Hazardous chemicals and radioactive substances have permeated the human environment and the ecosystem. This book highlights the scientific research being done to identify these harmful chemicals, especially carcinogens, teratogens, immunotoxins and endocrine disruptors used in production processes and their release into the human environment.

Bioremediation is a soft bioengineering technique to clean up contaminated lands and soils using microbes, plants and earthworms. It is also a technique to stabilise the eroded lands and prevent soil erosion. This book addresses these issues regarding the benefits of microbes, plants and earthworms in bioremediation.

A revolution is unfolding in vermiculture studies (rearing of useful earthworms species) for multiple uses in environmental protection and sustainable development. The global scientific community is searching for a technology which should be 'economically cheaper' (to be afforded by all nations), 'environmentally sustainable' (friendly to the environment) and 'socially acceptable' (beneficial to the society). Vermiculture Biotechnology with the use of earthworms combines all these virtues together. Vermiculture (rearing of earthworms) is a 'big business' today and they are also helping in...

Earthworm's vermicompost is a nutritive organic fertiliser rich in NKP, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes. This book discusses and presents data which suggest that the vermicompost of earthworms contributes to an increase in the yield of crops when used as a fertiliser.

Studies indicate that vermi-composting of food and garden wastes by waste-eater earthworms is more efficient over the conventional aerobic systems. This book explores the possibilities of management in this area.