Major environmental issues facing the 21st century

Abstract

This book is primarily intended for people who do not have a strong technical background. It is presented in simple, understandable terms for lawyers, members of the news media, business personnel, and consumers (in particular) who need the basic fundamentals of the many environmental issues that exist now and will in the future. The authors' objective is to provide both background materials on numerous environmental issues and information on what each individual can do to help alleviate some of these problems. This book is divided into 10 parts. Part 1 provides an overview that includes information on the environmental movement, regulations, and types of pollutants. Part 2 deals with issues related to air pollution. Part 3 discusses the problems of pollution in water and its control. Part 4 focuses on solid waste management. This section examines the different types of solid waste and how each is handled. Hazardous, medical, and nuclear waste management are also discussed. Health, safety, and accident prevention are the focus of Part 5; energy conservation is the focus of Part 6; and pollution prevention is the focus for Part 7. Part 8 looks at how risks are perceived and communicated, and how individuals can be educatedmore » about these risks. Part 9 provides information on other areas of interest in the environmental arena. These include many popular topics such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, and electromagnetic fields. Finally, Part 10 examines ethical issues as they relate to the environment.« less