 |
Chem-020: Environmental Chemistry - Applied Projects
Instructor: Sarah Stoll
Spring 2007
Background Information | Background
Data | Finding Books & Journals | Finding
Articles | Internet Resources | Narrowing
or Broadening Your Topic | Citing Sources |
Choosing a Project
It will take some time to check into possible topics to do
background reading, and to find who you might interview and what
local resources exist. In order to gain the most out of this
project, the instructor of this course STRONGLY recommends
that you investigate several potential projects.
Scanning issues of journals in the field might suggest topics.
Suggested journals:
Getting Some Background Information
Background sources can provide useful descriptions, overviews,
and often list recommended reading on a topic.
Encyclopedia of Energy. In 6 volumes. Science Reference TJ163.28 .E53 2004
Comprehensive coverage of energy topics such as forms of energy, thermodynamics, electricity generation, climate change, energy sources and storage, etc. Many topics include information on history, economics, public policy, human and ecosystem health, ecology, and environmental science.
Encyclopedia of Environmental
Science. Science Reference GE 10 .E539 1999
Provides information on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere.
Presents both a basic overview and detailed information on environmental topics.
Consists of substantial essays on major topics, medium-sized entries, and short
definitional entries. Includes a bibliography at the end of each major article
and an index.
Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change. In 5 volumes. Science Reference GE149 .E443 2002
A comprehensive reference for students, administrators, managers, legislators and concerned citizens. Of special interest is Volume 1, The Earth System: physical and chemical dimensions of global environmental change.
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of
Chemical Technology.
In 25 volumes. Science Reference TP9 .E685 1991
Has substantial articles on wide variety
of subjects including chemical substances, industrial processes,
and pharmaceuticals.
These have extensive bibliographies.
Water Encyclopedia. In 5 volumes. Science Reference TD345 .W263 2005
Good background information on any water related topic. v. 1. Domestic, municipal, and industrial water supply and waste disposal -- v. 2. Water quality and resource development -- v. 3. Surface and agricultural water -- v. 4. Oceanography; meteorology; physics and chemistry; water law; and water history, art, and culture -- v. 5. Ground water.
Wiley Encyclopedia of Energy and
the Environment. In 2 volumes. Science Reference
TJ163.235 .W55 1997
This is an excellent starting place. The encyclopedia has detailed articles on
a variety of energy and other related environmental topics. Includes a bibliography
at the end of each article and an extensive index in the second volume.
Finding Background Data
Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards:
an Indexed Guide to Published Data. In 2 volumes. Science Reference. T 55.3
H3 B73 1995
V. 1. Reactive chemical hazards; Elements and compounds arranged
in formula order; V.2. Classes, groups and topics, tabulated
fire-related data; Glossary of abbreviations and technical terms;
Indexes.
Handbook of Environmental Data
on Organic Chemicals. Science Reference TD196.O73
H35 1996
Provides comprehensive, in-depth coverage of organic compounds, mixtures, and
preparations along with the control measures designed to reduce their destructive
impact on the ecosystem. Data is categorized into: properties,
air pollution factors (e.g. odor), water and soil pollution factors, biodegradation,
biological effects (e.g. bioaccumulation).
Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
From the National Library of Medicine, provides comprehensive toxicology data for about 5,000 potentially hazardous chemicals. HSDB is part of the National Library of Medicine's TOXNET
Merck Index. Science Reference RS51
.M4 2001
The classic one-volume encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals that
contains more than 10,000 concise descriptions of single substances or small
groups of closely related compounds.
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards (NPG)
NPG is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on several
hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals.
The NPG does not contain an analysis of all pertinent data, rather it presents
key information and data in abbreviated or tabular form for chemicals or substance
groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are found in the
work environment.
Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial
Materials. In 3 volumes. 11th ed. Science Reference
T 55.3 .H3 S3 2004
The list of potentially hazardous materials includes drugs, food additives, preservatives,
ores, pesticides, dyes, detergents,lubricants, soaps, plastics, extracts from
plant and animal sources, plants and animals that are toxic by contact or consumption,
and industrial intermediates and waste products from production processes. Contains
extensive data on approximately 26,000 substances. Also includes Dangerous Life or Health (DHL) levels for approximately 1000 chemicals. Combines
data on toxicological, fire, reactivity, explosive potential, and regulatory
information. Before using this source, consult the Guide to Using the book (at
the beginning of each volume).
Scorecare Chemical Profiles
Scorecard provides detailed information on more than 11,200 chemicals that are produced in large volumes in the U.S., chemicals that are covered by major federal or California regulatory programs, and chemicals with health effects, toxicity or exposure data available. Caveat: One of the missions of Green Media Toolshed, the organization that provides this site, is to "Strengthen ability of conservation groups to influence national, regional and local media" but their data sources for the chemical profiles are authoritative and clearly cited.
Finding Monographs (Books) and Journals
GEORGE, the online catalog, provides easy access to holdings,
locations, circulation status, bibliographic and loan information
for books and other materials. Search by Keyword, or using Subject
Headings (controlled vocabulary).
Sample Subject Headings for finding books:
- environmental chemistry
- pesticides
- pollutants
- toxicity testing
Sample Keywords:
- green chemistry
- water treatment
- chemical hazards
- environmental pollutants
To find journals use JournalFinder.
Finding Articles in Journals and Newspapers
Difference
between academic and popular journals - from the University
of Auckland Library.
The list of all the databases by broader categories and specific
topics that GU Library subscribes to is at: http://www.library.georgetown.edu/advisor/.
The topics list includes environmental
science and chemistry.
Note: Having trouble locating full text articles? Use JournalFinder to find out if Georgetown subscribes to the journal and if full text articles are available.
Good general sources for non-scientists:
- Academic
Search Premier - Provides full text for 3,467 publications
covering academic areas of study. Some of the titles included
in this aggregator (the dates in parenthesis refer to full-text
availability): Discover (1992- ), Scientific American (1995- ),
Time Magazine (1990- ).
- Proquest
Research Library - Indexes over 2,900 periodicals
in the social sciences, humanities, general sciences,
business and general interest. Many of the articles are
available in full text.
- You may also use any of the News databases
from the Research Advisor, like Lexis-Nexis Academic or New York Times available
full-text online current
issues (1999- ) or Historical
New York Times (1851-1999).
Internet Resources
Information available on the Internet is not regulated for quality
or accuracy; therefore, it is particularly important for the individual
Internet user to evaluate the resource or information.
Evaluating Internet Resources:
Ask yourself these questions before using resources from
the World Wide Web:
- Is the name of the author/creator on the page?
- Are his/her
credentials listed? (occupation, years of experience, position
or education)
- Is the author qualified to write on the given topic? Why?
- Is
there contact information, such as an e-mail address, somewhere
on the page?
- Is there a link to a homepage?
- If there is a link to a homepage,
is it for an individual or for an organization?
- If the author
is with an organization, does it appear to support or sponsor
the page?
- What does the domain name/URL reveal about the
source of the information, if anything?
- If the
owner is not identified, what can you tell about the origin
of the site from the address?
Visit http://www.library.georgetown.edu/internet/eval.htm for
more information.
Recommended Internet Resources
- EnvironmentalChemistry.com:
Environmental, Chemistry & Hazardous Materials News, Information & Resources -
This site provides chemistry, environmental and hazardous
materials news, information & resources including: in depth
articles; a detailed periodic table of elements; chemical
database; hazmat
emergency response guides; hazmat placarding information;
and much more.
- WWW Virtual Library Links for Chemists/Environmental Chemistry
An index of environmental chemistry resources on the web.
- Google Directory on the Environment
Hundreds of links to web sites about the environment, categorized by topic.
- US Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment.
Includes a wealth of environmental information, including compliance,
economics, environmental management, and industry.
- Statistical Abstract of the United
States, C 3.134 Government Documents Reference;
HA202 Lauinger Reference.
A well indexed, comprehensive collection of statistics in tabular format. Includes
basic statistics for a wide range of economic indicators, including health. The
index leads to specific table numbers. Each table lists the source of the statistics
for further reference.
- FirstGov.
The official homepage of the U.S. federal government. Includes links to all three
branches of the federal government, as well as links to state and local governments.
Links are organized by agency, topic and target audience. Good source for background
information on government policy.
Tip. When searching google, use the advanced search option to
limit your search to the .edu, .org, or .gov domains.
Narrowing or Broadening Your Topic
If you're finding too much information on your subject, you
may want to narrow it. Or, if you're finding too little on your
subject,
you may want to broaden it, or talk to a reference librarian
about subject headings and keywords you might use to describe
your topic.
Where Did You Find It? Cite Your Sources!
Keep track of all the sources you use to write your paper: books,
articles, and/or Web sites. These will be listed in the bibliography
at the end of your paper and will need to follow a format, such
as The Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations
(Science Reference LB2369 .T8 1996 or online
guide from Georgetown).
Additional guides and information on how to make a Web Site citation can be found
at http://www.library.georgetown.edu/Internet/cite.htm.
You may schedule a Library Research
Conference. Stop by the Reference Desk at Blommer, call 7-5651,
or email Gwen
Owens.
|
|
