Sanchez (2008) - Causes and Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution

Title : Causes and Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution
Editor : Mikel L. Sánchez 
Publisher : Nova Publishers
Pages : 407 pages
Language : English
ISBN : 978-1-60876-255-2

Description :
A heavy metal is a member of an ill-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties, which would mainly include the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed-some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight, and some on chemical properties or toxicity. The term heavy metal has been called "meaningless and misleading" in a IUPAC technical report due to the contradictory definitions and its lack of a "coherent scientific basis". As discussed below, depending on context, heavy metal can include elements lighter than carbon and can exclude some of the heaviest metals. One source defines "heavy metal" as "... common transition metals, such as copper, lead, and zinc. These metals are a cause of environmental pollution (heavy-metal pollution) from a number of sources, including lead in petrol, industrial effluents, and leaching of metal ions from the soil into lakes and rivers by acid rain."

Atlas (2005) - Handbook of Media of Environmental Microbiology - 2nd Edition

Title : Handbook of Media of Environmental Microbiology - 2nd Edition
Author : Ronald M. Atlas
Publisher : CRC Press; 2 edition (March 29, 2005)
Pages : 673 pages
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 0849335604
ISBN-13 : 978-0849335600

Description
The second edition of a bestseller, this book provides a comprehensive reference for the cultivation of bacteria, Archaea, and fungi from diverse environments, including extreme habitats. Expanded to include 2,000 media formulations, this book compiles the descriptions of media of relevance for the cultivation of microorganisms from soil, water, and air. The format allows easy reference to the information needed to prepare media for the cultivation of microorganisms required for environmental analysis, including the determination of water safety. The media are organized alphabetically, and each listing includes medium composition, instructions for preparation, commercial sources, and uses.

Ronald and Don Crawford (1996) - Bioremediation - Principles and Applications

Title : Bioremediation - Principles and Applications
Editors : Ronald L. Crawford and Don L. Crawford 
Series : Biotechnology Research Series ; 6
Series Editor: James Lynch
Publisher : Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1996
Pages : 406 pages
Language : English
ISBN 10 : 0521470412
ISBN 13 : 9780521470414

Description
Industrial and agricultural activity throughout this century has led to considerable contamination of soil and groundwater resources by hazardous chemicals. The technique of bioremediation uses living organisms--usually bacteria and fungi--to remove pollutants from soil and water with minimal disturbance to these environments. This approach, which is potentially more cost-effective than traditional techniques such as incineration of soils and carbon filtration of water, requires an understanding of how organisms transform chemicals, how they survive in polluted environments, and how they can be used in the field. This book examines these issues for many of the most serious and common environmental contaminants, presenting the most recent position on the application of bioremediation to polluted soil and water.

McCall et al. (2001) – Introduction to Microbiology

Title : Introduction to Microbiology
Author : Darralyn Mc Call, David Stock, and Phillip Achey
Publisher : Blackwell Science (2001)
Pages : 307 pages
Language : English
ISBN 0-632-04418-7

Content :

Unit I : Structure, Physiology, and Control of Microorganisms
1. Introduction to Microbiology
2. Chemistry Background for Microbiology
3. Microbial Structure
4. Microbial Growth
5. Energy Metabolism : Respiration, Fermentation, and Photosynthesis
6. Catabolic and Anabolic Pathways of Microorganisms
7. Microbial Taxonomy
8. Control of Microorganisms
9. Viruses