Environmental Forensics / Edition 1

by Robert D. Morrison

Overview

Offering state-of-the-art techniques for both attorneys and environmental scientists, Environmental Forensics: Principles and Applications discusses non-chemical methods such as corrosion modeling, inventory reconciliation, and aerial photography interpretation. The book also covers chemical fingerprinting used to identify the origin and age of a contaminant release- relevant techniques include the use of radioactive isotope analysis, degradation modeling based on half-lives, and fuel additives such as MTBE.
Environmental Forensics provides case study examples of environmental trial exhibits. It covers misused techniques that can bias the scientific validity of a trial exhibit, such as scale exaggeration, use of statistical manipulation, data contouring, and selective presentation.
Detailed information is provided for identifying and interpreting those portions of environmental reports that are "target rich" sources of scientific biases. These include the identification of false positive, false negative and the intentional manipulation of environmental data that occurs primarily in the sample collection process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849320583
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/29/1999
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

An Overview of the History, Chemistry and Transport of Chlorinated Solvents. Chemistry and Transport of Petroleum Hydrocarbons. Identification of Biased Environmental Data. Forensic Techniques Used in Environmental Litigation. Contaminant Transport Modeling. Forensic Review of Environmental Trial Exhibits. Appendix A - Sample Calculation for the Transport of PCE Vapor through Concrete Pavement. Appendix B - Sample Calculation for the Transport of PCE Liquid Through Concrete via Diffusion. Appendix C - Properties of Alcohol Oxygenates and Ether Oxygenates. Appendix D - Advective and Partitioning Transport Equations of Radon for Detecting Diesel in Groundwater. Appendix F - Chemical and Commerical Synonyms for Selected Chlorinated Solvents and Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Appendix G - Laboratory Terms and Definitions. Index.

Editorial Reviews

Provides a working reference for practicing environmental attorneys and environmental consultants. Topics and examples selected are common denominator issues in the field. Whenever possible, mathematical and chemical discussions are relegated to appendices. Overviews information on chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons, describes forensic tools, and gives information on how to identify biased environmental data. Also gives suggestions on evaluation of contaminant transport models, and describes techniques for forensically evaluating trial exhibits and animations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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