
Unraveling Environmental Disasters
- 2nd Edition - October 1, 2023
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Authors: Daniel A. Vallero, Trevor Letcher
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 8 6 5 1 - 6
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 8 6 5 2 - 3
Unraveling Environmental Disasters, Second Edition provides scientific explanations of the most threatening current and future environmental disasters, including an analysis of way… Read more

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Request a sales quoteUnraveling Environmental Disasters, Second Edition provides scientific explanations of the most threatening current and future environmental disasters, including an analysis of ways disasters could have been prevented and how to minimize risk of similar disasters in the future. In this new edition the authors provide foundational knowledge on why certain environmental disasters occur and ways of reducing the risk of recurrences. Anyone involved in teaching or working in the main sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology, or in the applied sciences, including engineering, design, planning, and homeland security, should read the book to become acquainted with these very important issues.
- Evaluates natural hazards and disasters with an emphasis on lessons learned for better future forecasting
- Considers the impact of human systems on environmental disasters, treating disasters as complex systems
- Provides detailed predictions, based upon sound science, on why disasters occur
- Includes fully updated chapters on food, health, and water
- Focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of each disaster
- Includes disasters related to climate change and pollution
Engineers and scientists involved in environmental issues, Decision makers in government, urban planners, environmentalists, academicians, researchers grad students in engineering and scientific courses related to environment issues, workers in research establishments (private and government involved in renewable energy)
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Preface
- References
- Chapter 1 Disaster characterization
- Abstract
- The taxonomy of disasters
- Sources of disaster
- Risk and precaution
- Perception
- Disasters from a societal perspective
- References
- Chapter 2 Failure
- Abstract
- Events
- Disasters as failures
- Types of failure
- Types of disasters
- Systems engineering
- References
- Chapter 3 Science
- Abstract
- Scientific advancement
- Laws of motion
- Laws of thermodynamics
- Science in the public eye
- References
- Chapter 4 Chemical public health disasters
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Cancer
- Developmental effects and endocrine disruption
- Neurotoxicity
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 5 Explosions
- Abstract
- Dust
- Road transport explosions
- Ammonium nitrate explosions
- Picric acid and TNT
- Methyl isocyanate
- Natural explosions—volcanoes
- Warfare explosions
- Fire
- References
- Chapter 6 Atmospheric plumes
- Abstract
- Nomenclature
- Early air quality disasters
- Toxic plumes
- Plume characterization
- Nuclear fallout plumes
- References
- Chapter 7 Leaks
- Abstract
- Surreptitious disasters
- Pollutant transport in groundwater
- Love canal
- Chester
- Times beach
- Valley of the drums
- Stringfellow acid pits
- Tar Creek
- Underground storage tanks
- Leaks and reliability
- The March continues
- References
- Chapter 8 Spills
- Abstract
- Disastrous releases
- Oil spills
- Niger River Delta oil spills
- Other spills
- Partitioning in the environment
- References
- Chapter 9 Fires
- Abstract
- Fire disaster thermodynamics
- Kuwait oil fires
- Release of radiative material
- Indonesian wildfires
- World Trade Center fire
- The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
- Other major fires
- Tire fires
- Coal mine fires
- Indirect effect: Formation of toxic substances
- Indirect impact: Transport
- References
- Chapter 10 Climate: The scientific basis of pending disasters
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Climate physics
- Feedback mechanisms
- Greenhouse gases
- Radiative forcing
- Fungi: An emerging public health disaster?
- Carbon and climate
- Carbon biogeochemistry
- References
- Chapter 11 Climate: Addressing the problems
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Climate decision making
- Root causes of climate-related disasters
- Challenges with remedy effectiveness
- Free energy
- Consequences of global warming
- Is it a disaster?
- Potential warming disaster
- Responding to climate change
- Difficulties with climate change mitigation
- Geoengineering
- References
- Chapter 12 Nature
- Abstract
- Heat
- Hurricanes
- Floods
- Drought
- Ecosystem resilience
- Lessons to be learned
- References
- Chapter 13 Minerals
- Abstract
- Inorganic substances
- Toxic metals
- Minamata disease disasters
- Lead mining disasters
- Elongate mineral particulates: Asbestos and beyond
- Cyanide
- Surface mining
- Value
- References
- Chapter 14 Recalcitrance
- Abstract
- The Dirty Dozen
- Agent Orange and dioxins
- Lake Apopka
- James River
- Persistent wastes
- The Arctic disaster
- References
- Chapter 15 Radiation
- Abstract
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Nuclear radiation
- Nuclear electricity generation
- Nuclear power plant failure
- Is nuclear power worth the risks?
- Meltdown at Chernobyl [8]
- The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
- Three Mile Island nuclear accident
- Radioisotopes and radiation poisoning
- Carbon dating
- Nuclear waste disposal
- Nuclear threats
- References
- Chapter 16 Biodiversity
- Abstract
- Invasive species
- The worst 100
- Sensitive habitats
- References
- Chapter 17 Products
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Precaution
- Endocrine disruptors and hormonally active agents
- Antibiotics: Superbugs and cross-resistance
- Organophosphates
- Scientific principles at work
- Milk and terrorism
- References
- Chapter 18 Unsustainability
- Abstract
- Oil
- Looming mineral disasters
- Cobalt
- Platinum group metals
- Lithium
- Rare earth metals
- Other metals
- Phosphates
- Helium
- Biomass
- Improving sustainability
- References
- Chapter 19 Society
- Abstract
- Tipping points
- Justice
- Solid waste
- Food supply
- Vinyl chloride
- Food versus fuel
- Burning as a societal issue
- Risk trade-offs
- References and Notes
- Chapter 20 Future
- Abstract
- Recommendations
- Thoughtful land-use decisions
- Information technology
- Systems thinking
- Some good news
- Less hubris, more humility
- References
- Glossary of terms⁎
- Index
- Edition: 2
- Published: October 1, 2023
- Imprint: Elsevier
- No. of pages: 720
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443186516
- eBook ISBN: 9780443186523
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, USATL
Trevor Letcher
Professor Trevor Letcher is an Emeritus Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and living in the United Kingdom. He was previously Professor of Chemistry, and Head of Department, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University, and Natal, in South Africa (1969-2004). He has published over 300 papers on areas such as chemical thermodynamic and waste from landfill in peer reviewed journals, and 100 papers in popular science and education journals. Prof. Letcher has edited and/or written 32 major books, of which 22 were published by Elsevier, on topics ranging from future energy, climate change, storing energy, waste, tyre waste and recycling, wind energy, solar energy, managing global warming, plastic waste, renewable energy, and environmental disasters. He has been awarded gold medals by the South African Institute of Chemistry and the South African Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics honoured him with a Festschrift in 2018. He is a life member of both the Royal Society of Chemistry (London) and the South African Institute of Chemistry. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, and is a Director of the Board of the International Association of Chemical Thermodynamics since 2002.
Affiliations and expertise
Emeritus Professor, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaRead Unraveling Environmental Disasters on ScienceDirect