Online▼In Print
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 impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. A wide range of relevant issues and concepts is covered in 13 chapters. 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 vadose zone and groundwater. Chapter 11 covers economic considerations of aquifer restoration and is followed by a chapter that reviews case histories for light nonaqueous294 A
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phase liquid (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, especially 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 would be useful to an environmental professional who is already familiar with many of the fundamental concepts governing subsurface transport, fate, and remediation because it provides excellent summaries of different subsurface processes and remediation strategies, as well as insights and rules of thumb gained from the authors’ experiences. However, very few in-text citations are provided, which decreases the book’s utility as a reference tool for practicing professionals. Certain improvements would 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; 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 Werth, assistant professor of civil engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / JULY 1, 2002
Books Encyclopedia of Environmental Microbiology, G. Bitton, Ed. (Wiley and Sons, 2002, 6 volumes, $1795). This encyclopedia collection contains 320 articles written by 420 authors and provides a comprehensive look at the growing facets of environmental microbiology and relevant topics. The illustrated set of volumes also contains conversion charts and symbol keys, with extensive cross-references. Environmental and Chemical Toxins and Psychiatric Illness, J. S. Brown. (American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2002, 308 pp., $45). Although it is well known that chemical pollutants in the environment can have physiological effects, mental effects remain unconfirmed. The author cites extensive research that links certain chemicals to some behavioral symptoms. Introduction to Environmental Forensics, B. L. Murphy, R. D. Morrison, Eds. (Academic Press, 2002, 560 pp., $79.95). This textbook discusses environmental forensic applications, strategies, and applicable analytical and statistical techniques. Science and Technology Ethics, R. Spier, Ed. (Routledge, 2002, 247 pp., $25.95). Technological advances purport to make our lives better and easier but often raise serious questions along the way. Several contributors assess how these scientific and technological advances affect issues such as biotechnology, military science, and the environment. Statistics for Environmental Engineers, 2nd Ed., P. M. Berthouex, L. C. Brown (Lewis, 2002, 492 pp., $109.95). This revised textbook presents critical statistics for solving environmental problems through various case studies drawn from such sources as censored data, regulatory standards, and hazardous waste sites. © 2002 American Chemical Society
