Our Global Environment: A Health Perspective

by Nadakavukaren, Anne

• ISBN13: 9781577664024
• ISBN10: 1577664027
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-08-19
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Part 1 People, Progress, and Nature: is Conflict Inevitable?	1	(158)
Introduction to Ecological Principles	6	(33)
Ecosystems	7	(1)
Biotic Community	7	(4)
Ecological Dominants	11	(2)
Biomes	13	(3)
Ecological Niches	16	(3)
Limiting Factors	19	(1)
Limits of Tolerance	20	(1)
Energy Flow Through the Biosphere	21	(6)
Biogeochemical Cycling	27	(3)
Change in Ecosystems	30	(9)
Population Dynamics	39	(33)
Population Attributes	39	(1)
Population Growth Forms	40	(2)
Homeostatic Controls	42	(1)
Human Population Growth	43	(7)
Population Explosion	50	(11)
Urbanization	61	(6)
Population Projections	67	(5)
Population Control	72	(23)
Early Attempts at Family Limitation	72	(2)
Modern Family-Planning Movement	74	(3)
Birth Control---Its Health Impact	77	(4)
Contraceptive Safety	81	(4)
Family Planning in the Third World	85	(7)
Population Policy: Moving Beyond Birth Control	92	(3)
The People-Food Predicament	95	(29)
Factors Influencing Food Demand	96	(2)
Extent of Hunger	98	(1)
Causes of Hunger	99	(2)
Health Impact of Hunger	101	(8)
Prospects for Reducing World Hunger	109	(15)
Impacts of Growth on Ecosystems	124	(35)
Degradation of Land Resources	124	(20)
Loss of Biodiversity	144	(15)
Part 2 Our Toxic Environment: Does Everything Cause Cancer?	159	(196)
Environmental Disease	162	(34)
Mutation	164	(5)
Birth Defects	169	(9)
Cancer	178	(18)
Toxic Substances	196	(38)
Testing for Toxicity	196	(4)
Assessing Health Risk	200	(1)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)	201	(6)
Dioxin (TCDD)	207	(3)
Asbestos	210	(8)
Lead	218	(7)
Mercury	225	(9)
Pests and Pesticides	234	(41)
What Is a Pest?	234	(1)
Problems Caused by Pests	235	(10)
Pest Control	245	(7)
Environmental Impact of Pesticide Use	252	(6)
Hazards to Human Health	258	(8)
Alternatives to Chemical Pest Control	266	(9)
Food Quality	275	(34)
Food Contaminants	277	(8)
Food Additives	285	(3)
Foodborne Disease	288	(12)
Preventing Foodborne Disease	300	(9)
Radiation	309	(46)
Ionizing Radiation	310	(36)
Ultraviolet Radiation	346	(4)
Microwaves	350	(1)
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)	350	(5)
Part 3 Environmental Degradation: How We Foul Our Own Nest	355	(236)
The Atmosphere	358	(33)
Composition of the Atmosphere	359	(4)
Human Impact on the Earth-Atmosphere System	363	(6)
Rising Levels of Atmospheric CO2---Moving toward a Warmer World?	369	(4)
Impacts of Global Warming	373	(7)
The Greenhouse Policy Debate	380	(11)
Air Pollution	391	(48)
Sources of Air Pollution	392	(6)
Impact of Air Pollution on Human Health	398	(4)
Pollution Control Efforts---The Clean Air Act	402	(9)
Global Air Quality Trends	411	(4)
Acid Deposition	415	(10)
Indoor Air Pollution	425	(14)
Noise Pollution	439	(19)
Sources of Noise	439	(1)
Noise as a Nuisance	440	(4)
Nature of Sound	444	(1)
Noise and Hearing Loss	445	(3)
Other Effects of Noise	448	(5)
Noise Control Efforts	453	(5)
Water Resources	458	(27)
Hydrologic Cycle	458	(1)
Water Quantity and Health	459	(3)
Water Supply: Our Next Crisis?	462	(4)
Groundwater	466	(7)
Water Management: Increasing Supply versus Reducing Demand	473	(12)
Water Pollution	485	(51)
Controlling Water Pollution: The Clean Water Act	485	(2)
Sources of Water Pollution	487	(9)
Municipal Sewage Treatment	496	(12)
New Approaches to Wastewater Treatment	508	(3)
Septic Systems	511	(1)
Industrial Discharges	511	(7)
Water Pollution and Health	518	(15)
Looking Ahead	533	(3)
Solid and Hazardous Wastes	536	(55)
Waste Disposal---A Brief History	536	(1)
Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW)	537	(2)
Current Waste Disposal Alternatives	539	(23)
Hazardous Wastes	562	(16)
Hazardous Waste Management Legislation: RCRA	578	(13)
Appendix A: Environmental Agencies of the Federal Government	591	(4)
Appendix B: Environmental Organizations	595	(2)
Index	597