Quoted from the Preface:
Environmental chemistry, Seventh Edition, continues much the same
organizational structure, level, and emphasis that have been developed through
preceding editions. In addition to providing updated material in the rapidly
developing area of environmental chemistry, this edition emphasizes several major
concepts that are proving essential to the practice of environmental chemistry at the
beginning of the new millennium. These include the concept of the anthrosphere as
a distinct sphere of the environment and the practice of industrial ecology,
sometimes known as “green chemistry” as it applies to chemical science.
Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to environmental science, technology, and
chemistry. Chapter 2 defines and discusses the anthrosphere, industrial ecosystems,
and their relationship to environmental chemistry. Chapters 3 through 8 deal with
aquatic chemistry.
Chapters 9 through 14 discuss atmospheric chemistry. Chapter 14 emphasizes
the greatest success story of environmental chemistry to date, the study of ozonedepleting
chlorofluorocarbons which resulted in the first Nobel prize awarded in
environmental chemistry. It also emphasizes the greenhouse effect, which may be
the greatest of all threats to the global environment as we know it.
Chapters 15 and 16 deal with the geosphere, the latter chapter emphasizing soil
and agricultural chemistry. Included in the discussion of agricultural chemistry is
the important and controversial new area of of transgenic crops. Another area
discussed is that of conservation tillage, which makes limited use of herbicides to
grow crops with minimum soil disturbance.
Chapters 17 through 20 cover several aspects of industrial ecology and how it
relates to material and energy resources, recycling, and hazardous waste.
Chapters 21 through 23 cover the biosphere. Chapter 21 is an overview of
biochemistry with emphasis upon environmental aspects. Chapter 22 introduces and
outlines the topic of toxicological chemistry. Chapter 23 discusses the toxicological
chemistry of various classes of chemical substances.
Chapters 24 through 27 deal with environmental chemical analysis, including
water, wastes, air, and xenobiotics in biological materials.
The last two chapters of the book, 28 and 29 include an overview of general
chemistry and of organic chemistry. Although the book is designed for readers who
have a good understanding of general chemistry and some knowledge of organic
chemistry, these last chapters can serve as resource materials for individuals who
may not have a very good background in chemistry.