In this much-expanded and revised third edition, Pollution of Lakes and Rivers: A Paleoenvironmental Perspective addresses current water quality problems from an international perspective, covering critical issues such as acidification, eutrophication, land-use changes, pollution by metals and other contaminants, invasive species, plastics, biodiversity losses, as well as a spectrum of emerging environmental problems. Recurring themes include the critical role that timescales play in environmental management and how recent climatic warming is acting as a major “threat multiplier”. The book demonstrates how paleolimnological approaches can be used to interpret the physical, chemical, and biological data stored in lake and river sediments, and how this information is integral to evidence-based policy by identifying key environmental stressors and setting mitigation targets.

This updated Third Edition features new content that makes this authoritative book even more inviting:

• Full color presentation throughout to aid clarity and understanding
• Several new chapters, including topics focused on harmful algal blooms, paleoecotoxicology, calcium decline, salinization, plastics, and paleolimnological applications to conservation biology
• Completely revised and updated throughout to ensure the best and most up-to-date coverage of the subject

Praise for the Second Edition:

"This is a very well-written and wide-ranging volume that is both instructive and topical. It is likely to prove useful as an introduction to the general area, a reference source and for teaching purposes." (The Holocene, November 2008)

"If you thought that paleolimnology was just mud, pollen, and diatoms then you will likely be both struck by the complexity of this field of research and grateful that John Smol, FRSC, has described it so clearly and broadly. Simply put, the second edition is an excellent book." (Journal of Phycology, 2008)

"John Smol has extensive experience in this field of paleoenvironmental research which he combines well with his excellent written communication skills to produce a text that is easy to read but also thought provoking." (Quaternary Science Reviews, 2009)

“If I could speak with fluidity and clarity in my lectures as consistently as John Smol writes, my students would be very grateful.” (Journal of Paleolimnology, 2009)

JOHN P. SMOL, OC, OOnt, PhD, FRSC, FRS is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Biology at Queen’s University (Ontario, Canada) where he founded and co-directs the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL). Smol was the founding Editor of the Journal of Paleolimnology (1987-2007) and served as Editor of Environmental Reviews from 2004 – 2026. Having written or edited 25 books and authored ~800 papers, he has been awarded 7 honorary doctorates and over 100 research, teaching, and communication awards.