Translating Diverse Environmental Data Into Reliable Information

Translating Diverse Environmental Data into Reliable Information: How to Coordinate Evidence from Different Sources is a resource for building environmental knowledge, particularly in the era of Big Data. Environmental scientists, engineers, educators and students will find it essential to determine data needs, assess their quality, and efficiently manage their findings. Decision makers can explore new open access databases and tools, especially portals and dashboards. The book demonstrates how environmental knowledgebases are and can be built to meet the needs of modern students and professionals. Topics covered include concepts and principles that underpin air, water, and other public health and ecological topics. Integrated and systems perspectives are woven throughout, with clues on how to build and apply interdisciplinary data, which can increasingly be obtained from sources ranging from peer-reviewed research appearing in scientific journals to information gathered by citizen scientists. This opens the door to using vast amounts of open data and the necessary quality assurance and metadata considerations for their countless applications. Provides tools to manage data of varying sizes and quality Identifies both opportunities and cautions in using “other people’s data Updates physical, chemical and biological factors that must be considered in risk evaluations and life cycle assessments Applies to data collected by academic, governmental, businesses, and citizen scientists across environmental systems Improves readers’ ability to organize and visualize their work in the age of Big Data

Environmental Systems Science: Theory and Practical Applications looks at pollution and environmental quality from a systems perspective. Credible human and ecological risk estimation and prediction methods are described, including life cycle assessment, feasibility studies, pollution control decision tools, and approaches to determine adverse outcome pathways, fate and transport, sampling and analysis, and cost-effectiveness. The book brings translational science to environmental quality, applying groundbreaking methodologies like informatics, data mining, and applications of secondary data systems. Multiple human and ecological variables are introduced and integrated to support calculations that aid environmental and public health decision making. The book bridges the perspectives of scientists, engineers, and other professionals working in numerous environmental and public health fields addressing problems like toxic substances, deforestation, climate change, and loss of biological diversity, recommending sustainable solutions to these and other seemingly intractable environmental problems. The causal agents discussed include physical, chemical, and biological agents, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 virus), and other emerging contaminants. Provides an optimistic and interdisciplinary approach, underpinned by scientific first principles and theory to evaluate pollutant sources and sinks, applying biochemodynamic methods, measurements and models Deconstructs prior initiatives in environmental assessment and management using an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate what has worked and why Lays out a holistic understanding of the real impact of human activities on the current state of pollution, linking the physical sciences and engineering with socioeconomic, cultural perspectives, and environmental justice Takes a life cycle view of human and ecological systems, from the molecular to the planetary scale, integrating theories and tools from various disciplines to assess the current and projected states of environmental quality Explains the elements of risk, reliability and resilience of built and natural systems, including discussions of toxicology, sustainability, and human-pollutant interactions based on spatial, biological, and human activity information, i.e. the exposome

Air Pollution Calculations: Quantifying Pollutant Formation, Transport, Transformation, Fate and Risks, Second Edition enhances the systems science aspects of air pollution, including transformation reactions in soil, water, sediment and biota that contribute to air pollution. This second edition will be an update based on research and actions taken since 2019 that affect air pollution calculations, including new control technologies, emissions measurement, and air quality modeling. Recent court cases, regulatory decisions, and advances in technology are discussed and, where necessary, calculations have been revised to reflect these updates. Sections discuss pollutant characterization, pollutant transformation, and environmental partitioning. Air partitioning, physical transport of air pollutants, air pollution biogeochemistry, and thermal reactions are also thoroughly explored. The author then carefully examines air pollution risk calculations, control technologies and dispersion models. The text wraps with discussions of economics and project management, reliability and failure, and air pollution decision-making. Provides real-life current cases as examples of quantitation of emerging air pollution problems Includes straightforward derivation of equations, giving practitioners and instructors a direct link between first principles of science and applications of technologies Presents example calculations that make scientific theory real for the student and practitioner

From Biofiltration to Promising Options in Gaseous Fluxes Biotreatment: Recent Developments, New Trends, Advances, and Opportunities provides an overview on the biological tools used for the treatment of the gaseous fluxes, with emphasis on traditional and perspective options, opening new horizons for research and implementation in practice. It is known that air pollution is an emergent global issue and a priority within the international environmental programs. Moreover, technologies based on biological methods are significantly contributing to the sustainable development concept. Thus this book provides tools for solving air pollution issues in a sustainable manner. These issues can be solved at different levels (e.g., "end-of-pipe" gaseous streams, indoor/outdoor air, closed environments), which can be approached by the different biotechniques presented in the book, from classical biofiltration techniques (part 1) to phytotreatment and microalgae-based techniques (part 2). Although all options have their particularities that make them special for certain applications, a special attention is drawn to the potential of the last one, which offers multiple possibilities for biomass valorization. Scientists from worldwide with relevant experience in their field have been contributed to the development of this book. Presents the main biotechnological aspects applied for gas purification, focusing on process understanding, limitations, and capability in different applications Promotes a sustainable future of the biofiltration process by enhancing their performance together with the simultaneously economic and environmental impacts Implements new aspects of scientific research and development in the field

Waste: A Handbook for Management, Second Edition, provides information on a wide range of hot topics and developing areas, such as hydraulic fracturing, microplastics, waste management in developing countries, and waste-exposure-outcome pathways. Beginning with an overview of the current waste landscape, including green engineering, processing principles and regulations, the book then outlines waste streams and treatment methods for over 25 different types of waste and reviews best practices and management, challenges for developing countries, risk assessment, contaminant pathways and risk tradeoffs. With an overall focus on waste recovery, reuse, prevention and lifecycle analysis, the book draws on the experience of an international team of expert contributors to provide reliable guidance on how best to manage wastes for scientists, managers, engineers and policymakers in both the private and public sectors. Covers the assessment and treatment of different waste streams in a single book Provides a hands-on report on each type of waste problem as written by an expert in the field Highlights new findings and evolving problems in waste management via discussion boxes

Unraveling Environmental Disasters, Second Edition provides scientific explanations of the most threatening current and future environmental disasters, including an analysis of ways disasters could have been prevented and how to minimize risk of similar disasters in the future. In this new edition the authors provide foundational knowledge on why certain environmental disasters occur and ways of reducing the risk of recurrences. Anyone involved in teaching or working in the main sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology, or in the applied sciences, including engineering, design, planning, and homeland security, should read the book to become acquainted with these very important issues. Evaluates natural hazards and disasters with an emphasis on lessons learned for better future forecasting Considers the impact of human systems on environmental disasters, treating disasters as complex systems Provides detailed predictions, based upon sound science, on why disasters occur Includes fully updated chapters on food, health, and water Focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of each disaster Includes disasters related to climate change and pollution

Living with Climate Change contains different topics on how to adapt to global warming. With a strong focus on ways of adapting to climate change, the book also examines the root causes of global warming. Readers are provided all the most up-to-date thinking and information on each issue due to the extensive list of references connected to each chapter. By linking various topics and interesting new innovations that are often synergistic, this book covers a wide range of issues in global warming adaptation that is ideal for readers from many disciplines. Covers ways of coping with global warming and climate change Contains the most up-to-date information on how to prevent the worst effects of global warming Discusses the connection of climate change to human health

Water and Climate Change: Sustainable Development, Politics and Social Issues focuses on climate change and global warming, sustainable development and social and political issues surrounding water. Throughout the book, global contributors provide an outlook on the possible future of the world if climate issues continue to increase. In this regard, readers will become fully aware of the dangers of climate change and global warming. To counterbalance, the book also provides an outlook to the possible future of the world if changes are made and emissions are reduced. Water shortages and water pollution are real and are beginning to affect the lives of every one of us on the planet. We are rapidly reaching a point of no return. If we do nothing about water shortages and water pollution, many of the catastrophes mentioned in this book will come to pass. As such, this reference is a must-read resource for environmental scientists and engineers, water resource experts, agriculturalists, social scientists, earth scientists, geographers and decision-makers in government and water management. Covers a wide spectrum of topics related to water usage as discussed by world authorities, all experts in their own field Includes references and further reading at the end of each chapter, giving the reader all the very latest thinking and information on each topic Provides case studies that follow a consistent template, presenting the reader with easy to find, real-life examples