Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Ioana Gloria Petrisor
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Inc
Imprint:   CRC Press Inc
ISBN:  

9781466571594

ISBN 10:   1466571594
Pages:   445
Publication Date:   23 June 2014
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Electronic book text
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Section I Evidence Environmental Forensic Evidence Traces Provide Evidence Environmental Forensic Evidence Ideal Evidence in Environmental Forensics Obtaining Defensible Evidence Principles and Hints for Obtaining Defensible Evidence Basic Recommendations for Further Reading Section II Techniques Nontesting Techniques: The First Forensic Tools Historical Document Review Photographic Review Market Forensics Notes Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting the Contaminants and/or Associated Compounds Chemical Fingerprinting Techniques Isotopic Fingerprinting Notes Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting the Contaminants within the Environmental Matrix Basic Principles Geochemical Fingerprinting Mineralogical Fingerprinting Statistical Evaluation, Contaminant Modeling, and Data Visualization Notes Fingerprinting Techniques Targeting Traces Left by Contaminants in the Environment Basic Principles Atmospheric Tracers DNA Fingerprinting Tree-Ring Fingerprinting (Dendroecology) Notes Section III Challenges and Solutions Finding the Needle in the Haystack Strategic Guide Case Study 7.1: Forensic Evaluation of Metal Background Concentrations at a Historical Foundry Site in France Case Study 7.2: Forensic Evaluation of Metal Sources in Soils from Agricultural Parcels in the Vicinity of a Historical Foundry Site in France When Site Mitigation Leaves Pollution Behind Strategic Guide Case Study 8.1: Source Identification of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Discovered after Soil Remediation at a Redeveloped Site in France Neighboring Industrial Sites with Complex Releases of Similar Contaminants Strategic Guide Case Study 9.1: Forensic Investigation at Two Neighboring Industrial Sites with Similar Past Operations in Southern California Environmental Poisoning Story Strategic Guide Case Study 10.1: Was a Resident Poisoning the Property of a Neighbor? Residential Pool Disputes Strategic Guide Case Study 11.1: Tracking a Culprit Pool for Water Infiltration at a Residence Surrounded by Pools When All Is Uncertain or Unknown Strategic Guide Case Study 12.1: How Tree-Ring Fingerprinting Unravels the Unknown Forensic Investigation Leading to Scientific Discoveries Strategic Guide: When Forensics Investigations Open New Opportunities Case Study 13.1: Discovery of a New Form of Naturally Occurring Perchlorate in Southern California When Nothing Else Works Strategic Guide Case Study 14.1: Age-Dating of Petroleum Releases at a Historical Gas Station in the Northeastern United States Conclusions Epilogue: What Does the Future Hold? References SI and US Units of Measure Conversion Chart Index

Reviews

...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

Author Information

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.

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