This reference resource describes both the scientific background and the economic and social issues that resulted from environmental disasters where human activity was the main cause. Categorized by the type of tragedy, including coal mine tragedies, dam failures, industrial explosions, and oil spills, this one-stop guide provides students with descriptions of a sampling of some of the most tragic environmental disasters worldwide. Entries clearly describe each disaster by defining the cause, the consequences, and the clean-up efforts. Readers should learn who the responsible parties were, the effect on the environment and the people living in the immediate area, and the economic impact of each disaster, as well as the long-term consequences, the likelihood of a repeat disaster in the same area and the measures that have been taken to prevent a repeat incident. Entries include: the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.