An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry [Paperback]

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• Retains an emphasis on describing how natural geochemical processes operate over a variety of scales in time and space, and how the effects of human perturbation can be measured.
  
• Topics range from familiar global issues such as atmospheric pollution and its effect on global warming and ozone destruction, to microbiological processes that cause pollution of drinking water deltas.
  
• Contains sections and information boxes that explain the basic chemistry underpinning the subject covered.
  
• Each chapter contains a list of further reading on the subject area. Updated case studies.
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• No prior chemistry knowledge required.
  
• Suitable for introductory level courses.

List of boxes ix

Preface to the second edition xi

Preface to the first edition xii

Acknowledgements xiv

Symbols and abbreviations xviii

1 Introduction 1

1.1 What is environmental chemistry? 1

1.2 In the beginning 2

1.3 Origin and evolution of the Earth 2

1.3.1 Formation of the crust and atmosphere 4

1.3.2 The hydrosphere 5

1.3.3 The origin of life and evolution of the atmosphere 8

1.4 Human effects on biogeochemical cycles? 9

1.5 The structure of this book 11

1.6 Internet keywords 12

1.7 Further reading 13