Analytical Techniques in Environmental Monitoring

Environmentally sustainable development has been put firmly on the developmental agenda of all nations be they rich, poor, developed or developing especially after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janerio, Brazil, in June, 1992 gave a call for environmentally sustainable development. Protecting land, air and water from industrial pollution has become very important and in fact providing clean air and water has become a fundamental duty of governments around the globe. Formulating effective strategies for environmental policies have become a priority for governments. Chapter I deals with the utility of electroanalytical techniques in the determination of levels of trace elements, pesticides, drugs and pharmaceuticals, dyes etc. in various matrices. Chapter II concerns with the spectral methods (IR, UV, Laser Induced Florescence, NMR, AAS, XRD, SEM, ICP-MS, ICP-AES etc.) used in the analysis of pollutants in trace and ultratrace levels in water, soil, blood, agricultural run-off, pharmaceutical samples, food and so on. Chapter III contains articles related to pollution status of the environment and provides a modelling approach to the relevant monitoring of organic and inorganic contaminants, their variabilities, recoveries and their measurements. Miscellaneous contributions dealing with biosensors, neutron activation analysis, surfactant analysis, corrosion studies, chromatographic determinations in all environmental matrices are grouped in the chapter IV. The book may be considered unique in the sense that the original research articles from almost all scientists working in the field are brought together, that this should serve as quick reference in the area of environmental analysis.