This book is one of the outcomes of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop
"Approaches to handling environmental problems in the mining and
metallurgical regions of NIS countries" held in Mariupol, Ukraine on 5-7
September 2002. It include papers written by some of the leading
specialists in the field of mining and metallurgy, and by environment
specialists who are active in this sector. Readers will notice that some
common environmental problems seen in the mining and metallurgical
industries are described and that their influence on the health of the
population are discussed. Examples of best practice in the field are
given both from EU countries and from Central and Eastern European
nations, especially from the Newly Independent States (NIS). Some of the
latest technologies involved in the elimination of hazardous emissions,
in sewage treatment and the handling of wastes in the metallurgical and
mining industries are presented and we hope that they may open the way
for more West-East, East-West and East-East technology and know-how
exchange. In preparing this book, thanks are due to Marina Butorina,
Linda Döring and Olaf Gramkow for their competent advice in respect of
translations, lay-out and handling of the texts. We also grateful to
NATO´s Scientific Affairs Division for the support with the workshop,
whose benefits are already being felt in both Mariupol and elsewhere in
Eastern Europe.