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Industrial ecology may be a relatively new concept - yet it's already proven instrumental for solving a wide variety of problems involving pollution and hazardous waste, especially where available material resources have been limited.By treating industrial systems in a manner that parallels ecological systems in nature, industrial ecology provides a substantial addition to the technologies of environmental chemistry.Stanley E. Manahan, bestselling author of many environmental chemistry books for Lewis Publishers, now examines Industrial Ecology: Environmental Chemistry and Hazardous Waste. His study of this innovative technology uses an overall framework of industrial ecology to cover hazardous wastes from an environmental chemistry perspective.Chapters one to seven focus on how industrial ecology relates to environmental science and technology, with consideration of the anthrosphere as one of five major environmental spheres. Subsequent chapters deal specifically with hazardous substances and hazardous waste, as they relate to industrial ecologyand environmental chemistry. ... Read more

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In The Road to Yucca Mountain, J. Samuel Walker traces the U.S. government's tangled efforts to solve the technical and political problems associated with radioactive waste. From the Manhattan Project through the designation in 1987 of Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a high-level waste repository, Walker thoroughly investigates the approaches adopted by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). He explains the growing criticism of the AEC's waste programs, such as the AEC's embarrassing failure in its first serious effort to build a high-level waste repository in a Kansas salt mine. Clearly and accessibly, Walker explains the issues surrounding deep geological disposal and surface storage of high-level waste and spent reactor fuel. He analyzes the equally complex and divisive question of fuel "reprocessing." He weaves reliable research with fresh insights about nuclear science, geology, politics, and public administration, making this original and authoritative account an essential guide for understanding the continuing controversy over an illusive and emotional topic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Outstanding Work on the Policy History of Nuclear Waste
This is a very fine book by the longstanding historian of Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It investigates in a comprehensive manner the efforts of the United States to deal with radioactive waste, a key bugaboo in the debate over nuclear energy. Walker explores the evolution of how the government has tried to deal with this issue from the time of the Manhattan Project in World War II through the designation in 1987 of Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a waste repository. Walker's focus is on the approach overseen by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), but goes beyond that to include perspectives outside the government, especially interest groups and protest movements.

The growing criticism of these waste programs provides a major engine for moving the story forward, and this is far from a pro-government whitewash. For instance, Walker writes about several embarrassing episodes in this arena. Solidly researched and effectively written, he makes an original and insightful contribution to understanding this important story. Nuclear energy will certainly reemerge in the twenty-first century to help offset energy needs in the United States and this work provides an important record of what has gone before as well as a public policy primer for future leaders.

It is certainly appropriate that this book received the Richard W. Leopold Prize of the Organization of American Historians at its 2010 meeting. ... Read more

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This unique, single-source reference offers a thorough treatment of the remediation of soils contaminated by hazardous wastes and the scientific and engineering issues that must be addressed in creating practical solutions for their reclamation. ... Read more

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"Whose Backyard is an extremely valuable treatment of animportant subject." -- Washington Sunday Times

In Whose Backyard, Whose Risk, environmental lawyer, professor, andcommentator Michael B. Gerrard tackles the thorny issue of how and whereto dispose of hazardous and radioactive waste. Gerrard, who hasrepresented dozens of municipalities and community groups that havefought landfills and incinerators, as well as companies seeking permits,clearly and succinctly analyzes a problem that has generated atremendous amount of political conflict, emotional anguish, andtransaction costs. He proposes a new system of waste disposal thatinvolves local control, state responsibility, and national allocation todeal comprehensively with multiple waste streams. Gerrard draws on theliterature of law, economics, political science, and other disciplinesto analyze the domestic and international origins of wastes and theirdisposal patterns. Based on a study of the many failures and fewsuccesses of past siting efforts, he identifies the mistaken assumptionsand policy blunders that have helped doom siting efforts. Gerrard firstdescribes the different kinds of nonradioactive and radioactive wastesand how each is generated and disposed of. He explains historical andcurrent siting decisions and considers the effects of the currentmechanisms for making those decisions (including the hidden economicsand psychology of the siting process). A typology of permit rulesreveals the divergence between what underlies most siting disputes andwhat environmental laws actually protect. Gerrard then looks atproposals for dealing with the siting dilemma and examines the successesand failures of each. He outlines a new alternative for facility sitingthat combines a political solution and a legal framework forimplementation. A hypothetical example of how a siting decision might bemade in a particular case is presented in an epilogue. ... Read more

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Chemistry and Microstructure of Solidified Waste Forms presents a comprehensive summary of mechanisms of immobilization in cementitious waste forms and the effect of waste species on cement chemistry and morphology. The book introduces the well-known chemistry and microstructure of cement pastes, in addition to common mechanisms of immobilization of waste species in cementitious waste forms. The fundamental chemical and microstructural fate of waste species is reviewed, and a technique for studying cementitious waste forms using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is described with examples of its application. Chemistry and Microstructure of Solidified Waste Forms also presents evidence to prove that chromium in waste becomes part of the cement matrix, and the potentially harmful effect of this process is discussed. Data for interpretations are included so that other researchers can analyze the data and draw their own conclusions. The book also discusses how solubility and solubility theory can be combined with leach theory and diffusion theory to predict the leaching performance of cementitious waste forms.Chemistry and Microstructure of Solidified Waste Forms will prove invaluable to hazardous waste professionals, engineers, environmental engineers, chemical engineers, waste disposal managers, waste form developers and researchers, and regulators. ... Read more

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This handbook is concerned with developing principles and standards for the safe disposal of solid radioactive wastes by burial deep in the Earth's crust. Radioactive wastes have focussed thinking on long-term environmental protection issues in an unprecedented way. Consequently, the way in which principles and standards are set, and the thinking behind this, is of wider interest than to the nuclear field alone. The issues are not just technical and scientific. There is also a much wider philosophical context to the debate, centering on ethics, human values and the expectations of society.

In this handbook it is intended that all theses issues are brought together, suggesting appropriate ways forward in each area, culminating in a proposed structure for safety regulations. It also aims to provide a detailed discussion of some of the most difficult logical an ethical issues facing those wishing to dispose of long-lived radioactive wastes.
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At the dawn of the 21st century, biotechnology is emerging as a key enabling technology for sustainable environmental protection and stewardship. Biotechnology for the Environment: Wastewater Treatment and Modeling, Waste Gas Handling illustrates the current technological applications of microorganisms in wastewater treatment and in the control of waste gas emissions. In the first section of the book special emphasis is placed on the use of rigorous mathematical and conceptual models for an in-depth understanding of the complex biology and engineering aspects underlying the operation of modern wastewater treatment installations. The second part addresses waste gas biofiltration, an expanding biotechnological application of microbial metabolism for air quality assurance through processes ranging from the abatement of hazardous volatile pollutants to the elimination of nuisance odors. It will be a valuable reference source for environmental scientists, engineers and decision makers involved in the development, evaluation or implementation of biological treatment systems.

For more information on Strategy and Fundamentals, see Focus on Biotechnology, Volume 3A, and for more information on Soil Remediation, see Focus on Biotechnology, Volume 3B.

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Finalist, 2007 C. Wright Mills Award given by the Society for the Study of Social Problems.

Every year, nations and corporations in the "global North" produce millions of tons of toxic waste. Too often this hazardous material—linked to high rates of illness and death and widespread ecosystem damage—is exported to poor communities of color around the world. In Resisting Global Toxics, David Naguib Pellow examines this practice and charts the emergence of transnational environmental justice movements to challenge and reverse it. Pellow argues that waste dumping across national boundaries from rich to poor communities is a form of transnational environmental inequality that reflects North/South divisions in a globalized world, and that it must be theorized in the context of race, class, nation, and environment.

Building on environmental justice studies, environmental sociology, social movement theory, and race theory, and drawing on his own research, interviews, and participant observations, Pellow investigates the phenomenon of global environmental inequality and considers the work of activists, organizations, and networks resisting it. He traces the transnational waste trade from its beginnings in the 1980s to the present day, examining global garbage dumping, the toxic pesticides that are the legacy of the Green Revolution in agriculture, and today's scourge of dumping and remanufacturing high tech and electronics products. The rise of the transnational environmental movements described in Resisting Global Toxics charts a pragmatic path toward environmental justice, human rights, and sustainability. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good info but too much jargon
Chapters 4 thru 6 are the most worthwhile parts of this book. These chapters provide good info about the global links and struggles of environmental groups, especially between activists rooted in the more well-off industrialized countries and poorer third world countries, around issues like dumping of toxic wastes, the poisonous effects of the socalled "Green Revolution" (which was basically a market-growing initiative of the petrochemical industry), and the growing problem of dumping of worn out or obsolete electronics gear.

I think it would have been helpful if he'd gone more into the toxics associated with manufacturing of electronics. Most of this manufacturing has been moved to the third world in part to escape tougher environmental laws in "first world" countries (as is pointed out in the book). These chapters also highlight a number of the victories that these cross border movements have been able to achieve.

Unfortunately the book is disfigured by excessive amounts of unclear academic post-modernist jargon and an endless array of acronymns. The author doesn't have an adequate analysis of what capitalism is, and ends up substituting the hopelessly vague concept of "modernity."

Thinking Through Race Transnationally in Toxics Trade
Pellow's book is an original attempt to highlight race in the context of the global trade in toxic and hazardous waste material.He traces the connections between social justice movements around the world and the ways in which they put pressure on notorious toxiccorporations.He rightfully points out that despite the fact that the urban social justice movement in the US has successfully theorized race, this has not been done for the transnational market in toxic matter.He therefore brings in the racialized politics and ideology at work in transnational institutions that have thus far failed to address the pressing issue of toxic dumping in the developing world, particularly in countries of the global south inhabited by people of color who are poor. ... Read more

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Co-winner of the 2002 C. Wright Mills Award, presented by the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP)

In Garbage Wars, the sociologist David Pellow describes the politics of garbage in Chicago. He shows how garbage affects residents in vulnerable communities and poses health risks to those who dispose of it. He follows the trash, the pollution, the hazards, and the people who encountered them in the period 1880-2000. What unfolds is a tug of war among social movements, government, and industry over how we manage our waste, who benefits, and who pays the costs.

Studies demonstrate that minority and low-income communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards. Pellow analyzes how and why environmental inequalities are created. He also explains how class and racial politics have influenced the waste industry throughout the history of Chicago and the United States. After examining the roles of social movements and workers in defining, resisting, and shaping garbage disposal in the United States, he concludes that some environmental groups and people of color have actually contributed to environmental inequality.

By highlighting conflicts over waste dumping, incineration, landfills, and recycling, Pellow provides a historical view of the garbage industry throughout the life cycle of waste. Although his focus is on Chicago, he places the trends and conflicts in a broader context, describing how communities throughout the United States have resisted the waste industry's efforts to locate hazardous facilities in their backyards. The book closes with suggestions for how communities can work more effectively for environmental justice and safe, sustainable waste management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very interesting, but don't let this be your only guide
I came across this book while doing research on community-based organizations and the environment in Chicago. It's very informative because it gives a historical overview of Chicago's waste management, and because it gets into the nitty-gritty of conflicts within nonprofits in Chicago. There were a couple places though where I had to raise my eyebrow because the analysis seemed a little suspect. For example, the author uses cases of illegal dumping in Chicago to show how minority groups may be more concerned with recycling and the environment than is often thought in mainstream environmental organizations. It seems a little strange to equate recycling centers, and companies that only call themselves recyclers but are actually illegal dumpers. ... Read more

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Governments spend trillions every year on subsidies to a whole host of industries, ranging from agriculture to mining, energy to transport. Subsidies are supposed to contribute to the public good, but do they? In the vast majority of cases, the money, much of it derived from public taxes, is not merely wasted, it is used to wreck the environment. All too often, subsidies go to those who least need them -- frequently to corporations and special interest groups which recycle some of the funds to support the politicians who keep the subsidies going.

Charlie Pye-Smith has written a riveting and eye-opening book on this huge racket. Based on research in North America, with examples from Europe and elsewhere, "The Subsidy Scandal" "follows the money" to find out where it goes and what it produces.

Pye-Smith's travels are vibrantly illuminated by interviews with bureaucrats, politicians, loggers, farmers, miners, fishermen, industrialists and environmentalists, and with their help he tells stories of such economic absurdity and environmental vandalism, as would barely be credible if they weren't true.

"The Subsidy Scandal" raises major questions about the way we are governed -- and misgoverned -- and highlights the need for urgent, world-wide reform. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Never knew the truth could be this interesting....
Splendid piece of wrtiting. Very informative. Should be read by everyone. ... Read more

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Radioactive wastes are waste types containing radioactive chemical elements that do not have a practical purpose. They are sometimes the products of a nuclear processes, such as nuclear fission. However, other industries not directly connected to the nuclear industry can produce large quantities of radioactive waste. For instance, over the past 20 years it is estimated that just the oil-producing endeavours of the US have accumulated 8 million tons of radioactive wastes. The majority of radioactive waste is 'low-level waste', meaning it has low levels of radioactivity per mass or volume. This type of waste often consists of used protective clothing, which is only slightly contaminated but still dangerous in case of radioactive contamination of a human body through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection. The issue of disposal methods for nuclear waste was one of the most pressing current problems the international nuclear industry faced when trying to establish a long term energy production plan, yet there was hope it could be safely solved. In the U.S., the DOE acknowledged much progress in addressing the waste problems of the industry, and successful remediation of some contaminated sites, yet also major uncertainties and sometimes complications and setbacks in handling the issue properly, cost effectively, and in the projected time frame.In other countries with lower ability or will to maintain environmental integrity the issue would be more problematic. This new book presents the latest research in the field. ... Read more

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"Written by some of the world's foremost experts, the articles in this book show how plasma science can be applied to environmental problems, including atmospheric sensing and modification, energy conservation, reduction of air pollution, and processing of ordinary and radioactive wastes. Atmospheric CFC's might be zapped with big lasers. Urban air pollution could be removed by large convection towers built in or near cities. And weapons-grade plutonium can be destroyed with specially designed particle accelerators. Some of the technologies described here are in use already, while others are in the prototype stage, or are speculative approaches deserving of further study." "Contents" Written by some of the world's foremost experts, the articles in this book show how plasma science can be applied to environmental problems, including atmospheric sensing and modification, energy conservation, reduction of air pollution, and processing of ordinary and radioactive wastes. Atmospheric CFC's might be zapped with big lasers. Urban air pollution could be removed by large convection towers built in or near cities. And weapons-grade plutonium can be destroyed with specially designed particle accelerators. Some of the technologies described here are in use already, while others are in the prototype stage, or are speculative approaches deserving of further study. ... Read more

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The location of hazardous waste facilities can be approachedin dramatically different ways. This book describes various possibleapproaches in terms of the institutions involved and the argumentsthat are accepted. A study is reported of the approach to siting thatis embedded in the law in three countries (the UK, the Netherlands andCanada), and the way this approach works out in practice. This studyallows lessons to be drawn on the practice of hazardous waste sitingin general. ... Read more

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In most countries, the development of environmental programs follows a similar pattern. Early efforts concentrate on direct threats to public health, such as contaminated drinking water and air pollution. Only after these problems are addressed does the need to improve day-to-day management of hazardous wastes reach the top of the environmental agenda.

In this new report, RFF's Katherine Probst and Thomas Beierle compare the development of hazardous waste management programs in eight countries -- the United States, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand -- and discuss steps taken to foster proper hazardous waste management. The authors focus on two questions: What were the major steps in the evolution of a successful hazardous waste program? What role, if any, did the public sector play in financing modern treatment and disposal facilities?

Fundamentally, an effective hazardous waste management program must change the behavior of organizations (both public and private) that generate and manage hazardous wastes. To achieve this, there must be an effective regulatory program and facilities for adequate treatment, storage, and disposal. The authors argue that it is essential to develop a "culture of compliance,"where proper waste management in modern facilities is the norm. They conclude that a successful hazardous waste management program takes 10-15 years to develop, even in countries with strong regulatory and enforcement regimes. The authors also conclude that public sector financing and subsidies are important policy tools for bringing facilities on-line and for creating incentives for waste generators to manage their wastes responsibly.

The study is based on interviews and secondary sources. The report includes country-specific profiles that detail the key steps in the evolution of each country's hazardous waste management program. The profiles also describe the role of the public sector in facility financing.

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The authors discuss all key aspects of the design of barrier systems, including leachate collection, natural barriers such as clayey aquitards, clay liners, geomembrane and composite liners and so on. They have integrated the engineering and hydrogeological considerations and the design of waste disposal facilities to provide a sound base from which engineers can work. There is also a comprehensive view of modelling as related to practical landfill design, and key studies give examples of actual field performance. ... Read more

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This book addresses scientists and engineers involved in the areas of uranium mining and milling sites, clean-up measures, emissions of nuclear power plants and radioactive waste disposal, as well as political decision-makers. The topics covered are: impact on groundwater from radionuclide emission, analytical speciation techniques, chemical toxicity, radioisotope plant uptake, microbiology catalyzing U(6+) to U(4+) reduction, geochemical and reactive transport, case studies on abandoned uranium mines and milling sites, long-term storage of radioactive waste, passive in situ treatment techniques and risk assessment studies. ... Read more