Environmental Systems Science
Theory and Practical Applications
- 1st Edition - May 26, 2021
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Author: Daniel A. Vallero
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 9 5 3 - 9
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 9 4 4 - 7
Environmental Systems Science: Theory and Practical Applications looks at pollution and environmental quality from a systems perspective. Credible human and ecological risk esti… Read more
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Request a sales quoteEnvironmental Systems Science: Theory and Practical Applications looks at pollution and environmental quality from a systems perspective. Credible human and ecological risk estimation and prediction methods are described, including life cycle assessment, feasibility studies, pollution control decision tools, and approaches to determine adverse outcome pathways, fate and transport, sampling and analysis, and cost-effectiveness. The book brings translational science to environmental quality, applying groundbreaking methodologies like informatics, data mining, and applications of secondary data systems. Multiple human and ecological variables are introduced and integrated to support calculations that aid environmental and public health decision making.
The book bridges the perspectives of scientists, engineers, and other professionals working in numerous environmental and public health fields addressing problems like toxic substances, deforestation, climate change, and loss of biological diversity, recommending sustainable solutions to these and other seemingly intractable environmental problems. The causal agents discussed include physical, chemical, and biological agents, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 virus), and other emerging contaminants.
- Provides an optimistic and interdisciplinary approach, underpinned by scientific first principles and theory to evaluate pollutant sources and sinks, applying biochemodynamic methods, measurements and models
- Deconstructs prior initiatives in environmental assessment and management using an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate what has worked and why
- Lays out a holistic understanding of the real impact of human activities on the current state of pollution, linking the physical sciences and engineering with socioeconomic, cultural perspectives, and environmental justice
- Takes a life cycle view of human and ecological systems, from the molecular to the planetary scale, integrating theories and tools from various disciplines to assess the current and projected states of environmental quality
- Explains the elements of risk, reliability and resilience of built and natural systems, including discussions of toxicology, sustainability, and human-pollutant interactions based on spatial, biological, and human activity information, i.e. the exposome
Researchers and professionals working on air quality or climate change in the atmospheric sciences, engineering, chemistry, environmental sciences and data scienceResearchers, professionals and interested readers from numerous other fields, especially biomedicine, urban planning, architecture, construction, pharmaceuticals and consumer product manufacturers and users
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Preface
- Chapter 1: Systems science
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Public health and environmental governance
- Complexity
- Thermodynamics
- Emergence
- Fuzziness
- Systems-based communications
- Chapter 2: Dynamical environmental systems
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Relationship between spatial and temporal scales
- Environmental first principles
- Ecosystem dynamics
- Human dynamics
- Environmental systems dynamics
- Cycling within and between environmental systems
- Sensitivity
- Chapter 3: Transitional and translational sciences
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Transitioning from the past: Pollution episodes
- The rational approach: The key to translational science
- Translating science to address environmental risk
- Systems metrics
- Transport and fate
- Evolution toward systems science and computational approaches
- Modularity and interoperability
- Model uncertainties
- Chapter 4: Predicting risks in an increasingly complex world
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Systems-based risk assessment
- Complex mixtures
- Exposure probability
- Dosimetry and exposure calculations
- Biological models to support estimates of emerging risks
- Exposure estimation
- Secondary data
- Conclusions
- Chapter 5: Environmental system dynamics
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Pollutant formation processes: Chemodynamics
- Biogeochemodynamics
- Carbon equilibrium and cycling
- Nutrient cycling
- The nitrogen cycle
- The sulfur cycle
- Interactions between sulfur and nitrogen
- Metal and metalloid cycles
- Decision-making supported by biogeochemical knowledge
- Chapter 6: Endogenous dynamics in humans
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Inhalation exposure route
- Ingestion exposure route
- Dermal exposure route
- Mixtures
- Dose-response relationships
- Uncertainty and factors of safety
- Error estimation
- Exposure estimation
- Direct cancer risk calculations
- Risk-based treatment targets
- Chapter 7: Science-based decision-making
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Decision frameworks
- Legislative framework for environmental decisions
- Pollutant release-related decisions
- Environmental quality-related decisions
- Data application and interpretation
- Dose modeling
- Systems thinking
- Risk contingencies
- Chapter 8: Decision support tools
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Feasibility tools
- Multicriteria decision analysis
- Bayesian analysis
- Root cause analysis
- Adverse outcome pathway analysis
- Informatics and big data tools
- Environmental impact assessment methodologies
- Life cycle methodologies
- Evaluating cause and effect
- Analysis of complex pollution problems
- Tools to map exposure metrics onto toxicity values
- Ecosystem metrics
- Environmental fate simulation
- Tools to support ethical practice
- Chapter 9: Sampling and analysis to support environmental systems science
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Direct and indirect sampling
- Quality assurance
- Measurement precision
- Measurement accuracy
- Sample location and sample size
- Sampling environmental pollutant emissions and releases
- Environmental sampling approaches
- Ambient pollutant sampling
- Passive sampling
- Active sampling
- Remote sensing
- Gas- and vapor-phase measurement methods
- Open-path technologies for gas-phase air pollutants
- Mobile measurement technologies
- Methods for specific pollutants
- Sampling for criteria air pollutants
- Nonmethane volatile organic compounds
- Measuring gas and particulate phases together
- Analysis and measurement of acidic deposition
- Measuring hazardous air pollutants
- Laboratory analysis
- Background measurements
- Democratizing environmental measurements
- Chapter 10: Environmental systems science models
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Model development
- Models to extend measurements
- Box models
- Model frames
- Meteorological modeling
- Gaussian models
- Stability
- Eulerian models
- Model levels
- Model uncertainty
- Models to link exposure and dose
- Recent modeling advances
- Chapter 11: Economics and feasibility assessments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Feasibility of a project
- Economic efficiency
- Pollution control cost estimates
- Engineering economics
- Cash flow
- Comparing alternatives
- Replacement cost analysis
- Life-cycle comparisons
- Chapter 12: Systems engineering and reliability analysis
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Item availability
- System reliability
- Classifying failure
- Margins of safety
- Professional continuity
- Chapter 13: Environmental systems-based land-use planning
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics
- The land ethic
- Spatially explicit land-use planning
- Addressing land pollution
- Land transport of pollutants
- Habitat loss and destruction
- Waste sites
- Regional planning
- Best practices
- Chapter 14: The Future
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Systems thinking
- Precautionary principle
- Data-driven decision-making and scientific workflows
- Greater dependence on secondary data
- Resilience
- Precision science
- Ontology bridging and blending
- Appendix 1
- Cancer potency factors
- Extrapolation methods
- Human equivalent dose
- Route-to-route extrapolation
- Application of slope factors and unit risks
- Cancer slope factors
- Unit risks
- Appendix 2
- Key equations
- Environmental chemistry
- Environmental physics
- Partitioning
- Meteorology
- Biogeochemistry
- Environmental engineering
- Geometry
- Statistics
- Pollution risk
- Dispersion modeling
- Reliabibility
- Engineering and environmental economics
- Life cycle analysis and sustainability
- Appendix 3
- Abbreviations and symbols
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: May 26, 2021
- No. of pages (Paperback): 704
- No. of pages (eBook): 704
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780128219539
- eBook ISBN: 9780128219447
DV
Daniel A. Vallero
Professor Daniel A. Vallero is an internationally recognized author and expert in environmental science and engineering. He has devoted decades to conducting research, teaching, and mentoring future scientists and engineers. He is currently developing tools and models to predict potential exposures to chemicals in consumer products. He is a full adjunct professor of civil and environmental engineering at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. He has authored 20 environmental textbooks, with the most recent addressing the importance of physical principles in environmental science and engineering. His books have addressed all environmental compartments and media within the earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
Affiliations and expertise
Full Adjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, NC, USARead Environmental Systems Science on ScienceDirect