Meaningful Chemical Measurements in the Marine Environment - Transition Metals

Authors

James H. Carpenter
Robert J. Huggett, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Files

Document Type

Book Chapter

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Editors

Harris. H. White

Publication Date

1984

Book Title

Concepts in Marine Pollution Measurements

Publisher

Maryland Sea Grant Publication

City

College Park, MD

Abstract

The following comments present a critical, but not negative, point of view that seeks identification of improved approaches to "marine pollution effects" studies. The current literature has many examples of the disquiet that the authors experience in reviewing or participating in recent studies. As pointed out by Dayton (1982), in reviewing the proceedings of a symposium: The Shore Environment, "Environmental protection programs are increasingly criticized by ecologists, regulatory and management agencies, and private business as being of questionable quality and value. Because regulatory agencies and many ecologists are uncomfortable with the highly probabilistic nature of ecology, there is a tendency, often a legal necessity, for impact studies to be very detailed and specific and to collect reams of data that have no underlying logic and defy generalization or test. This prevents the growth of coastal ecology as a science." It seems interesting and paradoxicaI that the collection of a large amount of data prevents the growth of a particular science, but it seems to be true.

Recommended Citation

Carpenter, James H. and Huggett, Robert J., "Meaningful Chemical Measurements in the Marine Environment - Transition Metals" (1984). VIMS Books and Book Chapters. 101.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsbooks/101