Physical and Chemical Processes in the Aquatic Environment

There is need in environmental research for a book on fresh waters including rivers and lakes. Compared with other books on the topic, this book has a unique outline in that it follows pollution from sources to impact. Included in the text is the treatment of various tracers, ranging from pathogens to stable isotopes of elements and providing a comprehensive discussion which is lacking in many other books on pollution control of natural waters. Geophysical processes are discussed emphasizing mixing of water, interaction between water and the atmosphere, and sedimentation processes. Important geochemistry processes occurring in natural waters are described as are the processes specific to nutrients, organic pollutants, metals, and pathogens in subsequent chapters. Each of these chapters includes an introduction on the selected groups, followed by the physicochemical properties which are the most relevant to their behavior in natural waters, and the theories and models to describe their speciation, transport and transformation. The book also includes the most up to date information including a discussion on emerging pollutants such as brominated and phosphate flame retardants, perflurochemicals, and pharmaceutical and personal care products. Due to its importance an ecotoxicology chapter has been included featuring molecular biological methods, nanoparticles, and comparison of the basis of biotic ligand model with the Weibull dose-response model. Finally, the last chapter briefly summarizes the regulations on ambient water quality.

Erik R. Christensen is a UWM Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the College of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In 2008 he was nominated by UWM for Wisconsin Distinguished Professorship. He has published >80 journal articles, one book chapter, and edited a book: Contaminated Aquatic Sediments (1993), based on an international conference. He is an associate editor and frequent reviewer for many journals.

An Li is a professor of environmental chemistry in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has written four book chapters, edited one book: Persistent Organic Pollutants in Asia (2007) and produced numerous journal articles as well as providing book and journal reviews.