Contrary to common belief, infectious diseases are not as well under
control as we would like. We are now at a crossroads regarding the
impact of the environment on infectious diseases. Renewed interest in
biological weapons and the emergence of new pathogens, coupled with a
better understanding of the impact of infectious agents on other
conventional diseases, has led us to realise that we can no longer
remain complacent about the impact of infectious agents on human, animal
and crop health.
The present book first discusses current and emerging military and
civilian policies on the environment. In addition, the impact of
environmental biology on the future of space exploration is discussed,
especially in reference to the Mars mission. There follows a discussion
of the state of bacteria in the environment, with a presentation of
current and emerging techniques of microbial investigation. Finally, two
case studies are presented on the impact of these techniques on both
political and environmental problems.