This preface is being written at a time of exceptional public interest in the North Sea, following media head lines on toxic algal blooms, the mass mortality of common seals, and concern over pollution levels. These headlines may suggest that pollution of the North Sea is a recent event. This is not the case. Although no data are available (methods simply did not exist), it is safe to assume that emission (both into air and water) of heavy metals already started to increase in the 19th cen tury. The growth of cities and introduction of sewer sys tems led to the discharge of raw sewage and sewage sludge. The introduction of man-made (xenobiotic) organ ic chemicals and their subsequent emission into the North Sea commenced before the second world war. The shallower and coastal areas of the North Sea receive the highest concentrations of these pollutants. Not unexpectedly, these areas - some Norwegian fjords, the Dutch coast, the German Bight - show signs of ecosystem deterioration and eutrophication. A certain percentage of the pollutants does not remain in the North Sea but is "exported" to the Atlantic. The North Sea therefore con tributes to the global input of pollutants to the world's oceans. The major part of the pollutants accumulate in the North Sea and are incorporated in the bottom sediments. Although they are "out of sight," they should not be "out of mind.""

Sustainable development and pollution control are the key factors in the development of strategies for the solution of environmental problems. This book offers an integrated treatment of all aspects of environmental protection and remediation. The presentation encompasses physical and chemical fundamentals, technological approaches as well as ecological, economic, and ethical aspects. The discussion of regulatory issues includes a comparison of environmental legislation in the US, Japan and Europe. The book addresses students as a comprehensive text and serves as a handy reference for environmental professionals in industry, consulting services, administration, and environmental agencies and associations.

In modern sediment research on contaminants five aspects are discussed which, in an overlapping succession, also reflect develop ment of knowledge on particle-associated pollutants during the past twenty-five years: (1) identification of sources and their distribution; (2) evaluation of solid/solution relations; (3) study of transfer mecha nisms to biological systems; (4) assessment of environment impact; and (5) selection and further development of remedial measures, in par ticular, of dredged materials. Scientific research and practical develop ment are still expanding in all these individual aspects. Similar to other waste materials, management of contaminated sed iments requires a holistic approach. This means that assessment of biogeochemical reactions, interfacial processes and transfer mecha nisms as well as the prognosis of long-term borderline conditions, in particular of capacity-controlling properties, should be an integrated part of the wider management scheme, i.e., the analytical and experi mental parameters should always be related to potential remediation options for a specific sediment problem. The underlying coordinated project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Science and Technology (now the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology) provided excellent opportunities for multidisciplinary effort, bringing together biologists, chemists, engineers, geologists and other researchers. During its active phase, the group attracted much interest nationally and internationally. The group members highly appreciate the manifold contacts and invitations during the past five years."

"Dredged Material and Mine Tailings" are two of the same thing once they are deposited on land: they must be safe-guarded, wash-out must be prevented, and they must be protected by a plantcover. This comprehensive treatise covers both important aspects of their management: "In Chemistry and " "Biology of Solid Waste" the principles and assessment are scientifically studied and discussed, while "Environmental " "Management of Solid Waste" turns to the practical applications, such as prediction, restoration and management. Previously, dredged material was a commodity, it could be sold as soil, e.g. to gardeners. In the meantime, dredged material from the North Sea (e.g. the Rotterdam or Amsterdam harbor) must be treated as toxic waste. Many environmentalists, managers and companies do not know how to solve the inherent problems. This new work deals with the chemical, physical and biological principles; the biological and geochemical assessment; the prediction of effects and treatment; and finally, with the restoration and revegetation. It is written by many leading scientists in the various fields, and will prove invaluable for scientists, managers and politicians who are concerned with the present environmental situation.

Sediments and Environmental Geochemistry is dedicated to Professor German Muller on the occasion of his 60th birthday. The individual articles, written by outstanding scientists, cover a wide range of subjects indicating the broad spectrum of his interests. The main topics are: Carbonate and Evaporite Petrology, Petroleum Formation and Exploration, Environmental Geochemistry, Coal Petrography, Data Bases in Geosciences, and Volcanology.

"Heavy Metals: Problems and Solutions" is divided into three sections dealing with basic geochemical processes, remediation and case studies. The basic geochemical processes are discussed with respect to mobility in the environment and impact as well as methods to derive guidelines for heavy metals. Remediation focuses on currently available methods to treat contaminated sediments and soils. In addition, it considers the concept of geochemical engineering for remediation of large areas contaminated by metals. A number of case studies of polluted sediments and soils and their environmental impact highlight the principles discussed in the first two sections.

"Dredged Material and Mine Tailings" are two of the same thing once they are deposited on land: they must be safe-guarded, wash-out must be prevented, and they must be protected by a plantcover. This comprehensive two-volume treatise covers both important aspects of their management: "Environmental " "Management of Solid Waste" turns to the practical applications, such as prediction, restoration and management, while in "Chemistry and Biology of Solid Waste" the principles and assessment are scientifically studied and discussed. Previously, dredged material was a commodity, it could be sold as soil, e. g. to gardeners. In the meantime, dredged material from the North Sea (e.g. the Rotterdam or Amsterdam harbor) must be treated as hazardous waste. Many environmentalists, managers and companies do not know how to solve the inherent problems. This new work deals with the chemical, physical and biological principles; the biological and geochemical assessment; the prediction of effects and treatment; and finally, with restoration and revegetation. It is written by many leading scientists in the various fields, and will prove invaluable for managers and politicians who are concerned with the present environmental situation.

This is the first interdisciplinary book on the mobilization of nutrients and pollutants in the water phase due to hydrodynamic processes. Coverage includes the formation of aggregates in turbulent water; flocks and biofilms from organic reactions; and the formation of new surfaces for re-adsorption of dissolved pollutants. The book gathers papers resulting from an International Symposium on Sediment Dynamics and Pollutant Mobility in River Basins in Hamburg, Germany, March, 2006.

Sediments are increasingly recognized as both a carrier and a possible source of contaminants in aquatic systems, and they may also affect groundwater quality and agricultural products when disposed on land. Four aspects are covered reflecting the development of knowledge in particle-associated pollutants during the past twenty-five years: - the identification, surveillance, monitoring and control of sources and distribution of pollutants, - the evaluation of solid/solution relations of contaminants in surface waters, - the study of in-situ processes and mechanisms of pollutant transfer in various compartments of the aquatic ecosystems, - the assessment of the environmental impact of particle-bound contaminants, i.e. the development of sediment quality criteria. A final chapter focusses on practical aspects concerning contaminated sediments.

Depressionen treten bei Menschen aller sozialen Schichten, Kulturen und Nationalitaten auf. Jeder funfte Erwachsene hat mindestens einmal im Leben mit einer depressiven Symptomatik zu kampfen. Dieses Buch widmet sich diesem qualenden seelischen Leiden. In ubersichtlicher Form wird das Basiswissen uber die verschiedenen Formen der Depressionen fur die Zielgruppe der niedergelassenen Allgemeinmediziner, aber auch fur interessierte Facharzte der Neurologie und Psychiatrie und Psychotherapeuten aufbereitet. Um dieses Krankheitsbild diagnostizieren zu konnen, werden konkrete Anleitungen zur Diagnostik und Differenzialdiagnostik beschrieben. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt liegt im Aufzeigen von sinnvollen Therapiemassnahmen. Neben der Wichtigkeit der Psychopharmakologie werden auch psychotherapeutische Interventionen dem Leser vorgestellt. Zudem wird ein Einblick in Komplikationsmanagement, stationare Therapiemoglichkeiten und Rehabilitation gewahrt.

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Angst ist so alt wie die Menschheit. Doch Angststorungen, wie Panikattacken und Phobien nehmen stetig zu. Fast jeder Zehnte ist betroffen, die Dunkelziffer liegt viel hoher. Ubersichtlich prasentiert der Autor Basiswissen zum Phanomen Angst fur Allgemeinmediziner, interessierte Facharzte sowie Psychotherapeuten. Die ausfuhrlichen Diagnostik- und Therapieleitlinien und konkreten Anleitungen zur (Differenzial)diagnostik eignen sich ideal fur den Einsatz in der taglichen Praxis. Plus: sinnvolle Therapiemassnahmen, Psychopharmakologie, psychotherapeutische Interventionen, Komplikationsmanagement, stationare Therapie und Rehabilitation."

Ingenieurgeochemie nutzt die Kenntnis naturlicher Prozesse der Schadstoffverteilung aus umweltgeochemischen Untersuchungen fur die Entwicklung und Erfolgskontrolle auf naturlichen Ressourcen basierender Entsorgungstechnologien. Der Schwerpunkt der darstellung liegt auf dem Verstandnis der Wirkungsweise ausserer und innerer Barrierensysteme zur physikalischen Stabilisierung und chemischen Immobilisierung von Schadstoffen.

Neue Beitrage zu Sickerwasserprognosen, zum Langzeitverhalten von Deponien, zur Stabilisierung von Bergbaualtlasten und zu Baggergut-Unterwasserdepots erganzen das Buch in der zweiten Auflage. Mit Beispielen aus den Projekten und Studien KORA, RUBIN, SEDYMO, SIWAP (BMBF), AquaTerra (EU), Elbe (HPA) und Rhein (POR)."