestrial environmental quality standards, placing these standards in a wider socioeconomic and regulatory context. The book explains how to derive environmental standards that are defensible from a scientific and socioeconomic perspective. Using multidisciplinary techniques applicable to water, sediments, and soils; the text demonstrates how to select the best form and derivation method relative to individual environmental standards. The book presents an in-depth examination of when, where, and how to implement environmental standards based on the social and economic context. It includes detailed coverage of technical approaches that shed light on the derivation and implementation of EQSs. It also identifies future research that will help to underpin the science of environmental and human health standards.

A balanced, comprehensive overview of Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), Derivation and Use of Environmental Quality and Human Health Standards for Chemical Substances in Water and Soil addresses the selection and prioritization of substances for standard derivation. With integrated content and up-to-date information on assessment of regulations that affect the derivation and use of EQS, it examines the derivation of these standards and their implementation to protect human health and the environment.

The book is based on contributions from thirty-five scientists, regulators, and policy makers from eleven countries with individual expertise across disciplines such as risk assessment, environmental, health, economic, and social sciences. These scientists summarize current knowledge on aquatic and terrestrial environmental quality standards, placing these standards in a wider socioeconomic and regulatory context. The book explains how to derive environmental standards that are defensible from a scientific and socioeconomic perspective. Using multidisciplinary techniques applicable to water, sediments, and soils; the text demonstrates how to select the best form and derivation method relative to individual environmental standards.

The book presents an in-depth examination of when, where, and how to implement environmental standards based on the social and economic context. It includes detailed coverage of technical approaches that shed light on the derivation and implementation of EQSs. It also identifies future research that will help to underpin the science of environmental and human health standards.