Methods In Environmental Forensics

While environmental catastrophes can be naturally occurring, often they are the result of criminal intent or malfeasance. Sorting out the details when the land itself is the only witness requires a special set of investigative skills. For accountability to be established, investigators must be able to answer these questions with a measure of scient

The third edition of Introduction to Environmental Forensics is a state-of-the-art reference for the practicing environmental forensics consultant, regulator, student, academic, and scientist, with topics including compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), advanced multivariate statistical techniques, surrogate approaches for contaminant source identification and age dating, dendroecology, hydrofracking, releases from underground storage tanks and piping, and contaminant-transport modeling for forensic applications. Recognized international forensic scientists were selected to author chapters in their specific areas of expertise and case studies are included to illustrate the application of these methods in actual environmental forensic investigations. This edition provides updates on advances in various techniques and introduces several new topics. Provides a comprehensive review of all aspects of environmental forensics Coverage ranges from emerging statistical methods to state-of-the-art analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry and polytopic vector analysis Numerous examples and case studies are provided to illustrate the application of these forensic techniques in environmental investigations

'Environmental forensics' is a combination of analytical and environmental chemistry, which is useful in the court room context. It therefore involves field analytical studies and both data interpretation and modelling connected with the attribution of pollution events to their causes. Recent decades have seen a burgeoning of legislation designed to protect the environment and, as the costs of environmental damage and clean-up are considerable, not only are there prosecutions by regulatory agencies, but the courts are also used as a means of adjudication of civil damage claims relating to environmental causes or environmental degradation. As a result is the increasing number of prosecutions of companies who have breached regulations for environmental protection and in civil claims relating to harm caused by excessive pollutant releases to the environment. Such cases can become extremely protracted as expert witnesses provide their sometimes conflicting interpretations of environmental measurement data and their meaning. It is in this context that environmental forensics is developing as a specialism, leading to greater formalisation of investigative methods which should lead to more definitive findings and less scope for experts to disagree. Now a significant subject in its own right, at least one journal devoted to the field and a number of degree courses have sprung up. As a result of the topicality and rapid growth of the subject area, is the publication of this book - the 26th volume in the highly acclaimed Issues in Environmental Science and Technology Series. This volume contains authoritative articles by a number of the leading practitioners across the globe in the environmental forensics field and aims to cover some of the main techniques and areas to which environmental forensics are being applied. The content is comprehensive and describes a number of the key areas within environmental forensics - topics covered by the authors include: - Source identification issues - Microbial techniques - Metal contamination and methods of assigning liability - The use of isotopes to determine sources and their applications - Molecular biological methods - Hydrocarbon fingerprinting techniques - Oil chemistry and key compound identification - The emerging role of environmental forensics in groundwater pollution Additionally, the volume considers specific pollutants and long-lived pollutants of groundwater such as halocarbons which have presented particular problems and which are described in some depth, as well as the way in which chemical degradation processes can lead to compositional changes which provide valuable information. The book provides a comprehensive overview of many of the key areas of environmental forensics written by some of the leading experts in the field. It will be both of specialist use to those seeking expert insights into the field and its capabilities as well as of more general interest to those involved in both environmental analytical science and environmental law.

Environmental forensics is the application of scientific techniques for the purpose of identifying the source and age of a contaminant. Over the past several years, this study has been expanding as a course of study in academia, government and commercial markets. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are among the governmental agencies that utilize the study of environmental forensics to ensure national security and to ensure that companies are complying with standards. Even the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), a group supported by the European Commission and the World Bank, utilizes the study of environmental forensics as it applies to terror threats.This title is a hands-on guide for environmental scientists, engineers, consultants and industrial scientists to identify the origin and age of a contaminant in the environment and the issues involved in the process. An expansion of the authors’ first title with Academic Press, Introduction to Environmental Forensics, this is a state-of-the-art reference for those exploring the scientific techniques available. Up-to-date compendium for referencing forensic techniques unique to particular contaminants. International scientific unit system Contributors from around the world providing international examples and case studies.

Oil Spill Environmental Forensics provides a complete view of the various forensic techniques used to identify the source of an oil spill into the environment. The forensic procedures described within represent various methods from scientists throughout the world. The authors explore which analytical and interpretative techniques are best suited for a particular oil spill project. This handy reference also explores the use of these techniques in actual environmental oil spills. Famous incidents discussed include the Exxon Valdez incident in 1989 and the Guanabara Bay, Brazil 2000. The authors chronicle both the successes and failures of the techniques used for each of these events. Dr. Zhendi Wang is a senior research scientist and Head of Oil Spill Research of Environment Canada, working in the oil and toxic chemical spill research field. He has authored over 270 academic publications and won a number of national and international scientific honors and awards. Dr. Wang is a member of American Chemical Society (ACS), the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC), and the International Society of Environmental Forensics (ISEF). International experts show readers the forensic techniques used in oil spill investigations Provides the theoretical basis and practical applications for investigative techniques Contains numerous case studies demonstrating proven technique

A comprehensive practical guide to environmental forensics With real-world examples and advice on both scientific and legal issues, Practical Environmental Forensics stands on the front line of this new interdisciplinary approach to the environmental litigation process. Compiled by experts with decades of combined experience in teaching, research, consulting, and litigation, it is the first book to offer a comprehensive presentation of environmental forensics.The first section provides an introduction to the forensic process, a historical perspective on pollution, and related laws and insurance issues. The book continues with a review of the most commonly used technical approaches and methods employed to support forensic litigation case issues. A third section introduces essential environmental forensic support functions, including admissibility of evidence, expert case management, and the use of mediation methods in settling cases. Finally, the book explores the environmental forensic process through an extensive body of real case studies in which the authors have participated. This comprehensive guidebook includes: * Guidance in the development and presentation of forensic opinions within the litigation process * Stand-alone applications of historical research, groundwater contaminant modeling, chemical fingerprinting, toxicology, and risk assessment to environmental litigation * Chemical and investigative forensic methods presented within the context of environmental forensic case histories * Illustrative problem-solving as an invaluable teaching and learning resource * Typical forensic cases grouped to illustrate the three main areas of environmental litigation: minimizing damages to clients, allocating damages between responsible parties, and resolution of insurance-related issues For engineers, scientists, attorneys, government regulators, financial and real estate professionals, and the broad spectrum of environmental consultants, this book is critical for all whose work involves environmental contamination.

This publication includes peer-reviewed manuscripts from the 2013 International Network of Environmental Forensics (INEF) Conference held at Pennsylvania State College, USA. INEF is an organization founded by environmental forensic scientists for the express purpose of sharing and disseminating environmental forensic information to the international scientific community. This professionally edited book is the third of a series of INEF conference publications chronicling the current state of the art in environmental forensics. Since the first INEF conference held in Qingdao, China in 2008, significant advances in the state of the art in environmental forensics have occurred, especially in the fields of compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), biological and petroleum hydrocarbon pattern recognition and the use of advanced multivariate techniques for interpreting environmental forensics data. Of note in these proceedings is the application of environmental forensic techniques to examine contaminant issues associated with hydrofracking which has received considerable international attention in the past several years. Providing an update on the advancement and refinement of environmental forensic techniques, this book is aimed at scientists, regulators, academics and consultants from throughout the world.

A Practical Guide to Environmental Crime Scene Investigations Releasing contaminants into the environment—whether deliberate or unintentional—can be thought of as a crime against the environment. The role of environmental forensics is to identify and prevent environmental pollution, or crimes. Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide examines this growing field, and provides environmental professionals looking to specialize in environmental forensics with the materials they need to effectively investigate and solve crimes against the environment. Pointing the Finger at Environmental Crime Environmental forensics uses "fingerprinting" techniques in order to assess and analyze contamination sites. Fingerprinting can reveal the source of contamination, as well as how, where, and when the contamination was released. This handy guidebook outlines the proven techniques, applications, and resources needed to efficiently investigate environmental crimes and become successful in this emerging field. Learn the Basics from a Single Source Divided into three main parts, the first part of the book examines the role of evidence in forensic investigations and court proceedings. It highlights general forensic concepts and offers guidelines for obtaining defensible evidence. The second part details environmental forensic investigative techniques. It includes a step-by-step guide that enables the reader to apply the techniques in practice. The final section covers strategy building. It presents real case studies, as well as key principles and concepts for strategy building, and addresses the most common challenges faced in environmental forensics. Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide provides information on cutting-edge scientific techniques that investigate the source and age of environmental pollution and solve environmental crimes. It examines the principles behind each main forensic technique. It also offers guidance on what to look for in order to successfully apply the techniques and interpret results. In addition, the author provides relevant sources where more information can be found.