Springer Analysis of Solids in Natural Waters

As only a few books have been published on the matter of toxic materials in water it occurred to the author that a comprehensive volume dealing with all aspects of this subject was overdue. In this book there is a complete discussion of world literature on the determination of metals, non-metals, organic substances, organometallic com pounds, together with organic carbon parameters and radioactive elements in river, stream, lake and pond sediments, marine and estuarine sediments, river and sea fish, crustacea and molluscs, phytoplankton and sea and river weeds. Much very detailed work has been carried out on this subject over the past 20 years and a review of this work is timely in view of the increasing interest to chemists, environmentalists and others concerned with the quality of our environ ment. The presence of organic and inorganic substances in river and oceanic sediments is due in part to man-made pollution, and monitoring the levels of these substances in sediment and sediment core samples provides an indication of the time dependence of element concentration over large time spans. Contamination of sediments is found not only in rivers but also in estuarine sediments and sometimes in oceanic sedi ments, and this sediment analysis provides a means of tracking elements from their sources through the ecosystem. Review "The author has succeeded in compiling a volume that contains a wealth of information...a very well organized book, in which it is easy for the interested reader to locate information on analytical chemistry methods suitable for their needs. This is an excellent comprehensive reference for its subject area. " - Journal of Environmental Quality From the Back Cover The presence of toxic organic and inorganic substances in rivers and oceanic sediments is in part due to man-made pollution. Their monitoring by chemical analysis of oceanic, estuarine, and river sediments or of organisms living in the respective ecosystems are of utmost importance. The purpose of this book is to provide the chemist with all available information for the rapid development and proper carrying out of these methods of analysis. Crompton's book is the first book which covers all kinds of samples including living organisms.