Resumen de Book Review of Environmental Chemistry in Society, 1st Edition
Environmental Chemistry in Society by James M. Beard CRC Press/Taylor & Francis: Boca Raton, FL, 2009. 345 pp.
ISBN 978-1420080254. $69.95 reviewed by Shannon Andrews I was excited to review Environmental Chemistry in Society by James M. Beard after reading the publisher's description of this new textbook. The book is touted as being accessible to readers without a mathematics and science background. I was also impressed by the diversity of environmental chemistry topics included in the text, such as toxicology, energy, indoor air pollution, and hazardous wastes. A college professor with an interest in environmental chemical education, Beard wanted to write a book that focuses on the “laws and principals that regulate the function of the environment” rather than approach the subject from a “human-centered” perspective (p 1). Before reading the book, I was hopeful that it could be used as part of an undergraduate science course for nonmajors. Such a course is an integral part of a well-rounded education; students learn how to make informed, scientifically sound decisions about environmental issues and controversies. Unfortunately, several problems with the textbook (in particular, a lack of focus on the “society” aspect of each topic) detract from its overall utility.
How does one go about teaching environmental chemistry to students who lack a basic chemistry background? Beard addresses this deficiency by dedicating the longest chapter in the textbook to “Some Basics of Chemistry”. The result is an overzealous and unrealistic attempt to teach the reader a semester's worth of introductory chemistry within the course of one chapter.
While this chapter covers some important foundational material, I suspect that it will intimidate and possibly deter its intended audience. Additionally, in early chapters of the book, the author avoids the use of scientific notation in order to make the material accessible to students who lack a strong mathematical background.
However, as the book progresses, the author veers fromhis original approach, with the inclusion of several different mathematically oriented discussions. For instance, in the introductory paragraph to the section on radioactive substances, scientific notation is used to compare the Curie, picocurie, and Becquerel.Not only does this material have the potential to intimidate students who are not mathematically inclined, but such an in-depth explanation of how radiation is measured is not really necessary for the subsequent discussion on radon gas in the home.
Another problem that I noticed with this textbook is its “unfinished” quality. The book relies heavily on written text.
Although a few visual representations are included, these figures are primarily low-quality, black-and-white reproductions from other sources. Within the reading, important vocabulary words are italicized, but they are not defined elsewhere; the lack of a glossary adds to the textbook's lack of finish. Finally, the discussion questions at the end of each chapter are disappointing.
The majority of questions are low-level memorization and interpretation problems. As a result, the discussion questions appear to be an afterthought rather than a carefully considered, valued part of the text.
Also missing from the text are in-depth, well-rounded discussions of how society is responding to various environmental dilemmas. Beard does a fine job explaining the historical causes behind each environmental issue, but he does not provide enough information about current debates over proposed solutions.
For example, in the chapter on global warming, it is briefly mentioned that the United States did not sign the Kyoto Protocol. Even though Beard wants to avoid human-centric explanations and discussions, I strongly felt that a book entitled Environmental Chemistry in Society should have provided further insight into some of the science surrounding the Kyoto Protocol.
At times, the focus on scientific laws and principles seems to “downplay” the fact that human activity is directly responsible for many environmental problems.
Despite these drawbacks, I was impressed with the author's writing style. Beard successfully combines an authoritative tone of voice with an informal writing style, thereby bridging the gap between the scientific arena and the general public. The clever use of analogies also helps put complex chemistry concepts into layman's terms. For example, after explaining that greenhouse gases act as insulators, Beard compares an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases to “putting more blankets on one's beds” (p 226). The author also makes some very insightful remarks with the intent of encouraging deeper thought. One such remark can be found in the section on nuclear safety, where Beard states, “The amount of risk we are willing to take varies with the perceived consequences” (p 136). Another insightful comment is found in the introduction to the chapter on air pollution, where air quality is presented as a problem of utmost importance. Beard explains that when food or water is unsuitable for consumption, humans have the option of searching for more desirable alternatives.
However, given that humans cannot survive without breathing, they are often forced to consume polluted air.
While I would not recommend this first edition of Environmental Chemistry in Society, the book has potential, and I would not discount future editions. While the textbook does not include a multimedia or Web component, the extensive bibliographies at the end of each chapter could be used to develop an excellent Web site. The addition of a glossary and the use of textbox insets to provide required background information would make this book more student-friendly. Finally, with an increased emphasis on the “society” aspect of environmental chemistry and the addition of chapter questions that promote further analysis, this text could help teach students how to make erudite decisions about environmental issues.
Shannon Andrews, Oak Park, Illinois 60304, teaches high school chemistry in the Chicago Public Schools; scandrews1@ cps.edu.
DOI: 10.1021/ed800072a Published on Web 04/13/2010
