This text investigates the mechanisms of marine pollution and the engineering strategies required for effective environmental management and control. Paul L. Bishop, an expert in environmental engineering, synthesizes chemical, physical, and biological data to provide a framework for understanding how pollutants interact with marine ecosystems. The book argues that sustainable management of coastal and oceanic resources requires a rigorous, science-based approach to waste treatment and regulatory policy.

Experts and academics recognize this work as a foundational technical resource for students and practitioners in environmental engineering. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which assumes a baseline understanding of chemistry and fluid mechanics.