ABSTRACT
The industrial regions of Central Europe are alarmingly poor from an environmental perspective. Raw sewage, industrial effluents laced with heavy metal, and toxic chemicals are the principal contributors to the deterioration of water quality in Central Europe’s rivers. Pre-industrial growth of the environmental problem in Europe, however, differed from that in the US because of the relatively smaller dimensions of space and magnitude. The geologist’s role in society has changed dramatically over the years. Historically, an emphasis in natural history existed, followed by energy development, notably, as man moved from or evolved from an agricultural society to an industrial society at the turn of the century. A thorough understanding and knowledge of the subsurface environment and its various characteristics is essential to assess the likely hazard posed by a particular contaminant or waste, and its behavior and fate over time.
