The technology for preventing and mitigating contamination of electronic products is reviewed in four major ways: the types and sources of contaminants; typical contamination effects; contamination removal methods; and contamination prevention through design, process, product protection, and testing

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) cosponsored a workshop on Space Environmental Effects on Materials at the NASA Langley Research Center from June 28 to July 1, 1988. The joint workshop was designed to inform participants of the present state of knowledge regarding space environmental effects on materials and to identify knowledge gaps that prevent informed decisions on the best use of advanced materials in space for long-duration NASA and SDIO missions. Establishing priorities for future ground-based and space-based materials research was a major goal of the workshop. The end product of the workshop was an assessment of the current state-of-the-art in space environmental effects on materials in order to develop a national plan for spaceflight experiments. The workshop was intended for participation by expert applied researchers, systems technologists, and program managers for spacecraft systems.

International concern in scientific, industrial, and governmental communities over traces of xenobiotics in foods and in both abiotic and biotic environments has justified the present triumvirate of specialized publications in this field: comprehensive reviews, rapidly published research papers and progress reports, and archival documentations. These three international publications are inte grated and scheduled to provide the coherency essential for nonduplicative and current progress in a field as dynamic and complex as environmental contamina tion and toxicology. This series is reserved exclusively for the diversified litera ture on "toxic" chemicals in our food, our feeds, our hornes, recreational and working surroundings, our domestic animals, our wildlife and ourselves. Tre mendous efforts worldwide have been mobilized to evaluate the nature, pres ence, magnitude, fate, and toxicology of the chemicals loosed upon the earth. Among the sequelae of this broad new emphasis is an undeniable need for an articulated set of authoritative publications, where one can find the latest impor tant world literature produced by these emerging areas of science together with documentation of pertinent ancillary legislation. Research directors and legislative or administrative advisers do not have the time to scan the escalating number of technical publications that may contain articles important to current responsibility. Rather, these individuals need the background provided by detailed reviews and the assurance that the latest infor mation is made available to them, all with minimal literature searching.

In many cases, the application of in situ technologies evolved as a necessity from a cost perspective. However, the basic understanding of the mechanisms and theory behind these technologies was treated as a "black box." Although we have seen some tremendous successes in the application of remediation technologies over the past several years, we have also seen many cases in which a technology has been incorrectly or inappropriately applied. In most cases, this misapplication has been the result of a poor understanding of the basic concepts and mechanisms behind the technologies. Without proper understanding, the potential for misapplication of technologies remains a serious economic and technical threat.

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology attempts to provide concise, critical reviews of timely advances, philosophy and significant areas of accomplished or needed endeavor in the total field of xenobiotics, in any segment of the environment, as well as toxicological implications.

The first evidence on the adverse effects of organic pollutants on Arctic ecosystems was provided by international research initiatives more than 30 years ago. Today, the indigenous people of the North are considered to be affected by exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals through their traditional marine food sources. The occurrence of pollutants of emerging concern in remote Polar environments is considered an essential criterion for prioritising this (largely neglected) type of contamination in national, international and global regulation schemes. Initiated during the first international Polar Years (IPY 2007-2009) and continued afterwards, 11 representative initiatives and projects are summarised as chapters in this book, which highlights today’s interdisciplinary research on POPs in the Polar environment. The individual chapters describe in detail the consequences, priorities and perspectives of international research on POPs (legacy and emerging xenobiotics), its implications for regulations and scientific priorities including societal and cultural developments in the Arctic, as well as conservation priorities in Antarctica. This book is intended for all readers interested in learning more about modern research on environmental pollutants in the Polar environments (with a strong focus on Arctic environments). The impacts of pollution and climate change on Polar regions and the world as a whole will continue to be felt for many years to come. Sound science is, thus, vital in order to underpin actions that need to be taken at the global, regional and local levels. This book contributes to this highly relevant, interdisciplinary environmental scientific endeavour.