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Restoration of Contaminated Aquifers: Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Organic Compounds (2nd Edition) Stephen M. Testa and Duane L. Winegardner CRC Press Boca Raton, FL 33431 June 2000, 1345 pp., $79.95 ISBN 1-56670-320-4 This book gives the practicing geologist and engineer a basic understanding of important concepts and issues associated with restoring aquifers that have been impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. Its 13 chapters cover a wide range of relevant issues and concepts. Chapter 1 introduces the occurrence of organic chemicals in the environment and the challenging role of the environmental professional. Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of the statutes and agencies that govern the restoration of contaminated aquifers. Chapters 3–6 focus on chemical and site properties controlling subsurface transport and fate and their associated mechanisms. Chapters 7–10 focus on strategies and technologies for cleaning up both the unsaturated and saturated zones. Chapter 11 covers economic considerations of aquifer restoration and is followed by a chap342 A
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ter that reviews case histories for LNAPL recovery. A final chapter examines natural attenuation and how it can help bring closure to a hazardous waste site. The general summaries and overviews provided in each chapter are very good. Of particular merit are the discussions on sedimentary sequences and facies architecture in chapter 3, hydrocarbon fingerprinting using gas chromatography and isotope fractionation in chapter 4, LNAPL characterization techniques in chapter 6, LNAPL recovery techniques in chapter 7, case histories in chapter 12, and natural attenuation in chapter 13. The text, which is useful to the environmental professional already familiar with many of the fundamental concepts governing subsurface transport, fate, and remediation, provides excellent summaries of different subsurface processes and remediation strategies, as well as insights and rules of thumb gained from the authors’ experiences. Very few in-text citations are provided, however, and this decreases the book’s utility as a reference tool for practicing professionals. Improvements could be made to make the book more accessible to those who are unfamiliar with subsurface issues. Fundamental concepts are discussed only briefly, and sometimes before the necessary background information is presented (e.g., retardation); some notation is inconsistent (e.g., k versus K for hydraulic conductivity); the level of detail varies between subsections; complex figures are not explicitly discussed; and equations are not adequately described. The book could also benefit from moving the biodegradation information in Chapter 13 to Chapter 5, since biodegradation issues are discussed throughout the text. Reviewed by Charles J. Werth, University of Illinois, Urbana; E-mail: werth@ uiuc.edu.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / AUGUST 1, 2001
Books Chemical Product Design, E. L. Cussler; G. D. Moggridge (Cambridge University Press, 2001, 226 pp., $90). Written for students and chemical engineers, this text introduces both chemical process and product design and addresses the shift in the chemical industry toward manufacture of value-added chemical products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and electronic coatings. Clean Technology for the Manufacture of Specialty Chemicals, W. Hoyle, M. Lancaster, Eds. (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001, 104 pp., $70). Using case studies from several European nations, this book examines development of cleaner chemical processes. Climate Change Impacts on the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change–Foundation Report, National Assessment Synthesis Team at the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Eds. (Cambridge University Press, 2001, 612 pp., $39.95). This comprehensive, wellillustrated report contains full-text projections of the Hadley Model and the Canadian Model and examines climate change impact on areas such as water levels, human health, seasonal storms, the economy, drinking water, and crop harvests. Effective Environmental Assessments: How To Manage and Prepare NEPA EAs, C. H. Eccleston (Lewis Publishers, 2001, 452 pp., $69.95). The author presents a comprehensive guide on how to prepare publicly and legally defensible Environmental Assessments despite the lack of direction given by the National Environmental Policy Act. Food Safety and Food Quality, R. E. Hester, R. M. Harrison, Eds. (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001, 166 pp., $46). International experts examine © 2001 American Chemical Society
topics such as genetically modified crops, cancer-causing chemicals, hazardous microorganisms, and safety and quality priorities in the food industry. Industrial Uses of Biomass Energy: The Example of Brazil, F. Rosillo-Calle, S. V. Bajay, H. Rothman, Eds. (Taylor & Francis, Inc., 2000, 271 pp., $100). Written for students and professionals, this text takes a comprehensive look at the use of biomass as a modern fuel, with attention to Brazil’s large-scale use of biomass for industrial purposes. Sediment Flux Modeling, D. M. DiToro (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2001, 612 pp., $64.95). This text, which includes extensive illustrations, data, and graphs, addresses the problem of mathematically modeling processes in sediments that determine the extent to which materials that settle to the sediment are recycled to the water column. Still Waiting for the Jubilee: Pragmatic Solutions for the Third World Debt Crisis, D. M. Roodman (WorldWatch Institute Paper, 2001, 86 pp., $5.00). The author addresses reforms for preventing a repeat of the Third World debt crisis, including making governments more accountable and lowering trade barriers in wealthy countries to allow for more imports from poor nations. Trace Elements in Soil: Bioavailability, Flux, and Transfer, I. K. Iskandar, M. B. Kirkham, Eds. (Lewis Publishers, 2001, 279 pp., $89.95). This text, which includes compilations from international authors, examines the role of biological and chemical interactions and trends in current trace element research.
Web Sites The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (www.aaas.org) features a Directorate for International Programs, which enhances scientific cooperation across borders and explores new fields of research. A source for research and development in the federal government is AAAS’s Directorate for Science and Policy programs, which explores the interaction of science and govern-
ment. The AAAS’s Science and Policy fellowships provide opportunities for scientists to participate in policy issues in areas such as global stewardship, defense, the National Institutes of Health, and Congress. Under the category “Careers in Science”, users can also link to funding information such as GrantsNet, which has extensive information on undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. The National Academies (www.nas. edu), which include the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, has a comprehensive site with access to science news, research, congressional updates, and detailed information in several subject areas. For instance, “Fellowships and Postdoc Opportunities” links to publications, graduate resources and studies, postdoc and senior research opportunities in laboratories in the United States, the National Academy Press’s 1000+ books online, and the Office of Health Policy programs and fellowships, which has information on mid-career and graduate-level fellowships. “Environmental Issues” links users to selected online reports and various research boards working in the earth and life sciences. The National Center for Environmental Research (http://es.epa.gov/ ncerqa/rfa) at the U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development (www.epa. gov/ord) lists several environmental research grant announcements for 2001 and 2002. These announcements include The Science To Achieve Results (STAR) program, which has four formal solicitation periods for fellowships and research grants during the year. STAR announcements include grants and fellowships in subject areas such as nanotechnology, environmental management, global change and aquatic ecosystems, and mercury, as well as award guidelines and other opportunities such as resident research associate programs. This site, which is part of the U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s site, links to federal agencies and academic associations, many of which have fellowship and funding opportunities, as well as other U.S. EPA research programs, including the Office of Science and Technology, the Office of Water, and the Endocrine Disruptor Research Initiative. AUGUST 1, 2001 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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