Studies were conducted to assess factors that may influence the rate and extent of biodegradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in waters of Guayanilla Bay (latitude, 18°N; longitude, 66.45°W) Puerto Rico. Phenanthrene was used as a model PAHs compound. Both the rate and extent of phenanthrene degradation by natural microbial flora present in seawater samples from Guayanilla Bay were quite slow. Addition of KNO3 as a source of inorganic nitrogen (N) resulted in a 10-fold increase in the rate of phenanthrene degradation within a 125 h period, whereas, addition of K2HPO4 as a source of inorganic nutrient phosphorus (P) had no effect. Phenanthrene degradation was strongly inhibited when seawater pH was adjusted to 10.0. Phenanthrene in seawater samples degraded rapidly when first pretreated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and then inoculated with a known indigenous phenanthrene degrading bacterium, Alteromonas sp. Pretreatment of phenanthrene with Triton-x-100 had little or no effect on its degradation by the same bacteria, whereas, degradation in samples preheated at 60°C was somewhat inhibited.

This book introduces readers to the theoretical and applied approaches used to control pollution in developing countries. The first of its kind in the Indian context, it investigates the case for using economic instruments to control environmental pollution, especially water pollution arising from industrial production. This book, dealing as it does with both theoretical and empirical issues, will be of interest to students, teachers and researchers of environmental economics as well as policy-makers. Professionals and activists involved in environmental protection will also find it useful.

"This book contains over 100 contributions from the Seventh International Air Pollution Conference, held in July 1999. Bringing together recent results from state-of-the-art research projects world-wide, the goal of this meeting was to increase public awareness of air pollution issues and lay the groundwork for further investigations."--BOOK JACKET.

"Students and practitioners alike will find Sources and Control of Air Pollution by Heinsohn and Kabel to be a comprehensive treatment of possible contamination of the atmosphere, the physical and social environment in which it occurs, and the resultant impacts. The cultural, aesthetic, biological, physiological, ecological, legal and economic contexts of air pollution are addressed in depth as are the scientific and engineering principles used to mitigate it."--Jacket.

"Soils and Groundwater Pollution and Remediation explores the toxic levels of metals radionuclides inorganics, and anthropogenic organic compounds found in the soils and groundwater of Asia, Africa, and Oceania. This 14-chapter book reviews the distribution, transformation and dynamics of the pollutants. The authors also reflect on the impact of acid rain."--Jacket.

Employing the data available to date, anthropogenic Pt fluxes are calculated for Germany with special emphasis on the Pt emitted by cars equipped with catalytic converters. Pt fluxes are quantified using five different methods (street deposition, automobile emission rate, sewage sludges, atmospheric load, industrial consumption). During the first and the second methods, approx. 100 kg of emitted Pt are seen to result for both for the mid 1990’s. Up to the year 2018, a total of 2100 kg of Pt will be emitted by cars equipped with catalytic converters. The diffuse atmospheric Pt deposition amounts to 0.73 – 4.4 μg/m²y or 260 kg Pt/year. Industrial sources emitting Pt into the atmosphere are likely but difficult to quantify. The enrichment of Pt in soils during agriculture fertilization with sewage sludges and during diffuse atmospheric deposition result in a level of 46 – 460 ng/kg up to the year 2018. Although this is slightly below the geogenic background, a comparison with the pollution history of Pb implies that forthcoming environmental Pt enrichment should not be neglected.