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Aquatic pollution; An introductory text
Book reviews A vast literature has emerged covering the multiple facets of the subject, generally in specialist disciplinerelated publications, and a collation is welcome. The editors of the book are to be congratulated for providing a synthesis of predominantly agriculturally influenced aspects in a readable form. The book is very biased to the British scene, although this does not detract from the content, but surprisingly does not address the very topical problem of sewage sludge disposal, either as an influence in the marine environment or in the perspective of effective land management. The nitrogen cycle and the present knowledge of nitrate processes and distributions within the hydrological environment are succinctly summarised in the first two parts of the book and for each facet useful, reasonably comprehensive reference lists are included. While the understanding of most aspects are fairly well established and convincingly portrayed, there is a lack of critique about wetland processes and nitrate in groundwaters. The main experience of the editors would appear to relate to small catchment work in south-west England which, while clearly being of value in understanding processes generally, does not necessarily apply to process rates elsewhere, particularly with respect to groundwater. The discussion of processes and patterns sets the scene for the third and fourth, and most interesting sections of the book, which address management strategies and future problems. Certain problems and solutions are, however, raised under specific aspects earlier, such as the increase of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic nitrate input to the seas, and the potential of wetland systems for the removal of nitrate from surface waters. The actual contaminant problems that nitrates may cause are discussed under nitrate politics and underline the poor evidence upon which EEC limits are based. The question is quite rightly posed as to whether the considerable costs involved in bringing some drinking waters within the EEC limits are justified. Treatment solutions are described but relative costs unfortunately are not quoted. While there may be a cure for some drinking water sources (justified or not!) prevention is the theme that is sensibly supported, in line with much of the new U K water industry management strategy, as explained in the text. Such prevention, mainly involving reduction in agricultural nitrate loading, should obviously help potability problems but more importantly, as the authors point out, will reduce the contaminant effects of nitrate on the ecology. The editors stress quite rightly the need for integrated studies of nitrate input and comprehensive monitoring but perhaps give an unwarranted and possibly dangerous impression that we do understand nitrates and that they can be managed. Nevertheless, the book is a very worthwhile collation about the nitrate problems we are encountering and is recommended. J. W. Lloyd
205
Solvent Recovery Handbook. I. McNaughton Smallwood. Edward Arnold, UK, 1993, 387 pp. ISBN 0-340-57467-4. Price: £59.50. With increased awareness of industry's effect on the environment and the need to make more effective use of raw materials, the loss of organic solvents to air and water is of major concern. In the United Kingdom alone, this loss approaches one million tonnes each year. The term 'Solvent Recovery' describes those techniques which recapture solvents and process them for reuse. The author's handbook presents the information essential to anyone wishing to understand solvent recovery. Although the book is a technical guide, the author has also covered the economic, environmental, health and safety aspects of solvent recovery. There is always a temptation by authors of such books to present too much information. Costs change with time, emission limits are reviewed and health and safety requirements are revised. The author has resisted this temptation by describing these areas in enough detail to be of use, but not to the extent that the information will rapidly become out of date. In this case, the objective of many a scientific writer has been achieved. The book is high in technical information and yet readable. Certainly it is a handbook, with tables of physical and chemical properties, graphs of activity coefficients and schematics of distillation systems. It is also a textbook which can be read from cover to cover (or at least page 199 after which the appendices begin!). The title is modest, there is no definitive 'The' in front of 'Solvent'. However, the book has little to be modest about. My copy is already well thumbed. D. S. Richardson
Aquatic Pollution; An Introductory Text. 2nd Edition. By Edward A. Laws. J. Wiley &Sons, 1993, 611 pp. ISBN 0-471-58883-0 (Paperback). Price: £45.50. The first edition of this book was published in 1981; the new edition follows the same format but with a considerable addition of recent material and three new chapters, giving about 130 extra pages. The purpose remains the same--it is primarily a textbook to support a one term course of undergraduate studies. As such, the starting point is aquatic ecology with an introductory chapter on the structure and function of ecosystems. The subsequent chapters on problems of eutrophication follow on naturally. One pleasing feature of this book is that there is no demarcation drawn between freshwater and marine systems; a second is that each chapter contains at least one detailed case study to illustrate the origins, effects and possible remedial measures for the type of pollution being considered. However, as the author progresses on to other causes of pollution, the subject matter of the chapters seem to revolve round the case studies rather than on the
206
Book rev~ws
properties of the groups of chemicals being considered. For example, the chapter on metals is devoted mainly to the well-known effects of mercury, cadmium and lead on public health; that on pesticides concentrates almost entirely on organochlorine insecticides (especially D D T and metabolites) and PCBs. This limitation to the scope of such chapters could have been overcome by a good introduction to toxicology; unfortunately, this chapter is very poor, being muddled and uncritical especially with respect to mixture toxicity and water quality standards. The coverage of these later chapters is therefore partial; in the Preface to the first edition the author recognised that gaps existed, partly because of the limitations imposed by the duration of an academic course and partly because of his selection of the material to be included. Even so, some of the omissions are surprising; for example the chapter on pathogens in natural waters contains a section on bacterial standards for bathing waters but no mention is made of shellfish contamination. Also, in the chapter on acid deposition there is only a very brief mention of associated aluminium toxicity. It would have been useful if standard reference books on the subject matter of each chapter were specifically identified for further reading. Throughout the book the author rightly points out the need to make a balanced and scientifically based assessment of pollution problems. In this respect, the second edition contains some improvements; for example, the listing of the numbers of fish killed on power station intake screens, and the numbers of birds found dead after oil-spill incidents, always emotive figures, are now balanced by a brief consideration of these mortalities in the context of the corresponding population abundances. Examination of the references at the end of each chapter shows that the information presented has been drawn from a wide variety of sources. I was rather surprised to find that the reference for a substantial bird kill caused by a recent oil-spill in a U K estuary was an
anonymous article published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin and Advertiser! In fact, a scientific assessment of the effects of this minor (<20 tonne) spill is only now reaching completion. I admit that this affected my acceptance of some other statements and opinions given in the book. A more minor irritation was the insertion of some Figures and Tables some way after the text reference, sometimes in the following section of the chapter; this made for disjointed reading. The claim by the author in the Preface to the second edition that the book is a comprehensive introduction to the subject of water pollution is therefore somewhat optimistic. In addition to the points made above, almost all the case studies are drawn from N. America or Hawaii, reflecting in part the author's personal experience of them. In consequence, the associated regulatory body involved is usually the US EPA, whose operation, together with the associated political climate, may not mirror the corresponding institutions found elsewhere in the world. This will limit the wider practical value of the book. In many respects, therefore, this book illustrates the problems of a single author attempting to cover such a wide field. On the positive side, the author has assembled a vast amount of information into a very readable text with excellent continuity, and the case studies help to stimulate and retain an interest. This is a very considerable achievement and it will make the book attractive to students, especially in N. America. On the negative side, specialists will find the treatment given to some of the different types of pollutants to be partial, and inadequate for providing information to regulatory authorities. To some extent, the author recognised these limitations in the Preface to the first edition and perhaps they should have been repeated and reinforced in the second.
R. Lloyd
205
Solvent Recovery Handbook. I. McNaughton Smallwood. Edward Arnold, UK, 1993, 387 pp. ISBN 0-340-57467-4. Price: £59.50. With increased awareness of industry's effect on the environment and the need to make more effective use of raw materials, the loss of organic solvents to air and water is of major concern. In the United Kingdom alone, this loss approaches one million tonnes each year. The term 'Solvent Recovery' describes those techniques which recapture solvents and process them for reuse. The author's handbook presents the information essential to anyone wishing to understand solvent recovery. Although the book is a technical guide, the author has also covered the economic, environmental, health and safety aspects of solvent recovery. There is always a temptation by authors of such books to present too much information. Costs change with time, emission limits are reviewed and health and safety requirements are revised. The author has resisted this temptation by describing these areas in enough detail to be of use, but not to the extent that the information will rapidly become out of date. In this case, the objective of many a scientific writer has been achieved. The book is high in technical information and yet readable. Certainly it is a handbook, with tables of physical and chemical properties, graphs of activity coefficients and schematics of distillation systems. It is also a textbook which can be read from cover to cover (or at least page 199 after which the appendices begin!). The title is modest, there is no definitive 'The' in front of 'Solvent'. However, the book has little to be modest about. My copy is already well thumbed. D. S. Richardson
Aquatic Pollution; An Introductory Text. 2nd Edition. By Edward A. Laws. J. Wiley &Sons, 1993, 611 pp. ISBN 0-471-58883-0 (Paperback). Price: £45.50. The first edition of this book was published in 1981; the new edition follows the same format but with a considerable addition of recent material and three new chapters, giving about 130 extra pages. The purpose remains the same--it is primarily a textbook to support a one term course of undergraduate studies. As such, the starting point is aquatic ecology with an introductory chapter on the structure and function of ecosystems. The subsequent chapters on problems of eutrophication follow on naturally. One pleasing feature of this book is that there is no demarcation drawn between freshwater and marine systems; a second is that each chapter contains at least one detailed case study to illustrate the origins, effects and possible remedial measures for the type of pollution being considered. However, as the author progresses on to other causes of pollution, the subject matter of the chapters seem to revolve round the case studies rather than on the
206
Book rev~ws
properties of the groups of chemicals being considered. For example, the chapter on metals is devoted mainly to the well-known effects of mercury, cadmium and lead on public health; that on pesticides concentrates almost entirely on organochlorine insecticides (especially D D T and metabolites) and PCBs. This limitation to the scope of such chapters could have been overcome by a good introduction to toxicology; unfortunately, this chapter is very poor, being muddled and uncritical especially with respect to mixture toxicity and water quality standards. The coverage of these later chapters is therefore partial; in the Preface to the first edition the author recognised that gaps existed, partly because of the limitations imposed by the duration of an academic course and partly because of his selection of the material to be included. Even so, some of the omissions are surprising; for example the chapter on pathogens in natural waters contains a section on bacterial standards for bathing waters but no mention is made of shellfish contamination. Also, in the chapter on acid deposition there is only a very brief mention of associated aluminium toxicity. It would have been useful if standard reference books on the subject matter of each chapter were specifically identified for further reading. Throughout the book the author rightly points out the need to make a balanced and scientifically based assessment of pollution problems. In this respect, the second edition contains some improvements; for example, the listing of the numbers of fish killed on power station intake screens, and the numbers of birds found dead after oil-spill incidents, always emotive figures, are now balanced by a brief consideration of these mortalities in the context of the corresponding population abundances. Examination of the references at the end of each chapter shows that the information presented has been drawn from a wide variety of sources. I was rather surprised to find that the reference for a substantial bird kill caused by a recent oil-spill in a U K estuary was an
anonymous article published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin and Advertiser! In fact, a scientific assessment of the effects of this minor (<20 tonne) spill is only now reaching completion. I admit that this affected my acceptance of some other statements and opinions given in the book. A more minor irritation was the insertion of some Figures and Tables some way after the text reference, sometimes in the following section of the chapter; this made for disjointed reading. The claim by the author in the Preface to the second edition that the book is a comprehensive introduction to the subject of water pollution is therefore somewhat optimistic. In addition to the points made above, almost all the case studies are drawn from N. America or Hawaii, reflecting in part the author's personal experience of them. In consequence, the associated regulatory body involved is usually the US EPA, whose operation, together with the associated political climate, may not mirror the corresponding institutions found elsewhere in the world. This will limit the wider practical value of the book. In many respects, therefore, this book illustrates the problems of a single author attempting to cover such a wide field. On the positive side, the author has assembled a vast amount of information into a very readable text with excellent continuity, and the case studies help to stimulate and retain an interest. This is a very considerable achievement and it will make the book attractive to students, especially in N. America. On the negative side, specialists will find the treatment given to some of the different types of pollutants to be partial, and inadequate for providing information to regulatory authorities. To some extent, the author recognised these limitations in the Preface to the first edition and perhaps they should have been repeated and reinforced in the second.
R. Lloyd