The Environmental Challenge

A SIMPLIFIED DEFINITION OF POLLUTION IS THE INTRODUCTION INTO AN ENVIRONMENT OF SUBSTANCES OR ENERGY THAT MAY HAVE UNDESIRABLE OR TOXIC EFFECTS ON HUMANS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT. IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR INCREASE IN INTEREST IN BIODEGRADATION MECHANISMS ORIENTED TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. AN IMPORTANT IMPULSE AT THE INDUSTRIAL LEVEL IS THAT OF THE PAPER INDUSTRY, ANXIOUS TO GET RID IN AN ECONOMIC AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF THE LIGNIN ELIMINATED DURING THE BLEACHING OF THE PAPER PULPS. THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT, BASED ON CHLORINE, GENERATES SECONDARY COMPOUNDS THAT CONSTITUTE A MAJOR POLLUTION RISK. THE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ACCUMULATION OF DOMESTIC (DETERGENTS), INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION. STUDIES ARE CARRIED OUT ON THE POLLUTANTS IN THE WATER TABLES USED FOR DRINKING WATER PRODUCTION, THE BIODEGRADATION OF ORGANOCHLORINES, AND METALLIC WASTE (MERCURY, CADMIUM, COPPER, ETC.). THIS BOOK IS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIO-REMEDIATION OF SOILS, SUBSOIL AND GROUNDWATER.