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Standardisation within analytical chemistry
510
ANALYTICA
authors then comment briefly upon applications in gas and water analysis. The appendices supplement the theoretical treatment in the first chapters. The numerous references given throughout the text will be invaluable for those wishing to follow up some of the details. This book, if read critically, will promote research and development in the fascinating and potentially useful area of correlation chromatography. Additional applications should follow and commercial instrumentation may become readily available as a result. The book, therefore, will be of particular interest to research students; however, industrial analytical chemists looking for methods of improving selectivity and sensitivity in their analyses will also find the text valuable. John D. Green T.R. Crompton, Analysis of Seawater, Butterworth, London, 1989 (ISBN O-407-1610-4). viii + 423 pp. Price f 85.00. The aim of this book is to cover all aspects of the analysis of seawater, using both classical and modem instrumental techniques, for the following groups of analytes; anions and cations, dissolved gases, metals, radioactive compounds, organic compounds and organometallic compounds. In addition there are chapters on sampling and sample handling, sample preparation for organic compounds and elemental analysis. It is a substantial single-author text which provides a useful compendium of information for those involved in seawater analysis and the material is presented in a very readable form, although there are several typographical errors. There are numerous figures and tables reproduced from the literature and a good deal of factual information but more critical comment throughout the text would have been welcome. It is extensively referenced with the most recent references dating from 1986. In order to appeal to a wide readership there is considerable coverage of basic analytical instru-
CHIMICA
ACTA
mentation but in contrast the introductory chapter on sampling handling and storage is relatively brief. Nonetheless it is a useful reference book for scientists interested in seawater analysis and therefore a worthwhile addition to the library. P.J. Worsfold Pekka Kivalo, Standardisation within Analytical Chemistry, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1989 (ISBN 963-05-5604-9) 157 pp. + Appendices. Price f 23.00 The importance of analytical chemistry in the world today is now clearly recognised. It is vital that such measurements are correct, or at least fit for the purpose for which they were intended. Hence, increasing attention is being paid to method validation and laboratory quality assurance. This book, therefore, is timely and relies heavily on the work of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Appendices of IS0 texts comprise about half the book. The first chapter proper comprises a very short and superficial review outlining the development of analytical chemistry and its place in academia. The time lag between developments in theoretical science and their practical application is stressed. This is followed by an equally short review of standardization and the development of methodology. The work of a number of standards organizations is reviewed together with the principles and aims of standardization. Little of the text so far has much relevance to analytical chemistry and the case for including standardization as a subject within the already crowded curricula of universities, technical colleges and schools appears to be very weak. I doubt whether many universities will rush to establish chairs of standardization, or see this area as a fit subject for academic research. Problems encountered when preparing a standard method of analysis are described in some detail. There are also sections on collaborative studies and the statistical treatment of results. The book concludes with a useful list of abbreviations and index. The paper and production quality of the book is not of the highest standard. Its prin-
BOOK
511
REVIEWS
cipal use lies in collecting together the relevant IS0 standards in one place.
N.T. Crosby
Hans G. Seiler and Helmut Sigel with Astrid Sigel (Eds.), Handbook on Toxicity of Inorganic Compoundr, Marcel Dekker, New York, NY, 1988 (ISBN O-8247-7727-1). xxiv + 1069 pp.
This is a most valuable book. It brings together up-to-date information on the toxic effects of all elements and their compounds, each element being discussed in a separate chapter or, for the noble gases, rare earths and the transuranium elements, in groups. Each chapter is written by experts, and covers, where the information is available, the chemistry and distribution of the element(s), its technological uses and its physiological behaviour (intake, absorption, excretion, cellular effects, clinical manifestations, metabolism, etc. are discussed in detail). Also described are detoxification, tolerance levels, ecotoxicity (briefly) and analytical procedures, including sampling (also briefly). In addition to this vast assembly of information, there are useful introductory chapters on the use of the book, including definitions of MAK, TLV etc., on the bioinorganic chemistry of toxicity (17 pp.), on general aspects of toxicology (11 pp.) and some recommendations for biological specimen collection for analysis. Also included is a general chapter on radiotoxicity (24 pp.), tables of TLVs, biological tolerance values and emission limits for different countries, and extensive author and subject indexes (212 pp.). There is no doubt that this will be the source book for inorganic toxicology for many years to come. The wealth of information, the numerous references and the excellent layout will ensure that this should be the first book to be consulted whenever knowledge on toxic effects of inorganic species is required.
Alan Townshend
J. Zupan (Ed.), PCs for Chemists (Data Handling in Science and Technoloy, Vol. 5), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1990 (ISBN 0-44488623-0). xvi + 212 pp. Price Dfl. 195.00.
Many chemists nowadays have a personal computer (PC) on or near their desks. They are only useful if appropriate programs are bought. This book attempts to give an overview of the types of work which can be carried out on a PC, and discusses some of the features to look out for when buying programs. The chapters of particular interest to analytical chemists are those on word processing, principal component analysis of chemical data, databases and spreadsheets. Other related topics discussed are data acquisition from apparatus and the interconnecting of computers (networking). In each chapter the general principles of an application area are covered and further details can be obtained from the,literature references given. Progress in development of PCs is rapid, and the book concludes with predictions of the types of work (previously done on mainframe computers) which will be possible on PCs in the mid 1990s. This book is useful to get acquainted with the wide range of work which can be assisted by a PC.
J.R. Chipperfield
H. Jork, W. Funk, W. Fischer and H. Wimmer, Thin-Layer Chromatography. Reagents and Detection Methods. Physical and Chemical Detection Methods: Fundamentals, Reagents I. Volume la, VCH, Weinheim, 1990 (ISBN 3-527-27834-6). xv + 464 pp. Price DM 148.00.
This is the first volume of what is planned to be a multivolume series. The first part concerns methods of detection subdivided into sections on physical and chemical detection and documentation. The second part is a collection of 80 reagent reports, fully referenced and well illustrated, all of which have been checked out. The full collection it is expected will occupy several volumes. This is a
ANALYTICA
authors then comment briefly upon applications in gas and water analysis. The appendices supplement the theoretical treatment in the first chapters. The numerous references given throughout the text will be invaluable for those wishing to follow up some of the details. This book, if read critically, will promote research and development in the fascinating and potentially useful area of correlation chromatography. Additional applications should follow and commercial instrumentation may become readily available as a result. The book, therefore, will be of particular interest to research students; however, industrial analytical chemists looking for methods of improving selectivity and sensitivity in their analyses will also find the text valuable. John D. Green T.R. Crompton, Analysis of Seawater, Butterworth, London, 1989 (ISBN O-407-1610-4). viii + 423 pp. Price f 85.00. The aim of this book is to cover all aspects of the analysis of seawater, using both classical and modem instrumental techniques, for the following groups of analytes; anions and cations, dissolved gases, metals, radioactive compounds, organic compounds and organometallic compounds. In addition there are chapters on sampling and sample handling, sample preparation for organic compounds and elemental analysis. It is a substantial single-author text which provides a useful compendium of information for those involved in seawater analysis and the material is presented in a very readable form, although there are several typographical errors. There are numerous figures and tables reproduced from the literature and a good deal of factual information but more critical comment throughout the text would have been welcome. It is extensively referenced with the most recent references dating from 1986. In order to appeal to a wide readership there is considerable coverage of basic analytical instru-
CHIMICA
ACTA
mentation but in contrast the introductory chapter on sampling handling and storage is relatively brief. Nonetheless it is a useful reference book for scientists interested in seawater analysis and therefore a worthwhile addition to the library. P.J. Worsfold Pekka Kivalo, Standardisation within Analytical Chemistry, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1989 (ISBN 963-05-5604-9) 157 pp. + Appendices. Price f 23.00 The importance of analytical chemistry in the world today is now clearly recognised. It is vital that such measurements are correct, or at least fit for the purpose for which they were intended. Hence, increasing attention is being paid to method validation and laboratory quality assurance. This book, therefore, is timely and relies heavily on the work of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Appendices of IS0 texts comprise about half the book. The first chapter proper comprises a very short and superficial review outlining the development of analytical chemistry and its place in academia. The time lag between developments in theoretical science and their practical application is stressed. This is followed by an equally short review of standardization and the development of methodology. The work of a number of standards organizations is reviewed together with the principles and aims of standardization. Little of the text so far has much relevance to analytical chemistry and the case for including standardization as a subject within the already crowded curricula of universities, technical colleges and schools appears to be very weak. I doubt whether many universities will rush to establish chairs of standardization, or see this area as a fit subject for academic research. Problems encountered when preparing a standard method of analysis are described in some detail. There are also sections on collaborative studies and the statistical treatment of results. The book concludes with a useful list of abbreviations and index. The paper and production quality of the book is not of the highest standard. Its prin-
BOOK
511
REVIEWS
cipal use lies in collecting together the relevant IS0 standards in one place.
N.T. Crosby
Hans G. Seiler and Helmut Sigel with Astrid Sigel (Eds.), Handbook on Toxicity of Inorganic Compoundr, Marcel Dekker, New York, NY, 1988 (ISBN O-8247-7727-1). xxiv + 1069 pp.
This is a most valuable book. It brings together up-to-date information on the toxic effects of all elements and their compounds, each element being discussed in a separate chapter or, for the noble gases, rare earths and the transuranium elements, in groups. Each chapter is written by experts, and covers, where the information is available, the chemistry and distribution of the element(s), its technological uses and its physiological behaviour (intake, absorption, excretion, cellular effects, clinical manifestations, metabolism, etc. are discussed in detail). Also described are detoxification, tolerance levels, ecotoxicity (briefly) and analytical procedures, including sampling (also briefly). In addition to this vast assembly of information, there are useful introductory chapters on the use of the book, including definitions of MAK, TLV etc., on the bioinorganic chemistry of toxicity (17 pp.), on general aspects of toxicology (11 pp.) and some recommendations for biological specimen collection for analysis. Also included is a general chapter on radiotoxicity (24 pp.), tables of TLVs, biological tolerance values and emission limits for different countries, and extensive author and subject indexes (212 pp.). There is no doubt that this will be the source book for inorganic toxicology for many years to come. The wealth of information, the numerous references and the excellent layout will ensure that this should be the first book to be consulted whenever knowledge on toxic effects of inorganic species is required.
Alan Townshend
J. Zupan (Ed.), PCs for Chemists (Data Handling in Science and Technoloy, Vol. 5), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1990 (ISBN 0-44488623-0). xvi + 212 pp. Price Dfl. 195.00.
Many chemists nowadays have a personal computer (PC) on or near their desks. They are only useful if appropriate programs are bought. This book attempts to give an overview of the types of work which can be carried out on a PC, and discusses some of the features to look out for when buying programs. The chapters of particular interest to analytical chemists are those on word processing, principal component analysis of chemical data, databases and spreadsheets. Other related topics discussed are data acquisition from apparatus and the interconnecting of computers (networking). In each chapter the general principles of an application area are covered and further details can be obtained from the,literature references given. Progress in development of PCs is rapid, and the book concludes with predictions of the types of work (previously done on mainframe computers) which will be possible on PCs in the mid 1990s. This book is useful to get acquainted with the wide range of work which can be assisted by a PC.
J.R. Chipperfield
H. Jork, W. Funk, W. Fischer and H. Wimmer, Thin-Layer Chromatography. Reagents and Detection Methods. Physical and Chemical Detection Methods: Fundamentals, Reagents I. Volume la, VCH, Weinheim, 1990 (ISBN 3-527-27834-6). xv + 464 pp. Price DM 148.00.
This is the first volume of what is planned to be a multivolume series. The first part concerns methods of detection subdivided into sections on physical and chemical detection and documentation. The second part is a collection of 80 reagent reports, fully referenced and well illustrated, all of which have been checked out. The full collection it is expected will occupy several volumes. This is a