Environmental issues continue to be raised in the public arena. Sometimes these are not presented accurately, but only in a way designed to arouse the public and stimulate reaction. Chemistry and chemicals often comprise the target for public concern and disquiet. The only sure way to lessen the ability of pressure groups to manipulate public opinion is by educating a greater proportion of the population in environmental science. Our aims with the first edition of this book were to ensure that the fundamental principles of chemistry could be presented in an honest and straight-forward way to a wide, non-specialist audience. Hence, the text was aimed originally at undergraduate science students who were not majors in chemistry. The success of the book and feedback from users indicate that it has found a wider market than anticipated, which has included chemists requiring an introduction to the environment.

We are pleased to be able to present the second edition. We have taken the opportunity to broaden the scope of the book to satisfy this extended audience. A new section introduces the concepts of biogeochemical cycling, considering both the speciation of elements in environmental reservoirs and the exchange of material between these pools. Also included is a brief description of the role of environmental chemistry with respect to climate, dealing notably with global warming and ozone depletion.