Geochemistry of organic matter in the ocean

238 gouty prince regent, later King George IV, and many of their aristocratic councilors. In addition to the etiology, the book also deals extensively with the nostrums of gout treatment. The pandemic nature of this particular ailment is evidenced by the massive references in the medical and literary records, the critical ones of which have been assembled in the book. For some time to come, Lead in the Pot will likely remain the premier reference work on lead poisoning and gout in an historical framework. It is a delightful b o o k which should be read by anyone concerned about the health effects of environmental metal pollution. The book ends on this particular score with the cogent observation that "in modern times plebian workmen have replaced the Roman aristocracy as the major victims of unrecognized plumbism. The fruit of man's labor has displaced the fruit of the vine as the focus of concern". Indeed, ample evidence has certainly been provided to show why lead poisoning has remained a c o m m o n occupational and consumer disease from remote antiquity to the present time.

Burlington (Canada)

J.O. Nriagu

Geochemistry o f Organic Matter in the Ocean, by Evgenii A. Romankevich, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1984, 334 pp. This is a well revised and updated second English Edition of the Russian work of the same title published in 1978. It represents a carefully selected compilation of the most reliable Soviet work in marine organic chemistry which would otherwise not have received adequate exposure to the Western Scientific Community. The discussion consists of the sources, cycling, composition and ultimate fate of organic matter in ocean presented in nine chapters: 1. Sources of Organic Matter in the Ocean. 2. Carbon of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Ocean. 3. Carbon of Particulate Organic Matter. 4. Organic Carbon in Late Quaternary Sediments of Seas and Oceans. 5. Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Processes of Sedimentogenesis. 6. Proteinaceous Compounds and Amino Acids. 7. Carbohydrates. 8. Chemical Transformation of Lipids During Sedimentogenesis. 9. Specific Organic Compounds. Author Index. This book is well illustrated with over 68 figures and 72 tables and emphasises the geochemical and sedimentological aspects of marine organic matter; it is an excellent compilation of basic compositional information on the elemental and molecular organic chemistry of biota, particulates, dissolved and sedimentary phases. Attempts have been made to integrate

239 data from various authors into global or ocean basin distribution patterns, which is often lacking in the Western research. Although Romankevich does not cover new topics, such as solution and diagenetic thermodynamics and metal complexation with marine organic matter, I recommend it as an excellent and very readable geochemical treatise suitable for post graduate or professional researchers in marine chemistry.

Plymouth (United Kingdom)

R.F.C. Mantoura