Quantitative Environmental Risk Analysis for Human Health / Edition 1

by Robert A. Fjeld, Norman A. Eisenberg, Keith L. Compton

Overview

A COMPREHENSIVE TEXTBOOK AND REFERENCE FOR QUANTITATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ANALYSIS FOR BOTH CHEMICAL AND RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS

Environmental risk analysis is complex and interdisciplinary; this book explains the fundamental concepts and analytical methods in each essential discipline. With an emphasis on concepts and applications of quantitative tools plus coverage of analysis of both chemical and radioactive contaminants, this is a comprehensive resource.

After an introduction and an overview of the basics of environmental modeling, the book covers key elements in environmental risk analysis methodology, including:

• Release assessment and source characterization
• Migration of contaminants in various media, including surface water, groundwater, the atmosphere, and the food chain
• Exposure assessment
• Basic human toxicology and dose-response
• Risk characterization, including dose-response modeling and analysis
• Risk management process and methods
• Risk communication and public participation

This reference also relates risk analysis to current environmental laws and regulations. An ideal textbook for graduate students and upper-level undergraduates in various engineering and quantitative science disciplines, especially civil and environmental engineering, it is also a great reference for practitioners in industry, environmental consulting firms, and regulatory agencies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471722434
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/29/2007
Pages:	404
Product dimensions:	7.28(w) x 10.02(h) x 1.01(d)

About the Author

Robert A. Fjeld, PhD, is an Emeritus Professor and Dempsey Chair of Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, USA. He is a pioneering researcher of quantitative human health risk assessment and the author of numerous related publications.

Timothy A. DeVol, PhD, CHP, is Toshiba Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Director of the Nuclear Environmental Engineering Sciences and Radioactive Waste Management Center at Clemson University. His research interests are on radioactive material detection and environmental health physics.

Nicole E. Martinez, PhD, CHP, is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University with a Joint Faculty Appointment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Her research focuses on dosimetric modeling and the transport and effects of environmental contaminants.

Read an Excerpt

Click to read or download

Table of Contents

Preface     xi
Introduction     1
Risk Analysis     2
Risk     4
Contaminants in the Environment     8
Uses of Environmental Risk Assessment     10
Risk Assessment Process     13
References     19
Additional Reading     21
Problems     21
Fundamental Aspects of Environmental Modeling     23
Introduction     23
Modeling Process     23
Physical and Mathematical Basis for Risk Assessment Models     29
Contaminant Transport Equation     44
References     55
Problems     55
Release Assessment     60
Introduction     60
Conceptual Model     60
Contaminant Identification     62
Emission-Rate Quantification     66
References     78
Additional Reading     78
Problems     78
Environmental Transport Theory     81
Introduction     81
One-Dimensional Solutions of the Contaminant Transport Equation     83
Three-Dimensional Contaminant Transport     96
Advanced Solution Methods     97
References     100
Additional Reading     100
Problems     101
Surface Water Transport     104
Introduction     104
Types of Surface Water Bodies     106
Sorption     109
Transport Modeling     116
References     123
Additional Reading     124
Problems     124
Groundwater Transport     127
Introduction     127
Subsurface Characterization     129
Saturated Flow in Porous Media     130
Sorption     137
Subsurface Contaminant Transport Modeling     139
Other Considerations in Groundwater Transport     148
References     152
Additional Reading     153
Problems     153
Atmospheric Transport     156
Introduction     156
Atmospheric Dispersion     156
Atmospheric Transport Models     161
Other Considerations     172
References     178
Additional Reading     179
Problems     179
Food Chain Transport     183
Introduction     183
Concentration in Soil     186
Concentration in Vegetation     190
Concentration in Animals     195
References     197
Problems     197
Exposure Assessment     199
Introduction     199
Dose     200
Contaminant Intake     204
Dose Calculations     209
References     216
Problems     217
Basic Human Toxicology     219
Introduction     219
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology     220
Mechanisms and Effects of Toxicity     237
References     242
Additional Reading     244
Problems     244
Dose-Response and Risk Characterization     245
Introduction     245
Biological Basis of Dose-Response Modeling     245
Elements of Quantitative Dose-Response Analysis     247
Dose-Response Modeling     261
Risk Characterization     267
Regulatory Implementation     270
References     277
Additional Reading     279
Problems     279
Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analyses     283
Introduction      283
Types and Sources of Uncertainty     283
Statistical Fundamentals     289
Uncertainty Propagation     298
References     311
Problems     314
Stakeholder Involvement and Risk Communication     316
Introduction     316
Stakeholder Involvement     317
Risk Communication     325
References     332
Problems     335
Environmental Risk Management     336
Introduction     336
Risk Management Process     336
Risk Management Methods     337
References     354
Problems     355
Environmental Laws and Regulations     356
Introduction     356
General Legal and Regulatory Structure for Environmental Protection     356
Major Federal Environmental Laws and Regulations     357
CERCLA Process     367
Additional Regulations     372
References     373
Problems     374
Mathematical Tools     375
Special Functions     375
Laplace Transforms     376
References     380
Additional Reading      380
Degradation and Decay Parameters     381
Index     383

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"For bold statisticians who want to break new ground and are willing to invest some time and effort in learning the terminology, mathematical models, and culture of environmental risk assessment, this book may be an invaluable resource." (Biometrics, September 2008)

"…well-written and useful to both academia and professional audiences." (Journal of Environmental Quality, September-October 2007)

"…I would enthusiastically adopt for a risk analysis course if I were to teach one. It is good." (Journal of Hazardous Materials, July 16, 2007)

"The book is designed for both academic and professional audiences, to allow flexible approaches to instruction." (Environmental Geology, 2007)

Editorial Reviews

"For bold statisticians who want to break new ground and are willing to invest some time and effort in learning the terminology, mathematical models, and culture of environmental risk assessment, this book may be an invaluable resource." (Biometrics, September 2008)

"…well-written and useful to both academia and professional audiences." (Journal of Environmental Quality, September-October 2007)

"…I would enthusiastically adopt for a risk analysis course if I were to teach one. It is good." (Journal of Hazardous Materials, July 16, 2007)

"The book is designed for both academic and professional audiences, to allow flexible approaches to instruction." (Environmental Geology, 2007)

From the Publisher