Contaminants and Pollutants

This chapter describes how the desire of human beings for increased mobility and access to goods and services, reaction and exploration has led to an explosion in the number and extent of movements. The world has become a small place; easily accessible transport can reach all parts of the world within a few hours. Enlarged economic and social networks have also led to an increased demand in transport systems. However, this increase in transportation has led to a significant increase in infrastructure related to, and discharges from, the different modes of transport. The chapter discusses how transportation, along with most other human activities, is dependent on either the manufacture of compounds or the exploitation of natural resources. During the mining and processing of fuels and/or the manufacturing of transport vehicles there will waste, discharges, and emissions. Fossil fuel consumption and subsequent emissions has led to changes in air quality that has impacts on human health, agriculture, aquaculture, sensitive organisms, ecosystem function and global climate. This chapter sets out to explore the sources of pollution and contaminants that result from transportation, their effects, and possible remediation steps. Because of the size of this topic, this chapter is intended to be introductory in nature and further reading and references are given. “Contaminants” are defined as inputs of alien and potentially toxic substance into the environment; not all contaminants cause pollution, as their concentrations may be too low. “Pollutants” are defined as anthropogenically-introduced substances that have harmful effects on the environment. Sometimes the distinction between contaminants and pollutants is not on the environment. Sometimes the distinction between contaminants and pollutants is not simple, since concentrations at which contaminants become pollutants cannot always be defined; also long-term damage to organisms or systems may occur that is not initially evident.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781402045035
• Corporate Authors:

  Springer

  P. O. Box 17
  Dordtrecht,   Netherlands  3300 AA
• Authors:
  • Stengel, Dagmar B
  • O’Reilly, Sarah
  • O’Halloran, John
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 361-389
• Monograph Title: The Ecology of Transportation: Managing Mobility for the Environment

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution sources; Air quality management; Contaminants; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; Fossil fuels; Greenhouse gases; Mobility; Natural resources; Pollutants; Pollution control; Urban goods movement; Water pollution; Water quality management
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01041681
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781402045035
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 2007 1:32PM