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Asbestos. Vol. 1. Properties, applications, and hazards
REVIEWS
OF RECENT
Asbestos Vol. 1. Properties, Applications, and Hazards. Edited by L. Michaels and S. S. Chissick. J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1979. pp. xi + 553. f25.00 This book presents an extremely comprehensive and well-balanced exposition of the use of asbestos, the monitoring and identification of asbestos fibres, exposure to asbestos, and asbestos-related diseases. Each chapter is contributed by an expert on the subject. These experts range from mineralogists and physicists to pathologists and epidemiologists. The geological occurrence, types and structure of the asbestos minerals are dealt with in two early chapters. Their fibrous character, tensile strength and resistance to high temperatures, which make them so important commercially, are discussed and particular attention is paid to their different surface characteristics. The fact that the surface properties of asbestos can be altered in various ways is mentioned, although the very recent data indicating that metal leaching of the fibre may occur in biological fluids are omitted. The attitudes to asbestos shown by different groups such as governments, employers, trade unions and the general public are lucidly discussed, and so are the occupational and non-occupational exposure of man to asbestos and the redistribution of asbestos in the environment. One chapter is devoted to the monitoring and identification of airborne asbestos, another to its identification in solid materials. There is an extremely thorough chapter dealing with regulations on the use of asbestos and with its control in a working environment. This latter topic is also discussed by several other contributors. Before asbestos-related diseases are considered in detail, it is made clear that current substitutes are often technically inferior to asbestos and that there are limited data on the risks associated with some of the substitutes. Five chapters are concerned with asbestos-related diseases. These deal with the pathological changes associated with the inhalation of asbestos-asbestosis, carcinoma, mesothelioma and pleural plaques. The clinical features of each condition are clearly described, as well as the macro- and microscopic appearances at post-mortem examination. Experimental pathology is discussed, but not the difficulties of extrapolating the results of animal experiments to man, and there is a lucid discussion on the epidemiology of asbestos-related diseases. The final chapter in this volume concerns methods of preventing asbestos-related diseases, including the physical control of human exposure to asbestos and medical management. In it are also discussed synergistic co-factors such as cigarette smoking, prior occupational exposure to inhaled carcinogens, immunodeficiency and individual susceptibility. This book is marked Volume 1 and we look forward with great interest to the appearance of a companion volume.
PUBLICATIONS
Environmental CarcinogensSelected Methods of Analysis. Vol. 2-Methods for the Measurement of Vinyl Chloride in Poly(vinyl chloride), Air, Water and Foodstulk By D. C. M. Squire11 and W. Thain. IARC Scientific Publications no. 22. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1978. pp. xiii + 142. SW. fr. 75.00 (available in the UK through HMSO). This volume continues the series that was begun with methods of analysis for nitrosamines (Cited in F.C.T. 1979, 17, 535) and is equally well presented. An introductory chapter by L. Griciute deals with the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride (VC) and with legislation designed to limit exposure to the monomer. The named authors then provide a general review of approaches to the monitoring and measurement of VC. Ionization and spectroscopic detection methods are discussed, as well as those based on chemical, thermal and electrical properties, and separation techniques (mainly involving gas chromatography) are mentioned. Sampling techniques for specific applications are covered, and there are sections on the detection of VC in polymers, food and food simulants, and on the preparation of VC standards. Unfortunately, few recommendations are made about which methods are best and the number of references to ‘personal communications’41, compared with 101 listed references-seems disproportionate. The section on methods of analysis contains eight carefully written procedures, five dealing with VC analysis in air, and one each with its detection in aqueous liquids, foodstuffs and polyvinyl chloride. Each method is preceded by a brief description of its scope and application, the principle on which it is based and any potential hazards. As in the first volume, the recommended IS0 format is used to set out the methods. Head-space gas-chromatographic analysis is used in three of the procedures; such analysis is being considered by IS0 as a basis for an international standard. This section is followed by methods for the preparation of calibration standards of VC in nitrogen or air, water and organic solvents. These are presented in the same clear style that characterizes the rest of this useful publication.
Report of the Government Chemist 1978. Department of Industry: Laboratory of the Government Chemist. HMSO, London, 1979. pp. 170. f4.25 One of the tasks of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist over the years has been the analysis of wildlife and foodstuffs for pesticide residues. In 1978. samples of birds of prey still contained residues of dieldrin, despite the 1974 ban on its use as a cerealseed dressing, as well as p,p’-DDE and PCB. However, in 100 samples of breast meat from wood 307
OF RECENT
Asbestos Vol. 1. Properties, Applications, and Hazards. Edited by L. Michaels and S. S. Chissick. J. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1979. pp. xi + 553. f25.00 This book presents an extremely comprehensive and well-balanced exposition of the use of asbestos, the monitoring and identification of asbestos fibres, exposure to asbestos, and asbestos-related diseases. Each chapter is contributed by an expert on the subject. These experts range from mineralogists and physicists to pathologists and epidemiologists. The geological occurrence, types and structure of the asbestos minerals are dealt with in two early chapters. Their fibrous character, tensile strength and resistance to high temperatures, which make them so important commercially, are discussed and particular attention is paid to their different surface characteristics. The fact that the surface properties of asbestos can be altered in various ways is mentioned, although the very recent data indicating that metal leaching of the fibre may occur in biological fluids are omitted. The attitudes to asbestos shown by different groups such as governments, employers, trade unions and the general public are lucidly discussed, and so are the occupational and non-occupational exposure of man to asbestos and the redistribution of asbestos in the environment. One chapter is devoted to the monitoring and identification of airborne asbestos, another to its identification in solid materials. There is an extremely thorough chapter dealing with regulations on the use of asbestos and with its control in a working environment. This latter topic is also discussed by several other contributors. Before asbestos-related diseases are considered in detail, it is made clear that current substitutes are often technically inferior to asbestos and that there are limited data on the risks associated with some of the substitutes. Five chapters are concerned with asbestos-related diseases. These deal with the pathological changes associated with the inhalation of asbestos-asbestosis, carcinoma, mesothelioma and pleural plaques. The clinical features of each condition are clearly described, as well as the macro- and microscopic appearances at post-mortem examination. Experimental pathology is discussed, but not the difficulties of extrapolating the results of animal experiments to man, and there is a lucid discussion on the epidemiology of asbestos-related diseases. The final chapter in this volume concerns methods of preventing asbestos-related diseases, including the physical control of human exposure to asbestos and medical management. In it are also discussed synergistic co-factors such as cigarette smoking, prior occupational exposure to inhaled carcinogens, immunodeficiency and individual susceptibility. This book is marked Volume 1 and we look forward with great interest to the appearance of a companion volume.
PUBLICATIONS
Environmental CarcinogensSelected Methods of Analysis. Vol. 2-Methods for the Measurement of Vinyl Chloride in Poly(vinyl chloride), Air, Water and Foodstulk By D. C. M. Squire11 and W. Thain. IARC Scientific Publications no. 22. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1978. pp. xiii + 142. SW. fr. 75.00 (available in the UK through HMSO). This volume continues the series that was begun with methods of analysis for nitrosamines (Cited in F.C.T. 1979, 17, 535) and is equally well presented. An introductory chapter by L. Griciute deals with the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride (VC) and with legislation designed to limit exposure to the monomer. The named authors then provide a general review of approaches to the monitoring and measurement of VC. Ionization and spectroscopic detection methods are discussed, as well as those based on chemical, thermal and electrical properties, and separation techniques (mainly involving gas chromatography) are mentioned. Sampling techniques for specific applications are covered, and there are sections on the detection of VC in polymers, food and food simulants, and on the preparation of VC standards. Unfortunately, few recommendations are made about which methods are best and the number of references to ‘personal communications’41, compared with 101 listed references-seems disproportionate. The section on methods of analysis contains eight carefully written procedures, five dealing with VC analysis in air, and one each with its detection in aqueous liquids, foodstuffs and polyvinyl chloride. Each method is preceded by a brief description of its scope and application, the principle on which it is based and any potential hazards. As in the first volume, the recommended IS0 format is used to set out the methods. Head-space gas-chromatographic analysis is used in three of the procedures; such analysis is being considered by IS0 as a basis for an international standard. This section is followed by methods for the preparation of calibration standards of VC in nitrogen or air, water and organic solvents. These are presented in the same clear style that characterizes the rest of this useful publication.
Report of the Government Chemist 1978. Department of Industry: Laboratory of the Government Chemist. HMSO, London, 1979. pp. 170. f4.25 One of the tasks of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist over the years has been the analysis of wildlife and foodstuffs for pesticide residues. In 1978. samples of birds of prey still contained residues of dieldrin, despite the 1974 ban on its use as a cerealseed dressing, as well as p,p’-DDE and PCB. However, in 100 samples of breast meat from wood 307