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Advances in environmental science and technology
BOOK
REVIEWS
Proceedings of the Fifth Scientific Conference of the Israel Ecological Society, Tel Aviv, 8-9 May 1974. The Israel Ecological Society, Environmental Engineering Research Center, Technion City, Haifa, Israel. 1974. 585 pp. Price: US $15. We often complain that the proceedings of scientific conferences do not appear for several years after the meeting. The Israel Ecological Society are therefore particularly to be congratulated on issuing this volume, containing a wide selection of important articles on environmental topics, within only two months of the conference. The proceedings include eleven papers on air pollution and air quality, five on sea coast ecology, four on the flora and fauna of Israel, fourteen on water quality and pollution, four on solid waste disposal, six on theoretical topics such as models and systems analysis, six concerning the effects of industry, five on ecological effects of agriculture, four on special aspects of environmental quality control and five on energy conservation. The papers deal primarily with the situation in Israel, but deserve a much wider circulation. The volume may be obtained from The Israel Ecological Society, Environmental Engineering Research Center, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa, Israel. K.M.
Advances in Environmental Science and Technology. Edited by James N. Pitts and Robert L. Metcalf. John Wiley & Sons, New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, 1974. Vol. 3, 386 pp. Price: £10.60; Vol. 4, 382 pp. Price: £10.50. Volume 3 consists of four articles. The first, an up-to-date and well balanced summary on 'Lead in the Environment' by Ben B. Ewing and John E. Pearson, 73 Era,iron. Pollut. (8) (1975)--© Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1975 Printed in Great Britain
74
BOOK REVIEWS
will be widely welcomed, although it is a pity that the 120 references are not in alphabetical order (a custom complied with by the authors of the third and fourth articles of this volume). The second article on 'Air Pollution, Morbidity, and Mortality and the Concept of no Threshold' by Bertram W. and Virginia Carnow, describes an investigation in Chicago. It is suprising to find no references to similar, earlier studies, for instance that by Professor Lawther in London. In fact, this paper contains no reference to this or any other work except its authors'. 'Biomedical and Social Aspects of Air Pollution' by D. Max Snodderly, Jr, is a review of the subject, dealing with the clinical effects of different substances. Some 192 references, almost all American, are quoted. 'The Economics of Air Pollution Control for Used Cars' by Paul B. Downing and Lytton W. Stoddard, uses mathematical models to investigate the relative costs of improving emission standards of cars of different ages, used (as they get older) to cover shorter distances each year. This, and Volume 4, are in reproduced typescript, which means that the contents are considerably shorter than the earlier volumes. Volume 4 consists of two articles only. The first, 'The Mechanism of Photochemical Smog Formation' by Kenneth L. Demerjian, J. Alistair Kerr and Jack G. Calvert, is a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the subject, drawing particular attention to gaps in present knowledge. Over 100 pages give details of rate constants. The second article, 'Catalytic Reduction of Stratospheric Ozone by Nitrogen Oxides' by H. S. Johnston, is more controversial. Its author is known for his concern that supersonic planes flying at high altitudes may upset stratospheric photochemistry. Here his views are set out in detail. Many students of the subject do not agree with Johnston's analysis but this paper is to be welcomed as continuing an interesting argument which might be vital to man's survival. Energy and the Environment. By Asit K. Biswas. Environment Canada Planning and Finance Service Report No. 1, Ottawa. 1974. 42 pp. Price: $1.50.
This is a very useful and readable account of the past and present energy production and consumption with particular attention to Canada. Projections up to and beyond the year AD 2000 are included. These assume that an increased rate of growth is inevitable, and the paper explains how this increase might be met. Sections on thermal and radionuclear pollution are included. Guide to Information Services on Environmental Science and Technology. Compiled and edited by J. O. Mekeirle. Center for Industrial Information, Flemish Economic Association, Antwerp. 1974. 233 pp.
The literature on the environment is very scattered, and this further attempt to make it more easily accessible is to be welcomed. It contains much information
REVIEWS
Proceedings of the Fifth Scientific Conference of the Israel Ecological Society, Tel Aviv, 8-9 May 1974. The Israel Ecological Society, Environmental Engineering Research Center, Technion City, Haifa, Israel. 1974. 585 pp. Price: US $15. We often complain that the proceedings of scientific conferences do not appear for several years after the meeting. The Israel Ecological Society are therefore particularly to be congratulated on issuing this volume, containing a wide selection of important articles on environmental topics, within only two months of the conference. The proceedings include eleven papers on air pollution and air quality, five on sea coast ecology, four on the flora and fauna of Israel, fourteen on water quality and pollution, four on solid waste disposal, six on theoretical topics such as models and systems analysis, six concerning the effects of industry, five on ecological effects of agriculture, four on special aspects of environmental quality control and five on energy conservation. The papers deal primarily with the situation in Israel, but deserve a much wider circulation. The volume may be obtained from The Israel Ecological Society, Environmental Engineering Research Center, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa, Israel. K.M.
Advances in Environmental Science and Technology. Edited by James N. Pitts and Robert L. Metcalf. John Wiley & Sons, New York, London, Sydney, Toronto, 1974. Vol. 3, 386 pp. Price: £10.60; Vol. 4, 382 pp. Price: £10.50. Volume 3 consists of four articles. The first, an up-to-date and well balanced summary on 'Lead in the Environment' by Ben B. Ewing and John E. Pearson, 73 Era,iron. Pollut. (8) (1975)--© Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1975 Printed in Great Britain
74
BOOK REVIEWS
will be widely welcomed, although it is a pity that the 120 references are not in alphabetical order (a custom complied with by the authors of the third and fourth articles of this volume). The second article on 'Air Pollution, Morbidity, and Mortality and the Concept of no Threshold' by Bertram W. and Virginia Carnow, describes an investigation in Chicago. It is suprising to find no references to similar, earlier studies, for instance that by Professor Lawther in London. In fact, this paper contains no reference to this or any other work except its authors'. 'Biomedical and Social Aspects of Air Pollution' by D. Max Snodderly, Jr, is a review of the subject, dealing with the clinical effects of different substances. Some 192 references, almost all American, are quoted. 'The Economics of Air Pollution Control for Used Cars' by Paul B. Downing and Lytton W. Stoddard, uses mathematical models to investigate the relative costs of improving emission standards of cars of different ages, used (as they get older) to cover shorter distances each year. This, and Volume 4, are in reproduced typescript, which means that the contents are considerably shorter than the earlier volumes. Volume 4 consists of two articles only. The first, 'The Mechanism of Photochemical Smog Formation' by Kenneth L. Demerjian, J. Alistair Kerr and Jack G. Calvert, is a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the subject, drawing particular attention to gaps in present knowledge. Over 100 pages give details of rate constants. The second article, 'Catalytic Reduction of Stratospheric Ozone by Nitrogen Oxides' by H. S. Johnston, is more controversial. Its author is known for his concern that supersonic planes flying at high altitudes may upset stratospheric photochemistry. Here his views are set out in detail. Many students of the subject do not agree with Johnston's analysis but this paper is to be welcomed as continuing an interesting argument which might be vital to man's survival. Energy and the Environment. By Asit K. Biswas. Environment Canada Planning and Finance Service Report No. 1, Ottawa. 1974. 42 pp. Price: $1.50.
This is a very useful and readable account of the past and present energy production and consumption with particular attention to Canada. Projections up to and beyond the year AD 2000 are included. These assume that an increased rate of growth is inevitable, and the paper explains how this increase might be met. Sections on thermal and radionuclear pollution are included. Guide to Information Services on Environmental Science and Technology. Compiled and edited by J. O. Mekeirle. Center for Industrial Information, Flemish Economic Association, Antwerp. 1974. 233 pp.
The literature on the environment is very scattered, and this further attempt to make it more easily accessible is to be welcomed. It contains much information