文档介绍：Preface
Environmental Chemistry is a relatively young science. Interest in this subject,
however, is growing very rapidly and, although no agreement has been reached
as yet about the exact content and limits of this interdisciplinary discipline,there
appears to be increasing interest in seeing environmental topics which are based
on chemistry embodied in this subject. One of the first objectives of Environ-
mental Chemistry must be the study of the environment and of natural chemical
processes which occur in the environment. A major purpose of this series on
Environmental Chemistry, therefore, is to present a reasonably uniform view of
various aspects of the chemistry of the environment and chemical reactions
occurring in the environment.
The industrial activities of man have given a new dimension to Environ-
mental Chemistry. We have now synthesized and described over five million
pounds and chemical industry produces about hundred and fifty
million tons of synthetic chemicals annually. We ship billions of tons of oil per
year and through mining operations and other geophysical modifications, large
quantities of anic anic materials are released from their natural
deposits. Cities and metropolitan areas of up to 15 million inhabitants produce
large quantities of waste in relatively small and confined areas. Much of the
chemical products and waste products of modern society are released into the
environment either during production, storage, transport, use or ultimate
disposal. These released materials participate in natural cycles and reactions
and frequently lead to interference and disturbance of natural systems.
Environmental Chemistry is concerned with reactions in the environment. It
is about distribution and equilibria between partments.
It is about reactions, pathways, thermodynamics and ics. An important
purpose of this Handbook, is to aid understanding of the basic distribution and
chemical reaction processes which occur in the