Chlorine and the Environment: An Overview of the Chlorine Industry

In this review of Chlorine and the Environment: An Overview of the Chlorine Industry, the authors Ruth Stringer and Paul Johnston present a comprehensive examination of chlorine production and its environmental consequences, best suited for environmental professionals and students who need a solid, referenced overview. The single biggest reason to consider this book is its breadth: it combines historical context, case studies of major incidents, and discussion of international legislation to explain how chlorine and organochlorine releases affect ecosystems and human health in accessible, evidence-backed language.

Key Features

• Comprehensive history: The book traces the development of the chlorine industry so readers can understand the technological and regulatory changes that shaped current practice.
• Focused case studies: Detailed examinations of events such as the Seveso explosion and the Yusho and Yu-Cheng poisonings provide concrete examples of environmental and human impacts.
• Clear explanations: Complex issues like organochlorine releases and ozone depletion are broken down into straightforward descriptions that support learning and reference use.
• Legislation overview: International rules on use, release, and disposal are summarized to help readers see how policy responds to chemical risks.
• Compiled data: Numerous compilations of critical data support further research and help professionals locate source information quickly.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at environmental scientists, policy makers, civil and environmental engineers, and advanced students who need a single-volume treatment of chlorine's environmental footprint and the regulatory context. It serves well as a reference for those preparing environmental impact assessments or researching historical incidents involving organochlorines.

Readers seeking a chemical engineering textbook with detailed manufacturing procedures or a purely activist polemic should look elsewhere; the text focuses on environmental effects, case studies, and legislation rather than step-by-step production techniques or campaign rhetoric.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide-ranging coverage brings history, science, and policy into a single, coherent narrative.
• Case studies provide tangible context that clarifies the real-world consequences of releases and accidents.
• Data compilations and concise explanations make it a useful reference for professionals and researchers.

Cons

• Not a technical manual for industrial chlorine production, so readers needing engineering process detail may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Chlorine and the Environment: An Overview of the Chlorine Industry
Authors	Ruth Stringer, Paul Johnston
Subject focus	Chlorine industry, organochlorines, environmental impact, legislation
Includes	Historical account, case studies, data compilations
Intended audience	Environmental professionals, policy makers, advanced students

Our Verdict

Chlorine and the Environment is a well-structured, informative resource for anyone needing a single-volume overview of the chlorine industry's environmental impact and regulatory response. Its balanced presentation of history, case studies, and legislation makes it good value for researchers and practitioners who require context and referenced data rather than manufacturing-level technical detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover specific incidents?
Yes; it includes case studies of landmark events such as the Seveso explosion and the Yusho and Yu-Cheng mass poisonings to illustrate environmental and health effects.

Is the book suitable for engineers?
It is suitable for environmental and civil engineers focused on impact assessment and policy, but it does not serve as a step-by-step chemical engineering production manual.

Does it discuss international law?
Yes; the text reviews international legislation that controls the use, release, and disposal of chlorine-related substances.