Book Description
Did you know that an oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year? Berger and Mirocha focus on one of the worst spills in history—the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil tanker spill—to explain in simple terms and with bold, full color illustrations why oils spills happen, how experts clean up after them, and what effect spilled oil has on ocean plants and wildlife. "A good introduction to the subject."--BL.

1994 "Pick of the Lists" (ABA)
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1995 (NSTA/CBC) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book with lots of great info
We just read this book as a read aloud for science in our homeschool.We learning alot about oil spills and the damage they can cause.At the end of the book was the idea for kids to write to Senators about laws for oil tankers and such. My son and I plan to do this.This is a great lesson on how kids can be involved and can make a diffrence in the world today. ... Read more

Book Description
Oil Spill Environmental Forensics provides a complete view of the various forensic techniques used to identify the source of an oil spill into the environment.The forensic procedures described within represent various methods from scientists throughout the world. The authors explore which analytical and interpretative techniques are best suited for a particular oil spill project.

This handy reference also explores the use of these techniques in actual environmental oil spills. Famous incidents discussed include the Exxon Valdez incident in 1989 and the Guanabara Bay, Brazil 2000. The authors chronicle both the successes and failures of the techniques used for each of these events.

Dr. Zhendi Wang is a senior research scientist and Head of Oil Spill Research of Environment Canada, working in the oil and toxic chemical spill research field. He has authored over 270 academic publications and won a number of national and international scientific honors and awards. Dr. Wang is a member of American Chemical Society (ACS), the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC), and the International Society of Environmental Forensics (ISEF).

*International experts show readers the forensic techniques used in oil spill investigations
*Provides the theoretical basis and practical applications for investigative techniques
*Contains numerous case studies demonstrating proven techniques ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
Are you a student or a scientist who is specializing in oil spill investigation forensics? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Zhendi Wang, Scott Stout and other authors too numerous to mention, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows the forensic techniques used in oil spill investigations.

Wang, Stout and other authors, begin by describing the appropriate methods to characterize the oil spill site in terms of environmental and safety issues; the survey tools that have been developed to define and describe the spill site and the affected area; sampling considerations for spills where the source is known; and, for mystery spills, and data management techniques to capture, organize, and present the results of the investigation. In addition, the authors briefly focus their discussion on a description of biomarker chemistry. They also provide recommendations that are directed particularly toward the characterization of PASHs for forensic purposes of any petroleum-derived pollutant that is likely to be encountered mainly in the marine environment and that arrived there through accident or oversight. Then, they show you why that under most circumstances, stable isotope ratios are changed much less by environmental alteration than are molecular compositions. The authors then focus on the emerging European Committee for Standardization protocol. Next, they discuss the development and filed validation of a quantitative chemical fingerprinting mixing model approach that will improve the resolution and accuracy of statistical correlations when mixing. Then, they describe the development of tools that are used for oil hydrocarbon fingerprinting and spill source identification. The authors continue by focusing on the forensic chemistry of HFO. In addition, they address the fundamentals of hydrocarbon biodegradation, especially of the liquid fossil fuels, and attempts to bring together conclusions from two rather disparate areas of research. The authors also discuss thephysical processes altering hydrocarbon composition that are associated with each of the main routes of hydrocarbon exposure for biota, which determines the degree of source-specific information retained by accumulated hydrocarbons. Finally, they provide the forensic investigator with a brief overview of present oil spill modeling capabilities. The authors then review remote sensors for forensic application to oil spills.

This most excellent book has looked at methods and factors affecting chemical fingerprints of petroleum to non-chemical oil spill identification techniques. Perhaps more importantly, this book will provide students and scientists with ready access to a comprehensive overview of oil spill fingerprinting and source identification! ... Read more

Book Description
Dr. Riki Ott exposes the profound legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how readers can help reshape our global energy future.

The author chronicles the long-lasting environmental harm to Prince William Sound, Alaska, and investigates the health problems suffered by many cleanup workers. Exxon's spill provided a portal to understanding a startling truth: oil is much more toxic than we previously thought. Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ frames the larger story of discovery of the truly toxic nature of oil.

This book shows how one particular fraction of crude oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs, may well be the new DDT of the 21st century. In 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed 22 PAHs in crude oil as "persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) pollutants." Sharing this list of extreme human health hazards are the more commonly known pollutants--mercury, lead, dioxin, PCBs, and DDT. The latter are all highly regulated chemicals and some, such as DDT and PCBs, have been banned in the United States.

Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ traces 15 years of lingering harm to humans and wildlife from the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It reveals how corporate greed, government short-sightedness, and manipulation of the truth and the media have kept the public from learning the deadly nature of PAHs. The author provides relevant information and practical recommendations for people and policy-makers at this critical juncture in the history of civilization. This book will inspire people to reduce their own consumption of fossil fuels and, in so doing, help permanently shift society to a clean energy future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An Environmental Must Read!
Dr. Riki Ott has devoted her life to uncovering the truth about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. She has a Ph.D. in Marine Toxicology and has worked as a commercial fisherwoman off the shores of Alaska. She was one of the first people to witness the devastation caused by the oil spill. She knew this was the big one and she asked herself the question, "I know enough to make a difference, but do I care enough for the Sound to commit my life to this?" Clearly Dr. Ott does care enough as she has worked tirelessly to educate people about the truth about what really happened and about the toxicity of oil.

This is the story of people who care and people who don't. Most people have heard a bit about the spill, but most people have not heard about the health damage done to workers involved with the clean up. Many people stepped up to help the minute they heard about the spill, putting their lives on hold to do what they could to clean up the spill not realizing the devastating effects it would have on their own health. Many people suffer with symptoms of a mysterious illness due to the toxicity of the oil they were inhaling along with the powerful and toxic cleaning agents. Imagine being on an oil-covered beach surrounded by dead and decaying animals "engulfed in clouds of oil mist and saltwater steam." (89) It is hard to imagine enduring even one minute of this let alone weeks on end without proper safety equipment. Dr. Ott tells the stories of the people who unknowingly sacrificed themselves to a greater good and the people who lied and covered up the truth about the damaging health effects from oil exposure.

This is also the story of the non-human inhabitants affected by the oil spill. It is the story of the birds, mammals, fish, plankton and other life in Prince William Sound. How many were lost due to oiling? Are populations recovering? What are the long-lasting effects? Dr. Ott has put all the studies together to give a broad overview on the subject. There are 64 pages of references to this book! Dr. Ott has interviewed people and read all she could find to compile what is known at this point. This book provides a comprehensive look at pre-spill studies, early oil spill studies, ecosystem studies, and the status of the Sound.

This is not an easy book to read because it exposes such awful truths, not just about Exxon's oil spill, but about our own contribution, from fossil fuel use, to damaging our health and our environment. However, this book leaves readers feeling hopeful as Dr. Ott takes the third part of the book to discuss her recommendations to reduce risk of oil spills and oil pollution, inspiring people everywhere to take action by supporting responsible companies and doing what they can to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.

It is hard for me to find the words to adequately express what a tremendous contribution this book makes to the world. It should be in every library in the country and instructors should include it in the readings for courses in ethics, environmental sciences, business, and others. I highly recommend this book to everyone because this is a story that needs to be told lest we continue on our same path making the same mistakes.

C.J. Wong, M.S.(Biology), M.S. (Lib. Info. Sci.)
Editor, Organic Family Magazine

Great book for college courses
Dr. Ott's book will serve as an excellent supplement to course syllabi around the country. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a perfect educational tool for a variety of departments - public health, environmental studies, ecology, and sociology to name a few. Ott's ability to combine rigourous science with an accessbile writing style offers an engaging expose of oil's effects on humans and nature.Perhaps just as important, the book also presents students and teachers with an inspiring model of how one scientist's passion and determination can uncover truths of global importance.

Highly recommended for teachers and students.

A good read!
Dr. Ott , like the lone pedestrian facing a tank about to run him over, faces the giant Exxon.In Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$, Ott reveals the far reaching effects of the Valdez oil spill on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment.Worker safety and environmental laws based on antiquated science need to be revamped, the industry needs to be held fully accountable and finally we need to take a look at ourselves and the role we can play in reducing the toxicity of our environment.This journey with Dr. Ott, through the initial devastation and lingering after effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, tells the incredible magnitude of the disaster. Through her first hand account we are transported to Prince William Sound, and hear the silencing of the birds, see the slick lapping the shore and smell the inescapable fumes.We also learn that drilling is no longer necessary when looking for oil in Alaska, just scrap away some rocks and a little sand and there on the beaches you'll find it.

Urgent action required
Dr. Ott's book is not only an exceptionally good read but her message must reach our Senators and Representatives now and action must be taken.Dependence on oil is NOT the way of the future.It is highly toxic not only to the environment but to human health as well.We need to start now, to conserve our oil reserves and develop alternative energy sources or the chances are, that our retirement years will be the setting for a major economic shift toward the worst.

If President Bush would like to enter the history books as a man of incredible foresight, he'd better pick up this banner and start leading us in that direction now.

Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks
As a lifelong resident of the area affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I was ecstatic when this crusader, Dr. Ott, accurately portrayed the spill. Not only does Dr. Ott expose Exxon's myths and public deceptions, but she does justice to the thousands of residents affected by the spill.

This book personalizes the disaster by adding a human dimension without compromising fact. If you believe that Prince William Sound has recovered from the effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Dr. Ott's book will show you how Exxon has deceived us all.

Overall, a groundbreaking worthwhile read!! ... Read more

Book Description
Ten years later, the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound remains the largest tanker spill in the history of North America, and in its devastating effects upon wildlife and habitat, arguably the most damaging tanker spill in the history of the world. First released in 1991, John Keeble's account, Out of the Channel, combined on-the-scene witnessing of the oil spill's lethal results with analysis of its ramifications upon ecology, community, economy, law, the nature of public information, and upon the American mythos. The aftermath of the oil spill, and no less transforming, the spill of Exxon's money and power, reached into every sector of Alaskan life as well as into the conscience of the people of the lower forty-eight states. The event is now seen as one of a handful of signal ecological disasters of the twentieth century.

The new "Tenth Anniversary' edition of Out of the Channel adds to its evocative, original text a new and full assessment of the permutations and twists of big money, big litigation, and "petroleum speak" from the vantage point of several years' remove, as well as an account of the 1991, $1 billion civil settlement between Exxon, the U.S. Justice Department, and the State of Alaska-the largest such environmental settlement ever. In this now definitive book on the oil spill, all the primary concerns of the first edition are updated with new material, including the cause of the ship's grounding on Bligh Reef, the fate of Captain Joseph Hazelwood, the long lasting effects of the spill, the projected death toll among animals, the little-known 1993 fisherman's tanker blockade, late-developing evidence about the true quantity of oil spilled, the benefits and abuses of professional science, as well as the heartening results of citizen pressure to improve oil shipping procedures in Prince William Sound and to protect fragile habitat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Universal guilt
Newspaper stories about the oil spill created the impression that the cause of the accident was simply that the captain was drunk. This book shows that the real situation was far more complex. The captain was definitely not drunk. He did have a few drinks, which is against regulations. Even after all the analysis it is not clear what exactly went wrong. The fact that the captain had a few drinks was not the only breach of regulations. None of the officers had a six-hour off duty time in the twelve-hour period before departure. The ship was single hulled instead of double hulled as was foreseen when the oil terminal was built. When Congress granted permission to build the pipeline and the terminal one of the conditions was that there would be a state-of-the-art contingency plan for oil spills. There was nothing of the sort. A Vessel Traffic Services station was supposed to monitor the movement of the ships through the strait. Due to cost cutting measures the station was unable to monitor the movement of the ship. A major cause of inefficiency in the clean up was the lack of clarity about who was in charge, the Coast Guard or Exxon. It is not just the captain that acted irresponsibly, so did all parties concerned. This is described in one part of the book. The second part of the book describes the impact of the oil spill and especially of the clean up on the communities affected. Each of the communities split in the middle. Half of the members took the position of trying to squeeze as much money out of Exxon as possible whilst the other half did not want to have anything to do with Exxon. Exxon did not succeed in engaging the communities in a positive way. The third part describes the nature in Alaska. These descriptions are wonderful and make you want to go there. These three parts are interwoven. The advantage is that the reader gets a three dimensional understanding of what happened: the responsibility for the disaster and the clean up, the impact on different members of the community and the impact on nature. The author places the ultimate responsibility on the consumer. He writes, " the American population prefers to live in a fog and is willing to accept almost anything in return for the opportunity to keep its gas tanks topped up" (with cheap gas). The combination of corporations maximising short-term profits and consumers closing their eyes to the consequences of their behaviour makes one worried. There must be a better way.

A humane account of a whitewashed catastrophe
Out of the Channel should be required reading for anyone who thinks environmentally ... not just environmentalists, but students, political andeconomic theorists, and most of all, writers. I had the good fortune tolearn a great deal about writing from John Keeble, and reading his book isan education all by itself. As a rigorous study of the physical and humanimpact of the Exxon Valdez disaster, Out of the Channel is a comprehensiveanatomy, a text that does not shirk any of the heavy load its vast subjectdemands. Without taking the easy route of righteous anger, Keeble exploresevery nuance of the oil spill, and he follows that tenacious blot ofPrudhoe Bay crude as it seeps out of the tangible world and into the mindsand spirits of the permanent and temporary inhabitants of Prince WilliamSound. This tenth anniversary edition, with the expanded coverage allowedby the perspective of time, is a gift that should not be overlooked.

A brilliant account of the Valdez oilspill and its aftermath
John Keeble, whose writing focuses on the issues facing the American Northwest, paints a memorable picture of the Exxon Valdez oilspill and its aftermath. Asked by the Greenwich Village Voice to write an article on the spill, he travels to Alaska and observes first-hand the efforts made to restore the land and the wildlife.However, the more he observes the more he is haunted by two observations: 1) that the size of the oil companies, and the entangled relationship between the companies and the government, is enormously greater than we have suspected, and 2) that the vast amounts of money poured into the clean-up effort causes many to view that money as their goal.His investigations into the clean-up follow a theme he develops in his other works: that the intrusion of a company or government upon the land inevitably causes exploitation; and those who live in that land must invariably suffer the consequences.Torn between the desires to make money, to clear the oil, and to downplay the scope of the incident, the people involved with clean-up waste a good deal of their effort.The more damage Keeble assesses, the more in tune he becomes with the suffering of the people and animals truly hurt, and ultimately, the reader, too, feels the chill that shakes the author at each new discovery. ... Read more

Book Description
Constant media attention on oil spills has created global awareness of their risks and the damage they do. Often under-reported is the average cost of the cleanup - often as high as $200 per liter of oil spilled. Oil is a necessity in today's industrial society, and since our dependence on it is not likely to and any time soon, we will continue to have spills. This indispensable reference supplies the information required to proceed with cleanup efforts immediately. The revised and expanded edition of a bestseller, Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup, Second Edition provides the tools for remediating the on-and off-shore oil spills that can threaten sensitive coastal habitats. The Second Edition includes a new chapter highlighting the effects of oil on the environment and wildlife and a glossary of technical terms. After reading it, you will understand the different techniques required based on the type of oil spilled and the environmental circumstances involved in the spill. Whether large or small, no oil spill is insignificant. They create far-reaching environmental problems -always a public relations nightmare. Don't wait until you have an emergency to go hunting for a solution. Prepare yourself - and your organization - with Basics of Oil Spill Cleanup, Second Edition. ... Read more

Book Description
Massive oil spills are not a common occurrence. In fact, they rarely happen at all-but when they do, the effects can be devastating to the environment. Using real-life oil spills as examples, this book gives readers a clear picture of how these spills happen, the damage they cause, what it takes to clean up the mess, and the long-term environmental effects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book on oil spills
I think this book is great!I did a report on it, and it gave me *so* much information!It was not only that, it was interesting too!It had neat pictures and was exciting!This book was truly a great book.Be sure to check this out!

Great book on oil spills
I think this book is great!I did a report on it, and it gave me *so* much information!It was not only that, it was interesting too!It had neat pictures and was exciting!This book was truly a great book.Be sure to check this out! ... Read more

Book Description
The First Place Award Winner for The 1990 National Written & Illustrated By...Awards Contest for Students, this is a timeless, environmental story.

When the lives of some otters are threatened by a huge oil spill, a group of concerned people try to save as many of the animals as possible.

It's a sensitive and beautifully written story with wonderful illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

terrific kids book
we loved this book!!a sweet and simple story with a compelling social justice message.Was perfect for our elementary schooler.

A Timeless Classic
Oliver and the Oil Spill is indeed a timeless tale of environmental awareness and protection.It is definitely a book that I recommend purchasing for your children and young students.The astounding fact is that such a literary work can be produced by Ms. Chandrasekhar at the age of 9!I guarantee that readers young and old will find it a worthwhile read.

Great Children's Book
Really recommend this book for teaching kids about the environment, social responsibility, life and death issues, etc.

Moving and educational
What a touching and sensitive book!Teaches young children the importance of conserving our environment in a readable and emotionally-sensitive format.

moving, sensitive children's tale is also educational
This book is the sensitive, thoughtfully-told tale of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, narrated from the point of view of a baby otter who loses his mother in the tragedy.It is an excellent introduction to environmental issuesfor youngsters as well as a primer on grieving and loss for youth. Amust-read for every child ... Read more

Book Description
Westward expansion brought stunning achievements and staggering failures to those who ventured into the unknown territory. Explore how our vast country grew far beyond the great Mississippi. ... Read more

Book Description
The ever-growing demand for energy continues to increase the potential for the occurrence of major oil spills and consequent damage to the environment.Numerous preventive measures cannot eliminate the risk of spills and it is therefore important to understand how the resulting slicks behave in order to respond more effectively and decide on the nature of the measures that can mitigate their environmental impact.

Providing state-of-the-art contributions on the modelling of oil spills in maritime waters, this book describes the significant advances recently made in the development of mathematical methods to predict and forecast their dispersion.

The international standing of the contributors and the range of topics covered make this an essential book for those scientists and engineers involved in this field. ... Read more

Book Description
The Economics of a Disaster represents a major contribution to the understanding of the economics of liability and damages. It is based on the assumption that if people know they can be held responsible for some or all of the costs or damages sustained in an environmental accident, they will change their behavior to make the accident less likely to occur or to reduce the damages should it occur. The work develops a framework to examine and measure changes in market conditions after a disaster, showing the kinds of information that need to be collected and analyzed. Based on the Exxon Valdez case, this work provides an interesting framework for practitioners, specialists, and scholars in the fields of business, economics, law, and environmental studies. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Nonwovens Industry, published by Rodman Publications, Inc. on February 1, 1992. The length of the article is 2208 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Trends in the industrial sorbent market. (marketing of industrial sorbents for oil and water spills and leaks)
Author: Thomas Lutzow
Publication: Nonwovens Industry (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 1992
Publisher: Rodman Publications, Inc.
Volume: v23Issue: n2Page: p30(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Northern Ontario Business, published by Laurentian Business Publishing, Inc. on April 1, 1991. The length of the article is 1118 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Sault firm capitalizes on certainty of spills. (Spill Tech Industries Inc. makes sorbents for oil spills) (Company Profile)
Author: Guy Smith
Publication: Northern Ontario Business (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 1991
Publisher: Laurentian Business Publishing, Inc.
Volume: v11Issue: n7Page: p1(2)

Article Type: Company Profile

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more