Environmental Microbiology

Environmental Microbiology In the past decade, the field of environmental microbiology has made significant progress in the struggle against environmental contamination. During this period, molecular genetics has become a valuable source of new techniques for the detection of microorganisms, the degradation of hazardous chemicals, and as a means of safely controlling agricultural pests. Environmental Microbiology offers an in-depth examination of the role of microbiological processes related to environmental deterioration. Emphasizing new approaches, this book investigates the complex microbial processes involved in both the contamination of water, soil, the atmosphere, and the stratosphere, and pollution control. This comprehensive text addresses such topics as: Effects of acid deposition on microbial processes in waters Microbial transport of toxic metals Transport of pathogens through soils and aquifers Microbial processes in coastal pollution Bioremediation of organic contaminants in the subsurface Microbial control of plant disease Composting in the context of municipal solid waste management. Environmental Microbiology will be of interest to microbiologists, chemists, and environmental and chemical engineers.

Ralph Mitchell, PhD, is Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Biology in the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, and also Professor in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology there. He is the author of over 200 publications in scientific journals, as well as many book chapters.