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Analytical Techniques in Environmental Chemistry
Marine Pollution Bulletin
interest in using dispersants. It seemed from the discussion that industry was still looking for dispersants of lower toxicity, whereas a higher efficiency, particularly for use on viscous oils was the prime requirement. It was interesting to observe that effluent levels allowed from land based sources were about the same in UK and USA and that adverse effects were not being observed. A final paper from the Netherlands described the Cosmos suction dredger, which also served as an anti-pollution vessel, being fitted with a large skimming device for use in big spills, thus reducing the cost of having special vessels used only for pollution cleanup. The session dealing with tropical zones started with a number of papers on the Arabian Gulf area; with their mutual aid scheme and with the problem of cooperation between seventeen independent States. Once more training and communications were emphasised. The paper on the Gulf Weather Service by David Hibbert stressed its value, Lohr then discussed slick movement in the area. Satellite sensing devices used for tracking were mentioned, but, from
- ~
Analytical---lTeehnioues Analytical Techniques in Environmental Chemistry, Ed. J. Albaiges, Pergamon Series on Environmental Science Vol. 3, pp. 658, 1980. Pergamon Press, Oxford, £37.50. This volume contains 59 papers which were presented at an International Congress held in Barcelona, 1978. The contents cover a wide range of topics concerned with the analysis of environmental samples from a variety of settings. Approximately 60°70 of the papers deal with various aspects of organic chemistry with particular attention being paid to chemical carcinogens and the hydrocarbons (including halogenated forms), together with a consideration of a few special compounds such as methyl chloride, phenylurea and styrene. Presentation varies between providing details of analytical techniques, including sampling, together with the interpretation of data for real samples, to some possible applications of novel techniques based upon simple chemical matrixes. Several papers consider the use of chemical indicator species, origin of source materials and finger-print pattern recognition methods. Major problems such as obtaining an adequate resolution for some compounds such as the poly-aromatic hydrocarbons on the mg to pg scale still pose a challenge, The quality of papers dealing with inorganic analytical techniques varies considerably as does coverage of the subject. An attempt has been made to consider far too many areas, rather than select a few for detailed appraisal and thus illustrate how analytical chemistry contributes to the
304
the discussion which followed, it seemed that the claims made for them were not entirely justified. Papers on Coral Reefs and Mangrove swamps by Ray of Houston and Jenifer Baker of UK Field Studies Council each dealt with oil spills in these areas, they agreed that dispersion at sea, before the oil reached the habitat was the best solution. A paper by J. H. Jacques (on the development of a model for biological control of shallow tropical waters), roused so little response that if was doubtful if anyone understood it! A final paper on the Ixtoc 1 blowout clearly showed the need for treaties between States likely to be threatened by a common oil spill, it also seemed to show a lack of follow up work on the effects of thespill. This meeting gave a good general introduction to the problems that arise in very different parts of the world but there was a complete lack of papers on the prevention of oil spills and, as usual, nothing on reducing the human errors which have been responsible for almost every accident that has occurred.
J. WARDLEY-SMITH
solution of defined problems, what are the most practical techniques available today and how the overall quantity of data may be identified. Important new techniques such as inductive coupled plasma spectrometry are not even considered while a review of the current state of the art for atomic absorbtion furnace techniques for practical situations would have been useful. Methods for the analysis of surfaces are discussed but applications tend to be rather random; an opportunity is missed to illustrate the practical importance of secondary ion emission mass spectrometers, Auger spectrometers and microprobe Raman techniques. Many environmental problems are concerned with reactions or processes which take place on surfaces, thelackofpapers on the subject may reflect the high cost of such instruments which are only available to a few. Papers on electrochemical methods tend to be rather general and their overall importance and role in environmental chemistry is not emphasisedsufficiently. Several papers deal with industrial effluents and strategies for monitoring the environment, but there still appears to be a considerable gap between chemists and biologists who each tend to be confined within the straight-jackets imposed by historical demands rather than pool their resources to determine effects of pollutants in relation to other natural stresses, at the physiological level (when initial effects are most likely to be seen), on individual species and natural populations. The inclusion of several useful review papers scattered throughout the text seem out of place and do not improve the quality of this volume, which is timely, but could have been enhanced by a more objective selection of subject matter.
E.I. HAMILTON
interest in using dispersants. It seemed from the discussion that industry was still looking for dispersants of lower toxicity, whereas a higher efficiency, particularly for use on viscous oils was the prime requirement. It was interesting to observe that effluent levels allowed from land based sources were about the same in UK and USA and that adverse effects were not being observed. A final paper from the Netherlands described the Cosmos suction dredger, which also served as an anti-pollution vessel, being fitted with a large skimming device for use in big spills, thus reducing the cost of having special vessels used only for pollution cleanup. The session dealing with tropical zones started with a number of papers on the Arabian Gulf area; with their mutual aid scheme and with the problem of cooperation between seventeen independent States. Once more training and communications were emphasised. The paper on the Gulf Weather Service by David Hibbert stressed its value, Lohr then discussed slick movement in the area. Satellite sensing devices used for tracking were mentioned, but, from
- ~
Analytical---lTeehnioues Analytical Techniques in Environmental Chemistry, Ed. J. Albaiges, Pergamon Series on Environmental Science Vol. 3, pp. 658, 1980. Pergamon Press, Oxford, £37.50. This volume contains 59 papers which were presented at an International Congress held in Barcelona, 1978. The contents cover a wide range of topics concerned with the analysis of environmental samples from a variety of settings. Approximately 60°70 of the papers deal with various aspects of organic chemistry with particular attention being paid to chemical carcinogens and the hydrocarbons (including halogenated forms), together with a consideration of a few special compounds such as methyl chloride, phenylurea and styrene. Presentation varies between providing details of analytical techniques, including sampling, together with the interpretation of data for real samples, to some possible applications of novel techniques based upon simple chemical matrixes. Several papers consider the use of chemical indicator species, origin of source materials and finger-print pattern recognition methods. Major problems such as obtaining an adequate resolution for some compounds such as the poly-aromatic hydrocarbons on the mg to pg scale still pose a challenge, The quality of papers dealing with inorganic analytical techniques varies considerably as does coverage of the subject. An attempt has been made to consider far too many areas, rather than select a few for detailed appraisal and thus illustrate how analytical chemistry contributes to the
304
the discussion which followed, it seemed that the claims made for them were not entirely justified. Papers on Coral Reefs and Mangrove swamps by Ray of Houston and Jenifer Baker of UK Field Studies Council each dealt with oil spills in these areas, they agreed that dispersion at sea, before the oil reached the habitat was the best solution. A paper by J. H. Jacques (on the development of a model for biological control of shallow tropical waters), roused so little response that if was doubtful if anyone understood it! A final paper on the Ixtoc 1 blowout clearly showed the need for treaties between States likely to be threatened by a common oil spill, it also seemed to show a lack of follow up work on the effects of thespill. This meeting gave a good general introduction to the problems that arise in very different parts of the world but there was a complete lack of papers on the prevention of oil spills and, as usual, nothing on reducing the human errors which have been responsible for almost every accident that has occurred.
J. WARDLEY-SMITH
solution of defined problems, what are the most practical techniques available today and how the overall quantity of data may be identified. Important new techniques such as inductive coupled plasma spectrometry are not even considered while a review of the current state of the art for atomic absorbtion furnace techniques for practical situations would have been useful. Methods for the analysis of surfaces are discussed but applications tend to be rather random; an opportunity is missed to illustrate the practical importance of secondary ion emission mass spectrometers, Auger spectrometers and microprobe Raman techniques. Many environmental problems are concerned with reactions or processes which take place on surfaces, thelackofpapers on the subject may reflect the high cost of such instruments which are only available to a few. Papers on electrochemical methods tend to be rather general and their overall importance and role in environmental chemistry is not emphasisedsufficiently. Several papers deal with industrial effluents and strategies for monitoring the environment, but there still appears to be a considerable gap between chemists and biologists who each tend to be confined within the straight-jackets imposed by historical demands rather than pool their resources to determine effects of pollutants in relation to other natural stresses, at the physiological level (when initial effects are most likely to be seen), on individual species and natural populations. The inclusion of several useful review papers scattered throughout the text seem out of place and do not improve the quality of this volume, which is timely, but could have been enhanced by a more objective selection of subject matter.
E.I. HAMILTON