Many geochemists focus on natural systems with less emphasis on the human impact on those systems. Environmental chemists frequently approach their subject with less consideration of the historical record than geoscientists. The field of environmental geochemistry combines these approaches to address questions about the natural environment and anthropogenic effects on it. Eby provides students with a solid foundation in basic aqueous geochemistry before discussing the important role carbon compounds, isotopes, and minerals play in environmental issues. He then guides students through how these concepts apply to problems facing our atmosphere, continental lands, and oceans.

Rather than broadly discussing a variety of environmental problems, the author focuses on principles throughout the text, leading students to understand processes and how knowledge of those processes can be applied to environmental problem solving. A wide variety of case studies and quantitative problems accompany each chapter, giving each instructor the flexibility to tailor the material to his/her course. Many problems have no single correct answer, illustrating the analytical nature of solving real-world environmental problems.