Eighty-six scientific experts carried out an interdisciplinary evaluation, incorporating important results from all five continents; previous publication very oftenonly concentrated either on North American or on European literature. Planning and coordination were the responsibility of the editor-in-chief in association with the eight members of the Editorial Advisory Board. Unfortunately, our revered colleague Prof. Dr. Hans Wolfgang Nuernberg, whose contribution to the first IAEAC Workshop in Geneva in 1983 and the first edition was especially important, died unexpectedly on May 12, 1985. We remember him with respect and affection. In Part I of this book, "General Aspects", the fundamentals of the subject are systematically reviewed. In 20 chapters some of which consist of several subchapters, the following general problems are discussed: analytical chemistry, distribution and transformation in waters, the atmosphere and soils, emissions, bioavailability, biological effects, and evaluation of risk. Part II, "Selected Metals and Metalloids, and Their Ions and Compounds", presents detailed reviews of the 37 elements and their derivatives in alphabetical order. The length of the chapters and their contents vary according to the current assessment of their ecochemical and ecotoxicological relevance. The chapters of Part II are organized according to the following scheme: The physical and chemical properties of the metal or metalloid and its compounds, including analytical methods, occurrence, production, uses (environmental balance), and wastes; resorption, metabolism and excretion in microorganisms, plants, animals and humans; and finally, acute and chronic adverse biological effects on populations, groups at risk, individuals and organs of living species in the ecosphere. It is important to take account of the bioavailability,transport and transformation processes, individual resistance mechanisms and tolerance at cellular levels when assessing the possible consequences of exposure to metal compounds (including catalytic effects). However, the equally important field of environmental radioactivity was excluded. An attempt has been made to assess the ecological and toxicological risks on the basis of national and international requirements - for example, recommended exposure limits. In addition to environmental evidence, the discussion is also based on experience from allied fields, such as industrial medicine and clinical chemistry. In controversial cases, in which certain questions have not yet been resolved, diverging opinions have been equally considered as far as possible. In each chapter great emphasis has been placed on the cited literature. The publications and documents selected by a multidisciplinary group are intended to serve as a additional sources of information and as a guide to more intensive study of specific questions....
