Abstract: The Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) was an international, multiplatform field campaign to measure long-range transport of air pollution from South and Southeast Asia toward the Indian Ocean during the dry monsoon season in January to March 1999. Surprisingly high pollution levels were observed over the entire northern Indian Ocean toward the Intertropical Convergence Zone at about 6°S. We show that agricultural burning and especially biofuel use enhance carbon monoxide concentrations. Fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning cause a high aerosol loading. The growing pollution in this region gives rise to extensive air quality degradation with local, regional, and global implications, including a reduction of the oxidizing power of the atmosphere.

Abstract: Chemical Pollution of the Aquatic Environment by Priority Pollutants and its Control Chemistry Pollution of the Marine Environment Drinking Water Quality and Health Water Pollution Biology Sewage and Sewage Sludge Treatment The Treatment of Toxic Wastes Air Pollution: Sources, Concentrations and Measurements Chemistry of the Troposphere Chemistry and Pollution of the Stratosphere Atmospheric Dispersal of Pollutants and the Modelling of Air Pollution The Health Effects of Air Pollution Impacts of Gaseous Pollutants on Crops, Trees and Ecosystems Control of Pollutant Emissions from Road Traffic Soil Pollution and Land Contamination Solid Waste Management Clean Technologies The Environmental Behaviour of Persistent Organic Pollutants Radioactivity in the Environment Health Effects of Environmental Chemicals The Legal Control of Pollution Integrated Pollution Control and Waste Minimisation Subject Index.

Abstract: Concentrations of seven heavy metals: copper, cadmium, iron, chromium, manganese, lead and zinc have been evaluated in nine spring water and eight surface water sampling locations near the limestone mining area of Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh, India, during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The concentrations of heavy metals have been found to be below the permissible levels of drinking water quality standards. The data have been used for the calculation of heavy metal pollution index (HPI). The HPI of spring water and surface water has been found to be far below the index limit of 100, pointing to the fact that the spring water and surface water is not polluted with respect to heavy metals despite the prolific growth of limestone mining in the region.

Abstract: Climate change may affect exposures to air pollutants by affecting weather, anthropogenic emissions, and biogenic emissions and by changing the distribution and types of airborne allergens. Local temperature, precipitation, clouds, atmospheric water vapor, wind speed, and wind direction influence atmospheric chemical processes, and interactions occur between local and global-scale environments. If the climate becomes warmer and more variable, air quality is likely to be affected. However, the specific types of change (i.e., local, regional, or global), the direction of change in a particular location (i.e., positive or negative), and the magnitude of change in air quality that may be attributable to climate change are a matter of speculation, based on extrapolating present understanding to future scenarios. There is already extensive evidence on the health effects of air pollution. Ground-level ozone can exacerbate chronic respiratory diseases and cause short-term reductions in lung function. Exposure to particulate matter can aggravate chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, alter host defenses, damage lung tissue, lead to premature death, and possibly contribute to cancer. Health effects of exposures to carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide can include reduced work capacity, aggravation of existing cardiovascular diseases, effects on pulmonary function, respiratory illnesses, lung irritation, and alterations in the lung's defense systems. Adaptations to climate change should include ensuring responsiveness of air quality protection programs to changing pollution levels. Research needs include basic atmospheric science work on the association between weather and air pollutants; improving air pollution models and their linkage with climate change scenarios; and closing gaps in the understanding of exposure patterns and health effects.

Abstract: A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program has been initiated in the North Bosque River Watershed in Texas, USA, where point and nonpoint sources of pollution are of a concern. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which had been validated for flow and sediment and nutrient transport, was applied to quantify the effects of Best Management Practices (BMPs) related to dairy manure management and municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent. Results are presented for the period from 1960 through 1998 for three sites along the North Bosque River. Results are presented as annual time–weighted concentrations (average of the daily load divided by daily flow over a year) and annual flow–weighted concentrations (total cumulative load divided by total cumulative flow over a year). The wastewater treatment plant BMPs resulted in greater improvement in time–weighted instream soluble phosphorus concentrations than dairy BMPs. On the other hand, dairy BMPs made greater differences in flow–weighted concentrations. This study showed that SWAT could be a useful tool for studying the effects of alternative management scenarios for pollution control from point and nonpoint sources in large watersheds.

Abstract: Elevated levels of heavy metals in the sediment can be a good indication of man-induced pollution. Concentrations of chrome, le ad, zinc, titanium, manganese, strontium, copper and tin were measured in the sediments taken along a section of the Swartkops Rive r and its estuary. These results showed that the highest heavy metal concentrations in both the estuary and river were recorded at points where runoff from informal settlements and industry entered the system. Comparison of the results for the estuary with those obtained in a similar survey made about 20 years ago revealed some remarkable increases. This raises concern over the long-term health of the Swartkops River ecosystem. The Swartkops River catchment contains almost the entire municipal area of Uitenhage and Kwanobuhle, Despatch and Ibhayi and also half of the Port Elizabeth municipal area. It is estimated that approximately one million people live and work presently in the Swartkops River catchment. The Swartkops catchment not only contains the greatest part of the metropolitan population, but it is also the area where the greatest diversity of urban users is found and where urban growth is most rapid. High- density, low-income housing is developing in the catchment with a concomitant increase in industry, and in the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff. These developments will also necessitate the building of further road and rail crossings over the river as well as developing more telecommunication links and power supply lines (Horenz, 1988). The occurrence of elevated levels of trace metals especially in the sediments can be a good indication of man-induced pollution and high levels of heavy metals can often be attributed to anthropogenic influences, rather than natural enrichment of the sediment by geological weathering (Davies et al., 1991; Lord and Thompson, 1988). There can be significant temporal and spatial variability in water column concentrations of heavy metal contaminants, which leads to problems in obtaining representative samples. Sediments, on the other hand, integrate contaminants over time and are in constant flux with the overlying water column. The analysis of heavy metals in the sediments permits detection of pollutants that may be either absent or in low concentrations in the water column (Davies et al., 1991), and their distribution in coastal sediments provides a record of the spatial and temporal history of pollution in a particular region or ecosystem. Heavy metal concentrations in the water column can be relatively low, but the concentrations in the sediment may be elevated. Low level discharges of a contaminant may meet the water quality criteria, but long-term partitioning to the sediments could result in the accumulation of high loads of pollutants. It has been estimated that about 90% of particulate matter carried by rivers settles in estuaries and coastal areas (Martin and Whitfield, 1983). Once heavy metals are discharged into estuarine and coastal

Abstract: The predicted increases in emissions of primary pollutants in many rapidly industrializing countries may have severe consequences for the health and productivity of forest trees and agricultural crops. This paper presents a review of air pollution impacts on vegetation in developing countries by summarising information describing the direct impacts to vegetation caused by a number of air pollutants (sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)). This information has been collected by experts from a number of rapidly industrializing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa and includes observations of visible injury in the field and the use of transect studies and controlled experimental investigations to ascribe damage to different pollutant concentrations. The ability to synthesise this information to define exposure-response relationships and subsequent air quality guidelines similar to those established in North America and Europe is assessed. In addition, the use of regional and global models describing pollution concentrations is discussed with reference to assessing the extent of adverse impacts and identifying regions likely to be most at risk from air pollution, both for the present day and in the future. The evidence summarised in the paper clearly shows that current pollutant concentrations experienced in many developing countries, particularly Asia, can result in severe damage to vegetation and that without appropriate control measures such damage is likely to worsen in the future as pollutant emissions increase.

Abstract: This article reviews the literature on the use of mosses for monitoring atmospheric metal pollution It discusses the nature of mosses, the mechanisms for moss uptake of metals from the air and wet precipitation, the various forms in which mosses are used for this purpose, and cases in which mosses have been used for monitoring local hot spots of pollution, and regional patterns of metal pollution Also highlighted are the questions of uptake of metals from the substrates, interspecies differences, and a comparison of the effectiveness of mosses with other indicator materials, among other issues

Abstract: We present a summary of the latest measurements of ozone (03) and primary air pollutants at a rural/agricultural site in the fast developing Yangtze Delta region of China. The results of this study show elevated levels of primary pollutants (CO, SO2 and NO.*), which are about 1-5 times of those typically found in rural areas of North America and Europe. 03 pollution events are frequently observed. CO and SO2 levels are particularly high, resulting from the unique energy-use pattern in China. O3 shows strong positive correlation with NO.* and CO during periods of high photochemical activity. The O.-NO.* slope is comparable to the result from rural North America, but the O3-CO slope is substantially smaller for the Chinese site. With the anticipation of rapid changes of atmospheric composition in China, long-term measurements of key air pollutants will be necessary for documenting their trends and for studying their environmental impacts.

Abstract: The geochemical properties of cores collected from mud flat and salt marsh environments in the Humber Estuary were investigated. A total of 10 cores were collected along a shore-normal transect on the northern bank of the estuary, near Skeffling. Major and trace element concentrations were determined for each core. The vertical distributions of210Pb and137Cs were also examined to provide a measure of the rate of sediment accumulation. Surface intertidal sediments show elevated concentrations of a range of trace and major elements, including Pb, Zn, Cu, Al, Mn and Fe. Concentrations were higher in the upper mud flats and salt marsh where sediment grain size is finer. Dating of salt marsh sediments indicated a local sediment accretion rate of 0·4 cm yr−1. The early-diagenetic remobilization of heavy metals has apparently been limited, and the salt marsh sediments provide a (time-integrated) record of historical pollutant inputs. Heavy metal fluxes have been calculated from the salt marsh sediments and are broadly comparable with other industrialized and semi-industrialized estuaries. Cu, Pb and Zn inputs to the Skeffling area peaked in the mid-20th century, while Ti, Al and Fe, which are discharged into the Humber from two Tioxide-processing facilities, are only slightly enriched in these sediments. On the mud flats, local mixing, resuspension and erosion has resulted in correlatable sedimentary horizons interspersed with mixed sediment layers. Consequently, the vertical distribution of heavy metals in these mud flats is relatively erratic, and the mud flat sediments are unsuitable for studying historical pollution trends.

Abstract: This paper is a short review on the biomonitoring of aquatic environments by animal and plant species accumulators of toxic pollutants ("scavengers"). This monitoring is based on the relationship between the pollutant concentration in the organism and that in its environment, and not on alterations produced by pollution on the biota. The latter is the basis of other types of biomonitoring, such as those based on the biotic and diversity indices and saprobic scale. The various aspects of monitoring by pollutant accumulators are illustrated; for example, the uptake and loss of pollutants, the "critical organs" and "tissues", the detoxification mechanisms and the most common factors (C.F., BAF, BSAF) for establishing a connection between the pollutant concentration in the organism and that in its environment. Several examples of this monitoring on heavy metals, radioisotopes and organic micropollutants are reported. The advantages of this monitoring, the characteristics of the species to be used as bioaccumulators and some practical suggestions are listed. A close collaboration between the scientific teams working on the biomonitoring based on accumulator organisms and on the chemical monitoring is recommended from the scientific and economic point of view.

Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and heavymetal (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Hg, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo) contentswere established in soil and plant samples collectedin different areas of the railway junction IlawaGlowna, Poland. Soil and plant samples werecollected in four functional parts of the junction, i.e. the loading ramp, platform area, rolling stockcleaning bay and the railway siding. It was found thatthe PAH contamination of soil and plants was thehighest in the platform area and near the railwaysiding and lowest in the loading ramp and cleaning bayareas. The contamination exceeded control levels up toalmost twenty fold. The heavy metal contaminationpattern was different. The soil and plants were veryhighly contaminated in the cleaning bay and side trackareas while the loading ramp and platform areas wereless contaminated. A particularly high pollution levelwas observed for mercury in the cleaning bay area.Also lead, zinc and copper pollution levels wererelatively high in the cleaning bay and side trackareas. No significant increase in molybdenum contentwas observed in comparison with the control area.

Abstract: A 2-yr (1997–1998) survey aiming at the establishment of national data bases concerning the quality of surface waters has been conducted in the major river systems of Macedonia, N. Greece. This paper presents the physicochemical parameters(pH, conductivity, total suspended solids, temperature and DO),the organic pollution parameters (BOD5, COD) and the major N and P species (NO3-, NO2-,NH4+,organic N, orthophosphates and total P) determined at 25 sampling sites located on main rivers, tributaries, streams andditches that drain the major rural, agricultural, urban and industrial areas of N. Greece. Use of multivariate statistics is also made to identify the principal factors which influencethe chemistry of the water in individual river systems.The eutrophication status of the examined systems was evaluatedby means of N/P ratios. Mean N/P ratios showed large variationsamong sampling sites ranging from potential N- to P-limitationconditions. N/P ratios at particular sampling sites showed also great temporal variability thus suggesting temporary states of N- or P- limitation. Most frequently, highest ratio values wereobserved during winter and early spring. Comparisons are made between data from this study region and literature on rivers elsewhere.

Abstract: Phthalic acid esters are important additives in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Since PVC plastisoles for the production of wallcoverings contain about 30% phthalic acid esters, it is a crucial question whether these products can contribute to the pollution of the indoor environment. In this study, the emission of several technically relevant phthalates from PVC-coated wallcoverings were measured in emission test chambers under standard room conditions. During a 14-day test period, both the chamber air concentrations and the condensation on a cooled plate (fogging) were determined. In the chamber air, maximum concentrations of 5.1 micrograms/m3 for di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), 2.08 micrograms/m3 for di-pentylphthalate (DPP) and 0.94 microgram/m3 for di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) were found. After 14 days of exposure, up to 60.4 micrograms DEHP and 17.7 micrograms DPP could be quantified on the cooled plates of the fogging apparatus. The amounts of DBP and DIBP were significantly lower. A simple exposure calculation indicated no specific risk of an increased phthalate exposure in rooms with PVC wallcoverings.

Abstract: Sediments from stormwater retention ponds, roadside swales and street sweepings have to be disposed of or reused periodically. Information on their pollution is needed to establish reuse and disposal regulations and to schedule clean out and street-sweeping activities. This study examines the heavy metal contamination in these sediments and the factors that affect this contamination. Results show that the particle size distribution of the sediments depends on differential erosion processes of natural soils, land use, and technical limitations of street sweepers. Pond and swale sediments are more polluted with heavy metals than natural soils, but street sweepings are not. This can be explained by the high clay contents of sediments in ponds and swales and the very low clay content of sweepings. Land use is an important factor for the heavy metal pollution of ponds and swales, but does not considerably affect heavy metals in street sweepings. Within a given type of land use, heavy metal concentrations in pond sediments increase with age.

Abstract: Given an elevated prevalence of respiratory disease and density of pollution sources, residents of Roxbury, Massachusetts, have been interested in better understanding their exposures to air pollut...

Abstract: Sulphate (SO42-) reduction rates are generally low in freshwater wetlands and are regulated by the scarce availability of the ion. Increased concentrations of this electron acceptor due to sulphur (S) pollution of groundwater and surface water may, however, lead to high sulphate reduction rates now regulated by the availability of appropriate electron donors. Due to variations in this availability, the response to S pollution (e.g. from surface water or groundwater) is expected to differ between soils. This hypothesis was tested in laboratory mesocosm experiments by comparing two wetland soil types with distinctly different humus profiles: a Hydromoder and a Rhizomull type. In the first type, expected to have a higher availability of degradable soilorganic matter (SOM), sulphate availability appeared to be rate limiting for sulphate reduction. In the Rhizomull soils, in contrast, the electron acceptor did not limit sulphate reduction rates at higher concentrations. These differences in response could not, however, be attributed to differences in the various SOM fractions or in SOM densities. Eutrophication and free sulphide accumulation, two major biogeochemical problems caused by sulphate pollution, occurred in both types. The absolute extent of phosphorus mobilisation was determined by the concentration of this element in the soil (C/P ratio), while the level of sulphide accumulation was governed by the concentration of dissolved iron in the pore water. It was therefore concluded that neither the humus profile nor the concentrations of different SOM fractions in the soils are reliable indicators for the sensitivity of wetland types to S pollution.