Diffuse Pollution IV


Book Description

Nowadays diffuse (non-point) pollution is an important issue that cannot be overlooked. Humankind exists in such close proximity with the natural environment that mutual impact is inevitable. The International Conference on Diffuse Pollution provides a regular forum for the exchange of information from scientific and technical studies on pollution problems and relevant management strategies. As a result better techniques are developed that lead to greater protection of the world's natural resources from pollution. These proceedings are made up of selected, peer-reviewed contributions to the Fourth Conference on Diffuse Pollution of the IAWQ(IWA) Specialist Group on Diffuse Pollution at Bangkok during January 2000. From the original 86 oral and poster presentations, 28 papers have been selected for these proceedings. These papers are in seven focus areas: urban issues; watershed analysis; agriculture and forestry; groundwater; modeling analysis and application; policy consideration; and application of geographic information systems.




Soil pollution: a hidden reality


Book Description

This document presents key messages and the state-of-the-art of soil pollution, its implications on food safety and human health. It aims to set the basis for further discussion during the forthcoming Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18), to be held at FAO HQ from May 2nd to 4th 2018. The publication has been reviewed by the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soil (ITPS) and contributing authors. It addresses scientific evidences on soil pollution and highlights the need to assess the extent of soil pollution globally in order to achieve food safety and sustainable development. This is linked to FAO’s strategic objectives, especially SO1, SO2, SO4 and SO5 because of the crucial role of soils to ensure effective nutrient cycling to produce nutritious and safe food, reduce atmospheric CO2 and N2O concentrations and thus mitigate climate change, develop sustainable soil management practices that enhance agricultural resilience to extreme climate events by reducing soil degradation processes. This document will be a reference material for those interested in learning more about sources and effects of soil pollution.




Global Assessment of Soil Pollution


Book Description

World soil health is under pressure from erosion, loss of soil organic carbon and biodiversity, pollution, and salinization. This report presents the status and drivers of global soil pollution, as well as recommendations to address the issue such as using bioremediation technologies.




WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality


Book Description

This book presents WHO guidelines for the protection of public health from risks due to a number of chemicals commonly present in indoor air. The substances considered in this review, i.e. benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, naphthalene, nitrogen dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (especially benzo[a]pyrene), radon, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, have indoor sources, are known in respect of their hazardousness to health and are often found indoors in concentrations of health concern. The guidelines are targeted at public health professionals involved in preventing health risks of environmental exposures, as well as specialists and authorities involved in the design and use of buildings, indoor materials and products. They provide a scientific basis for legally enforceable standards.







International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management


Book Description

The understanding that some pesticides are more hazardous than others is well established. Recognition of this is reflected by the World Health Organization (WHO) Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard, which was first published in 1975. The document classifies pesticides in one of five hazard classes according to their acute toxicity. In 2002, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was introduced, which in addition to acute toxicity also provides classification of chemicals according to their chronic health hazards and environmental hazards.







Environmental Health Risk IV


Book Description

Health problems related to the environment have become a major source of concern all over the world. The health of the population depends upon good quality air, water, soil, food and many other factors. The aim of society is to establish measures that can eliminate or considerably reduce factors hazardous to the human environment to minimize the associated health risks. The ability to achieve these objectives is greatly dependant on the development of suitable experimental, modelling and interpretive techniques, which allow a balanced assessment of the risk involved as well as suggesting ways in which the situation can be improved.The interaction between environmental risk and health is often complex and can involve a variety of social, occupational and lifestyle factors. This emphasizes the importance of considering an interdisciplinary approach. Containing papers presented at the Fourth International Conference on The Impact of Environmental Factors on Health. The topics discussed will be of interest to a wide readership including health specialists in government and industry as well as researchers involved within the broad area of environmental health risk. Featured topics include: Risk Analysis; Air Pollution; Water quality issues; Electromagnetic Fields; Food contamination; Occupational Health; Remediation; Social and Economic Issues; Housing and Health; Radiation Fields; Education and Training; Accident and man-made risks.




Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters: emerging policy solutions


Book Description

After decades of regulation and investment to reduce point source water pollution, OECD countries still face water quality challenges (e.g. eutrophication) from diffuse agricultural and urban sources of pollution, that is disperse pollution from surface runoff, soil filtration and atmospheric deposition. The relative lack of progress reflects the complexities of controlling multiple pollutants from multiple sources, their high spatial and temporal variability, associated transactions costs, and limited political acceptability of regulatory measures. This report outlines the water quality challenges facing OECD countries today, presents a range of policy instruments and innovative case studies of diffuse pollution control, and concludes with an integrated policy framework to tackle diffuse water pollution. An optimal approach will likely entail a mix of policy interventions reflecting the basic OECD principles of water quality management – pollution prevention, treatment at source, the polluter pays and beneficiary pays principles, equity, and policy coherence.




Diffuse Pollution of Water Resources


Book Description

Diffuse pollution of water resources has a multi-disciplinary dimension and the measures to prevent and control it are closely inter-related to the development patterns and societal habits of the region. This book aims to bridge the gaps between different specialists working in the field and to present an integrated approach for the solution of dif