Toxic Waste

Taken alone, many of the quotes and facts about toxic waste found in this latest installment of the Compact Research: Energy and the Environment series could be downright frightening for young researchers. However, Kallen’s carefully organized monograph offers insight not just into the overwhelming problem of toxic waste, but also solutions and considerations for the future. A detailed chronology of topics, such as the potential harm of waste from electronics and the global impact of pollution, is included in the appendix. Replete with full-color images of toxic sludge and easily understandable graphs and charts, the book is a concise information source. Citations are clearly referenced and up to date. Primary source quotes are included for each chapter, offering a variety of perspectives, from scientists, business people, and politicians, on the gravity of the noxious waste problem. The book serves as a great starting point for student investigation, providing a long list of websites for further exploration.— Erin Anderson

The first book discusses the seriousness of toxic and electronic waste, the effectiveness of cleanup efforts, and future challenges. The second title examines the global demand for coal power, environmental impacts of burning and mining it, and the future of the industry. In a concise, objective manner, the books investigate historical, economic, political, and environmental issues. Primary-source quotations; short narrative texts, followed by relevant quotations; a section with a bulleted list of one-sentence facts; pertinent illustrations; and annotated lists of key people, organizations, and advocacy groups are included. Opposing quotes are paired off in brackets. These books are well researched and carefully organized, and the discussion and quality content make them useful for research.

Gr 9 Up–The first book discusses the seriousness of toxic and electronic waste, the effectiveness of cleanup efforts, and future challenges. The second title examines the global demand for coal power, environmental impacts of burning and mining it, and the future of the industry. In a concise, objective manner, the books investigate historical, economic, political, and environmental issues. Primary-source quotations; short narrative texts, followed by relevant quotations; a section with a bulleted list of one-sentence facts; pertinent illustrations; and annotated lists of key people, organizations, and advocacy groups are included. Opposing quotes are paired off in brackets. These books are well researched and carefully organized, and the discussion and quality content make them useful for research.–June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA