Lack of knowledge is a serious obstacle in improving humanity’s interaction with the natural environment. This book, by adding to our knowledge in a holistic and accessible manner, enables more effective assessments to be made of the environmental impacts of natural processes and the consequences of human activity for the state of the environment. Environmental impact assessment requires an interdisciplinary approach of the type presented in this book. Apart from being a useful book for reference purposes, it provides interesting background reading on environmental issues and brings to light some unused environmental facts that will help satisfy those who are curious. An example of an unusual fact is that involving the release of oestrogen from birth control tablets. In some cases, oestrogen enters wastewater systems, finds its way into larger water bodies and causes sex reversal in some species of fish