Editorial A new journal for the new millennium J. Environ. Monit. 1999 1 1N This first issue of the Journal of Environmental Monitoring (JEM) published by The Royal Society of Chemistry is the culmination of more than two years of market research and discussions with leading experts from industry academia and agencies (national and international) involved with environmental monitoring regulations pertaining to exposures and analytical science. As a result of these deliberations it was considered to be timely to launch a high quality journal dedicated to primary and applied research in environmental and biological monitoring despite our awareness of tightening library and academic budgets. Environmental monitoring is a research area that has seen rapid growth in the last few years but until now the subject matter has been scattered throughout many diVerent journals due to its interdisciplinary nature.JEM hopes to accommodate all relevant components information and developments in a single resource of modest cost. Addressing the needs of an expanding specialist subject JEM is dedicated to all aspects of the measurement of chemical physical and biological agents in outdoor indoor and workplace environments with a view to assessing exposure in relation to adverse environmental and health eVects. Through its focus on exposure assessment (including biological monitoring) JEM targets the interface of analytical science with disciplines concerned with the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants and other agents in the natural and human environments. JEM aims to bring together the many elements involved in monitoring including multi-media environmental sampling and analyses (e.g.of gases aerosols particles chemicals radiation physical agents noise and electric and magnetic fields; their detection and quantitation in air soils sediments tissues or body fluids as well as in emissions eZuents or wastes of natural or anthropogenic origin); measurement of biomarkers of exposure eVect (outcome) or susceptibility; speciation of environmental contaminants; design of sampling strategies; development of associated analytical technologies; advances in monitoring equipment; quality control and assurance; legislative issues regarding exposure limits and acceptable concentrations of contaminants. In addition to original publications JEM will promote this important multidisciplinary area through critical reviews perspectives and appropriate news items.Launching the journal at this time is considered particularly appropriate since the monitoring of the natural and human environments is necessarily linked to other major environmental initiatives. Examples are our eVorts to assess understand and predict changes in the environment such as those associated with the long-range transport of contaminants and global warming or to manage the oceans lakes rivers land air and other natural resources. Establishment of integrated networks for real-time measurements such as those of air pollutants implicated in causing respiratory distress in healthy and susceptible populations is also closely allied to suitable advances in monitoring technology and data management.Further the promulgation and enforcement of cogent regulations for environmental occupational and public health hazards are dependent on reliable quantitative measurements. Moreover improved access to high quality environmental information would enhance educational eVorts. The need for interdisciplinary co-operation and expertise in conducting eVective environmental and biological monitoring programmes arises because of the inherent complexities of how hazardous agents are dispersed and of their impact on living organisms. We therefore invite submissions from individuals or groups working in one or more of the following relevant sectors natural sciences; life sciences; geography; environmental sciences; engineering; toxicology; epidemiology; occupational hygiene; environmental occupational or public health; the socioeconomic sciences; and the regulatory community. The challenge for JEM will be to become an eVective multidisciplinary resource by attracting high quality publications from this diverse and broad community and to establish a similarly widespread readership. It is hoped that these eVorts will promote and encourage research and training thereby generating and disseminating information that will help to safeguard and preserve our environment. On behalf of the Editorial Board Evert Nieboer Chairman