Environmental-Health Books

Winner of the George Perkins Marsh Prize from the American Society for Environmental History; Awarded the Best Book in North American Urban History for 2000 by the Urban History Association;
Winner of the Abel Wolman Award from the Public Works Historical Society; Winner of the Edelstein Prize from the Society for the History of Technology

Description

An invisible infrastructure defines a significant portion of the American urban experience, affecting everything from the quality of the water we drink to the frequency of our trash collection to the pressure of the flush in our toilets. In The Sanitary City: Urban Infrastructure in America from Colonial Times to the Present, Martin V. Melosi studies water supply, wastewater, and solid-waste-disposal systems in U.S. cities from the colonial era to the present day. Along the way, Melosi discusses not only changing technologies and the expanding population but also growing public health awareness and ecological theories. He shows how the social beliefs and scientific understandings that emerged over time influenced how Americans have viewed waste and sanitation in urban life and how they came to accept workable solutions to the problems of sanitation, water delivery, and waste removal.

Ambitious and comprehensive, The Sanitary City incorporates an exhaustive supply of sources, from popular accounts and journalism to scholarly histories in the fields of technology and urban growth to congressional reports and legislative studies. It will appeal to scholars, students, and professionals in environmental history, urban studies, the history of science and technology, public health, and American government.
Reviews

"Martin Melosi's The Sanitary City is a substantial work of scholarship that provides a highly useful history of the development and consequences of urban water, sewer, and solid waste infrastructure in the United States. Extensively referenced, heavily illustrated, and well written, it should be a standard on the subject for many years."--Darwin H. Stapleton, Technology and Culture

"Melosi offers a fascinating historical tour of the odiferous underground architecture of American cities from the eighteenth century to the present."--Mark Tebeau, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

"Melosi's book is a great accomplishment, a rich source of factual and interpretive material, and a tribute to a life of productive scholarship."--James B. McSwain, EH.Net

"Well-written and thoroughly documented, The Sanitary City tells a national story . . . an important read for anyone concerned with understanding American cities and how they got the way they are."--Steven J. Hoffman, Journal of Social History

"The Sanitary City is a must-have for historians doing research on any aspect of the history of the development of water, sewerage, waste management, pollution control and other aspects of public health and sanitation in the American city. Melosi's prodigious research and extensive bibliography, his lucid descriptions and many illustrations of colonial era and more modern sanitation technologies, and his discussion of the truly myriad accomplishments of the public health and sanitation professions make this book an essential research tool."--Christine Meisner Rosen, Urban History

"Nicely illustrated and well documented, The Sanitary City, just like the systems it describes, will be central to our understanding of the urban experience."--Stephen H. Cutcliffe, Science, Technology & Society

"Over the next several years, environmental and civil engineers with an interest in the history of their professions as well as policymakers seeking context will join environmental and urban historians in praising The Sanitary City, a tour de force."--Patricia Evridge Hill, History

"A comprehensive introduction to a very important topic."--Richard Kastl, Vernacular Architecture Newsletter

"Professor Melosi integrates the history of the urban infrastructure of sanitation and places this story of technology and engineering in larger contexts of environment and public health. The Sanitary City is a monumental study that sweeps across both time and space; it will become the standard text for many years to come."--Harold Platt, Loyola University of Chicago

"[The Sanitary City] is well written, in an engaging style that is both informative and leaves the reader with opportunities to critique historiographic debates and form his/her own conclusions . . . Given the comprehensive treatment Melosi provides, his monograph will likely be the standard reference for some years to come."--Russell S. Kirby, Historical Geography
Author Information
Martin V. Melosi is a professor of history at the University of Houston.

By describing the development of sanitary technology in the history of the American city, the author places the city within an environmental context. The city is no longer just an act of human imposition upon the landscape, but more of an organic structure that functions within its surrounding environment. A very worthwhile read, and an interesting look at American urban history.

Scientific studies maintain that eating more plant foods and less animal products can lead to years of better health: a diet which also results in less pollution and impact on the environment, too. For those who would still argue the facts, SIX ARGUMENTS draws more direct links between dietary choices and environmental and health issues, with chapters providing step-by-step proofs on how meat-loaded diets lead to ill health and environmental degradation. While the theme isn't new, it's the reasoned and exact, science-based point-by-point six arguments which are clearer than more general surveys of the issues involved.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has built upon the work of the Rocky Mountain Insitute, Frontline and Earth Policy Institute by providing a rational look at the environmental and health concerns involving foods we eat. This same group publishes "Nutrition Action Newsletter" and industry groups sometimes refer to as the "food police."

CSPI provides clear, concise and objective ways to grow and eat food sustainably, covered in six major areas:

1. Less Chronic Disease and Better Overall Health
2. Less Foodborne Illness
3. Better Soil
4. More and Cleaner Water
5. Cleaner Air
6. Less Animal Suffering

Recommendations include Changing Your Own Diet and Changing Government Policies. We are a nation of obsesity and heart disease by design, not accident. CSPI takes a big picture "Least Cost, End Use" (long term) sustainable and prevention approach. It is not an individual meal or snack, but the cumulative effect in our communities, regions, states, nations and world wide that are all interrelated. Long-term government policies are reflected in the epidemic of obesity in our youth. Visit almost any K-12 school and you will see the high trans-saturated fat, high salt, empty calorie foods that are modeled and served to students.

With emphasis on "grain-fed beef" for marbling, flavor and tenderness as an end-point, we have ignored the health and environmental consequences. Based on various studies, it takes between 20 and 25 Joules (60 to 100 calories) of grain to produce one Joule (4 calories) of beef. This is an inefficient way to produce food. We should just eat the grain and avoid most of "throwing away" energy on animal production.

Changing Government Policies recommends constructive, long-term, sustainable changes: 1) Increase fruit and vegetable consumption, 2) Reduce the Fat Content of Meat, 3) Reduce the Fat Content of Milk, 4) Label Food More Accurately, 5) Prevent Foodborne Disease (i.e., the recent E. coli and spinach problems), 6) Prevent Antibiotic Resistance, 7) Stop Promoting Unhealthy Meat and Dairy Foods (i.e., "Got Milk" advertising) and 8) More Healthful Meals at Government-Run Facilities. For Improving the Environment there are specific recommendations for 1) Prevent Air Pollution from Factory Farms, 2) Prevent Water Pollution from Factory Farms, 3) Reduce Water Use, 4) Reduce Pesticide and Fertilizer Use, 5) Reduce Feed Grain Use, 6) Reduce Indirect and Direct Subsidies that promote waste and 7) Prevent Overgrazing on Public Lands.

These are not new arguments or solutions, but with 300 million people in the USA (6.6 Billion on Earth) these questions and constructive alternatives become more important. Factory farms that focus on profit and ignore "externalities" are sure to encounter economic and environmental problems down the line. CSPI's recommendations run counter to industrial agriculture feeding at the trough of subsidies. Organic foods are increasingly in demand and seen as profitable (i.e., Whole Foods and community farmers markets).

There is light and healthier eating at the end of the tunnel, but we will continue to have to wade through a lot of waste and inefficiency in the name of short-term profit for a while. This book consists of "uncommon" knowledge in one place. CSPI will continue to address healthy eating in "Nutrition Action Newsletter" and future publications.

cool book for a textbook- buy now!

Never before have so many experts weighed in about the most vital matter of all. If you want to know how we earthlings have fared with our environment, you'll find it all here in the well-researched philosophies and hard scientific facts of a multitude of experts. An extraordinarily optimistic and vital must-have on any scientist's book shelf. Far more of a bargain than it appears, this is like having a (literal) World Book 2000 all in one volume.

This is THE book of standards. Comprehensive testing of all major pollutants, giving precise instructions for proceedures, instructions and/or diagrams for apparatus setup; calibrations, preparation of stds. as well as current reference data.

A must for any laboratory that conducts water and wastewater analisys.

This is a book that everyone who works with water analysis have to buy.

The "Standard Methods" is very well understood even for those in the non-Chemistry area that deals with environmental chemistry/geochemistry of natural waters. Besides the analytical work, many important aspects related to sampling and data interpretation are there. The 2005 Edition makes these tasks much easier.

This book focuses on the methodology and analysis of state and local population projections. It describes the most commonly used data sources and application techniques within each of three classes of projection methods (cohort-component, trend extrapolation, and structural models) and covers the components of population growth, the formation of assumptions, the development of evaluation criteria, and the determinants of forecast accuracy. It considers the strengths and weaknesses of various projection methods, paying special attention to the unique problems of making projections for small areas, and closes with an examination of technological and methodological changes affecting the production of small-area population projections.
The authors provide practical guidance to demographers, planners, and other analysts called on to construct state and local population projections. They use many examples and illustrations and present suggestions for dealing with special populations, unique circumstances, and inadequate or unreliable data; they also describe techniques for controlling one set of projections to another and for interpolating between two projections. They discuss the role of judgment and the importance of the political context in which projections are made. They emphasize the "utility" of projections, or their usefulness for decision making in a world of competing demands and limited resources.
This comprehensive book will provide readers with an understanding not only of the mechanics of commonly used population projection methods, but also of the many complex issues affecting their construction, interpretation, evaluation, and use.

The new book by Smith, Tayman and Swanson is the first in many years to compile the major components of small-area population projections(data sources, methodology and evaluation) in one place.

The book is particularly good in describing the fundamentals of population analysis - which many other articles, chapters and books on projections neglect. Additionally, important advanced elements of population projections that are not commonly touched on, such as special adjustments, are addressed nicely here.

The book further instructs the reader how to use projections objectively. Too often, forecasts that are not 100% accurate are dismissed. In fact, as the book describes, imperfect forecasts still provide considerable utility in presenting alternatives, promoting agendas, sounding warnings and providing a base for other projections. To this end, the book provides a unique service in not only describing how to make small-area projections, but what to do with them.

In addition to the conventional techniques and concepts described, the authors present the latest developments in the field of projections, including structural models, GIS applications and innovative evaluative techniques.

I would strongly recommend this book as both a textbook - particularly for demography, planning, and economics students, as well as a resource for professional planners, administrators and scientists that rely on population projections.

Compared to other text books of this nature dealing with the same scientific discipline, Manahan captures the reader's attention by dealing with several environmental focal points from and organic, toxicological, and environmental chemistry standpoint.

Based on its uniqueness and seemingly open paths for comprehension, this textbook is a must for those desiring further knowledge in the area of toxicological chemistry with a detailed spectrum of organic and environmental chemistry with a keen mix of environmental toxicology.

In short one would soon surmise this textbook is nothing short of academically remarkable and a credit to the fields of environmental toxicology, organic chemistry, and environmental chemistry. It is a must read science text for those in the environmental and chemistry fields whether academic, industrial, or government.

Compared to other text books of this nature dealing with the same scientific discipline, Manahan captures the reader's attention by dealing with several environmental focal points from and organic, toxicological, and environmental chemistry standpoint.

Based on its uniqueness and seemingly open paths for comprehension, this textbook is a must for those desiring further knowledge in the area of toxicological chemistry with a detailed spectrum of organic and environmental chemistry with a keen mix of environmental toxicology.

In short one would soon surmise this textbook is nothing short of academically remarkable and a credit to the fields of environmental toxicology, organic chemistry, and environmental chemistry. It is a must read science text for those in the environmental and chemistry fields whether academic, industrial, or government.

"Toxics A to Z" gives a complete, and thoroughly readable introduction to all of the various potential environmental hazards we face today. Although scientifically based, it gives a very good layman's explanation of the kinds of hazards to watch out for, and what we can do to avoid or reduce our exposure. Without being alarmist, it points out not just what we should be worried about, but the actions we can take to aviod these hazards and to help eliminate them from our environment. The book also gives a literally "A to Z" coverage of many of the everyday toxics we might be exposed to, either at home or at the workplace, without ever realizing it. An extremely informative and empowering book!

If you are concerned about the fumes you breathe at the gas pump, the No Pest Strip at home, or the pesticides on your fruit, then this is the book for you. Thousand of chemicals are listed and the level of toxicity is given. These are chemicals you encounter everyday.

This is a well written and excellently researched book.
It uses various studies to show how tallness is not always advantageous for the individual and the planet.
As each Western generation gets progressively taller, Samarus argues more resorces will be used and longevity may well decline.
I have often thought that todays Western supersized babies and children not only look unattractive but are not necessarily healthy.

Only one thing that does not appeal to me, personally ,are the references to vivisection to back up theories. I personally find vivisection unscientific and unethical. I dig the rest of the book though.

Samaras' book is an invaluable and rare resource for anyone wanting to explore the truths and myths around human height. We are all familiar with the assumption that taller is better, and have all lived with the consequences and prejudices (internal and external) of this assumption but height is a subject that is rarely discussed studdied or addressed.

As an engineer turned height researcher, Samaras takes a methodical approach to exploring this subject, showing that there are inherent advantages as well as disadvantages to all heights. Some of the chapters read like technical specs (complete with diagrams) so I cannot say that the book is a FUN read, but it does give the reader a multitude of tools for evaluating and appreciating the strengths of her or his body type.

For myself as a short person who had been given the message that my body was inferior this book gave me the essential tools to turn that view around and take my body back.

This reviewer should really keep his big mouth shut, since he has a stake of sorts in this, the world's so far most extensive water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme, albeit most of the time since 1970 through 1990 at respectful distance in space and time. That notwithstanding, I would like to take the opportunity of this forum to highly recommend, nay, urge, anyone interested in the development, use and care for the world's increasingly overused freshwater resources, to procure and carefully peruse this book.

This warm recommendation goes not only for water and sanitation specialists, including health and hygiene educators, and medical minds -- it should be heeded by anyone, interested in making life more livable and enjoyable for fellow man, woman, and child. No matter, where you live or work, whether in India, where the action of this remarkable history is taking place, or anywhere else in the world.

Maggie Black's and Rupert Talbot's very recently (2005) published "Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" is a combination of development history, a major evaluation, and, by implication, guideline and handbook. It deals not only with the giant efforts, now sustained for almost forty years jointly by the Government of India in close partnership with a number of national and international organisations, non-governmental (NGOs), bi- and multilateral. Foremost among the latter is UNICEF, United Nations Childrens' Fund.

Apart from amply and convincingly explaining what connection there is between a distinctly humanitarian body, such as UNICEF, and, initially, mundane technical matters, such as pneumatic and hydraulic drill rigs, and latrines, sorry, I mean toilets, this well-written book shows on the one hand the complexity of any attempt to improve the quality of life of the poorest of communities. On the other hand, it shows the doability of seemingly impossible aims.

A third aspect is that of the many pros and cons, which cropped out successively in India, as they have done in other regions of the world. Among the pros, the will-you-won't-you integration of water and sanitation with an ever widened scope of community action, the all too slow, but increasing acceptation and empowerment of women to do work, theretofore a firm masculine prerogative.

Volumes could be written as for comments on this, at first sight modest-looking volume. I would leave it to the avid reader to explore the rich food for thought it contains. The final chapter, though, should be especially commended for its emphasis on what concerns should be addressed in the continuation, not only in India, but all over the world. Against the background of the continued global population increase and pressure on the natural and human resources, that chapter, "Water, Life, and Health: Where next?" deals, among the cons, with the ever diminishing quantity of freshwater available, and its deteriorating quality.

One needs not be a doomsday prophet to feel apprehensive about the future for people in India or elsewhere in the world, when the most basic of commodities for life on our planet begins to dwindle, and become poisoned. Neither are Maggie Black, one of the most savvy writers ever on human development, nor Rupert Talbot, one of the best practitioners for water and sanitation in development, any purveyors of doom and gloom. They do not provide any patent solutions, but they derive distinct recommendations for remedies to a difficult situation, not always well known outside the villages and shantytowns of the increasingly impatient humanity, which half of the world's population is confined to.

"Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" should be in the hands of everybody involved or at least interested in making life easier and more pleasurable. For that sake, one would hope for some benevolent donor or donors to fund translations into other languages, as well as to help lower the price or even get it distributed for free for the readership in the developing countries. This may be utopian, but the cost would probably not exceed that of a howitzer or a truckload of Kalashnikovs.

Finally, in the light of the ongoing public debate around the justification and need for reform of the United Nations [system], this little book shows, incomplete and inadequate in many respects that institution may be, what with relatively modest means can be achieved by single nations and their people with the support of the UN system. Not the least -- as for the more ferocious critics among politicians and media moguls -- that'll learn them!

In that context, there are a couple of other highly valid books I would recommend for good supplementary reading about the aims, achievements and future potential of the fragile UN. without shying awary from its problems: Maggie Black's two histories of UNICEF, "The Children and the Nations" (UNICEF, New York, 1986), and "Children First" (Oxford University Press, 1996), and Sir Brian Urquhart's biography of Dag Hammarskjold, along with the same author's own memoirs, "A Life in Peace and War". They could or should all be found, no doubt, through Amazon's good services.

This reviewer should really keep his big mouth shut, since he has a stake of sorts in this, the world's so far most extensive water supply, sanitation and hygiene programme, albeit most of the time since 1970 through 1990 at respectful distance in space and time. That notwithstanding, I would like to take the opportunity of this forum to highly recommend, nay, urge, anyone interested in the development, use and care for the world's increasingly overused freshwater resources, to procure and carefully peruse this book.

This warm recommendation goes not only for water and sanitation specialists, including health and hygiene educators, and medical minds -- it should be heeded by anyone, interested in making life more livable and enjoyable for fellow man, woman, and child. No matter, where you live or work, whether in India, where the action of this remarkable history is taking place, or anywhere else in the world.

Maggie Black's and Rupert Talbot's very recently (2005) published "Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" is a combination of development history, a major evaluation, and, by implication, guideline and handbook. It deals not only with the giant efforts, now sustained for almost forty years jointly by the Government of India in close partnership with a number of national and international organisations, non-governmental (NGOs), bi- and multilateral. Foremost among the latter is UNICEF, United Nations Childrens' Fund.

Apart from amply and convincingly explaining what connection there is between a distinctly humanitarian body, such as UNICEF, and, initially, mundane technical matters, such as pneumatic and hydraulic drill rigs, and latrines, sorry, I mean toilets, this well-written book shows on the one hand the complexity of any attempt to improve the quality of life of the poorest of communities. On the other hand, it shows the doability of seemingly impossible aims.

A third aspect is that of the many pros and cons, which cropped out successively in India, as they have done in other regions of the world. Among the pros, the will-you-won't-you integration of water and sanitation with an ever widened scope of community action, the all too slow, but increasing acceptation and empowerment of women to do work, theretofore a firm masculine prerogative.

Volumes could be written as for comments on this, at first sight modest-looking volume. I would leave it to the avid reader to explore the rich food for thought it contains. The final chapter, though, should be especially commended for its emphasis on what concerns should be addressed in the continuation, not only in India, but all over the world. Against the background of the continued global population increase and pressure on the natural and human resources, that chapter, "Water, Life, and Health: Where next?" deals, among the cons, with the ever diminishing quantity of freshwater available, and its deteriorating quality.

One needs not be a doomsday prophet to feel apprehensive about the future for people in India or elsewhere in the world, when fresh water, the most basic of commodities for life on our planet begins to dwindle, and become poisoned. Neither are Maggie Black, one of the most savvy writers ever on human development, nor Rupert Talbot, one of the best practitioners for water and sanitation in development, any purveyors of doom and gloom. They do not provide any patent solutions, but they derive distinct recommendations for remedies to a difficult situation, not always well known to the world outside the villages and shantytowns of the increasingly impatient humanity, which half of the world's population is confined to.

"Water -- A Matter of Life and Health" should be in the hands of everybody involved or at least interested in making life easier and more pleasurable. For that sake, one would hope for some benevolent donor or donors to fund translations into other languages, as well as to help lower the price or even get it distributed for free for the readership in the developing countries. This may be utopian, but the cost would probably not exceed that of a howitzer or a truckload of Kalashnikovs.

Finally, in the light of the ongoing public debate around the justification and need for reform of the United Nations [system], this little book shows, incomplete and inadequate in many respects that institution may be, what with relatively modest means can be achieved by single nations and their people with the support of the UN system. Not the least -- as for the more ferocious critics among politicians and media moguls -- that'll learn them!

In that context, there are a couple of other highly valid books I would recommend for good supplementary reading about the aims, achievements and future potential of the fragile UN. without shying awary from its problems: Maggie Black's two histories of UNICEF, "The Children and the Nations" (UNICEF, New York, 1986), and "Children First" (Oxford University Press, 1996), and (Sir) Brian Urquhart's biography of Dag Hammarskjold, along with the same author's own memoirs, "A Life in Peace and War". They could or should all be found, no doubt, through Amazon's good services.