Environmental Forensics Fundamentals

"This book provides state-of-the-art information in the emerging field of environmental forensics. Exemplified through real case studies, it provides an up-to-date overview of main environmental forensics techniques. Emphasizing methodologies targeting both the contaminant and the associated environmental matrix, it presents a variety of challenging situations and offers appropriate solutions through practical application of forensic techniques. The book is meant to function as a "road map" providing users with a comprehensive forensic toolkit and the knowledge of how to use it in challenging situations"--

"This book cites Agatha Christie and it defines evidence as the traces left by the commission of a crime. It explains what evidence convinces juries and how to refute the allegation that your client caused the contamination. This book does not present a framework or logical approach for environmental forensics. Rather, it presents a section of techniques and then a section of successful cases in anonymized and somewhat abstracted form. The cases were, for me, the most intriguing part of the book. The case-based approach to pedagogy is not new, but I thought that Petrisor's use of that approach was particularly effective."Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2015 "provides information on cutting-edge scientific techniques that investigate the source and age of environmental pollution and solve environmental crimes. an easy-to-follow and well-organised guide for anyone interested in learning environmental forensics or simply becoming informed on what forensics means when applied to the environment."International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, December 2014

Auteur

Dr. Ioana G. Petrisor is a biochemist specializing in environmental forensics and litigation support. As an instructor with the AEHS (Association for Environmental Health and Sciences) Foundation and EOS (Environmental, Outreach, and Stewardship) Alliance, she teaches both online and in-class environmental forensic courses. Dr. Petrisor has a PhD in biochemistry (environmental biotechnology) from the Romanian Academy of Sciences and a bachelor's in chemistry (biochemistry major) from Bucharest University, Romania. She is editor-in-chief of the Environmental Forensics Journal, and has extensive publication experience, including an invention patent, six book chapters, over 70 research and review articles, 12 editorials, and three technical guidelines.

Texte du rabat

A Practical Guide to Environmental Crime Scene Investigations Releasing contaminants into the environment-whether deliberate or unintentional-can be thought of as a crime against the environment. The role of environmental forensics is to identify and prevent environmental pollution, or crimes. Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide examines this growing field, and provides environmental professionals looking to specialize in environmental forensics with the materials they need to effectively investigate and solve crimes against the environment. Pointing the Finger at Environmental Crime Environmental forensics uses "fingerprinting" techniques in order to assess and analyze contamination sites. Fingerprinting can reveal the source of contamination, as well as how, where, and when the contamination was released. This handy guidebook outlines the proven techniques, applications, and resources needed to efficiently investigate environmental crimes and become successful in this emerging field. Learn the Basics from a Single Source Divided into three main parts, the first part of the book examines the role of evidence in forensic investigations and court proceedings. It highlights general forensic concepts and offers guidelines for obtaining defensible evidence. The second part details environmental forensic investigative techniques. It includes a step-by-step guide that enables the reader to apply the techniques in practice. The final section covers strategy building. It presents real case studies, as well as key principles and concepts for strategy building, and addresses the most common challenges faced in environmental forensics. Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide provides information on cutting-edge scientific techniques that investigate the source and age of environmental pollution and solve environmental crimes. It examines the principles behind each main forensic technique. It also offers guidance on what to look for in order to successfully apply the techniques and interpret results. In addition, the author provides relevant sources where more information can be found.

Résumé

A Practical Guide to Environmental Crime Scene Investigations

Releasing contaminants into the environmentwhether deliberate or unintentionalcan be thought of as a crime against the environment. The role of environmental forensics is to identify and prevent environmental pollution, or crimes. Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide examines this growing field, and provides environmental professionals looking to specialize in environmental forensics with the materials they need to effectively investigate and solve crimes against the environment.

Pointing the Finger at Environmental Crime

Environmental forensics uses "fingerprinting" techniques in order to assess and analyze contamination sites. Fingerprinting can reveal the source of contamination, as well as how, where, and when the contamination was released. This handy guidebook outlines the proven techniques, applications, and resources needed to efficiently investigate environmental crimes and become successful in this emerging field.

Learn the Basics from a Single Source

Divided into three main parts, the first part of the book examines the role of evidence in forensic investigations and court proceedings. It highlights general forensic concepts and offers guidelines for obtaining defensible evidence. The second part details environmental forensic investigative techniques. It includes a step-by-step guide that enables the reader to apply the techniques in practice. The final section covers strategy building. It presents real case studies, as well as key principles and concepts for strategy building, and addresses the most common challenges faced in environmental forensics.

Environmental Forensics Fundamentals: A Practical Guide provides information on cutting-edge scientific techniques that investigate the source and age of environmental pollution and solve environmental crimes. It examines the principles behind each main forensic technique. It also offers guidance on what to look for in order to successfully apply the techniques and interpret results. In addition, the author provides relevant sources where more information can be found.

Contenu

Section I Evidence. Environmental Forensic Evidence. Obtaining Defensible Evidence. Nontesting Techniques: The First Forensic Tools. Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting the Contaminants and/or Associated Compounds. Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting the Contaminants within the Environmental Matrix. Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting Traces Left by Contaminants in the Environment. Section III Challenges and Solutions. Finding the "Needle in the Haystack". When Site Mitigation Leaves Pollution Behind. Neighboring Industrial Sites with Complex Releases of Similar Contaminants. Environmental "Poisoning" Story. Residential Pool Disputes. When All Is Uncertain or Unknown. Forensic Investigation Leading to Scientific Discoveries. When Nothing Else Works. Investigation. Conclusions. Epilogue: What Does the Future Hold? References. SI and US Units of Measure Conversion Chart. Index.