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Guide to the safe handling of radioisotopes in hydrology
668
Book revieu:s
Stochastik der S t r a h l e n w i r k u n g , O. Huc. u n d A. M. KELLERER, Springer-Verlag (1966). t37 pp., D M 28. IN QUANTITATIVE radiation biology r a d i a t i o n effects on living systems are mostly described in terms of dose-effect relationships, the interpretation of which is usually based on target theory. T h e r e are cases where this i n t e r p r e t a t i o n is straightforward a n d unambiguous. T h e r e are, however, m a n y instances where a n application of target theory is no more t h a n a pure formality a n d no longer justified. T h e reason is t h a t the radiation effect is not only d e t e r m i n e d by the discrete absorption events b u t also by the multiple stochastics of the vital processes involved. T h e book contains three almost i n d e p e n d e n t sections. T h e first p a r t deals with the question of w h i c h i n h e r e n t features of the systems can (or cannot) be derived front a n experimentally obtained dose-effect curve. T h e radiation effect is described as a Markoffprocess a n d the systems u n d e r investigation are d e t e r m i n e d by state-vectors composed of occupation immbers ( n u m b e r of elements with 0, 1 . . . n hits), a n d by characteristic transition matrices. By this means a general scheme of the kinetics of the radiation effect is given which is not only a generalization of target theory b u t also covers the physiological processes involved. T h e governing biological concept postulates an i n h e r e n t probability for each cell to fail in a certain critical phase of its existence, the effect of radiation being a n increase in this probability. I n Part I I suitable parameters are defined which should be used in characterizing dose-effect curves. I m p o r t a n t quantities are the " m e a n activation dose" and the "relative steepness" of the dose-effect curve. It is d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t there is a f u n d a m e n t a l a n d useful correlation between the relative steepness a n d the n u m b e r of absorption events. Pm't I I I contains a detailed discussion of the distribution of dose in microscopic volumes a n d time, following Rossi's concept of microdosimetry. Correlations between different distribution functions of dose a n d local energy density are derived. N u m e r i c a l results are given for a 1,, sphere i r r a d i a t e d by Co G°radiation a n d neutrons of m e d i u m energy. T h e m i n i m u m d i a m e t e r of the sensitive volume of m a m m a l i a n cells has been estimated by c o m p a r i n g the theory with experimental d a t a to be a b o u t 1.u for sparsely ionizing radiation. This excellent a n d very clearly written book contains a great deal of useful information even t h o u g h it is not i n t e n d e d to be a textbook, b u t r a t h e r the outline of a p r o g r a m m e . It was a pleasure for the reviewer to read it. It will certainly b e of great value to all those working actively in this interesting field of m o d e r n r a d i a t i o n biology. Its literature index is a
useful guide, covering also very recent publications u p to 1966. HOIST H. EISENLO~IR
Guide to the Safe H a n d l i n g o f R a d i o i s o t o p e s in Hydrology, Safety Series No. 20. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Atomic Energy Agency, V i e n n a (Her Majesty's Stationery Oltice, London) 1966. 39 pp., S1.00 THIS is not one of I.A.E.A.'s best 'Safety Series' guides. It is p e r h a p s fortunate t h a t the 'provisions of the m a n u a l should not be treated as regulations b u t as r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ' since it is difficult to o b t a i n firm g u i d a n c e from such a n agglomerate of facts. T h e p r o b l e m is t h a t the m a n u a l tries to cover too wide a field a n d one finds the a u t h o r s ' t h o u g h t s j u m p i n g from one type of investigation to a n o t h e r in the same p a r a g r a p h a n d trying to cover all the eventualities w h i c h m a y occur. P a r t of the confusion arises from the c o m b i n a t i o n of h a n d l i n g r e c o m m e n dations for hydrological tracer investigations a n d for coastal a n d river siltation experiments. T h e two do not fit together in one general guide such as this. O n e a p p e n d i x gives a useful analysis of safcty considerations in a g r o u n d w a t e r tracer e x p e r i m e n t a n d t h e n is spoilt by a n incomplete note of a few of the points to be considered in a sediment tracing investigation. T h e r e are a n u m b e r of" p r i n t i n g e r r o r s - - i t is p e r h a p s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t the Oxford Dictionary defines ' a m p u l l a ' not as the plural of a m p o u l e b u t as a ' R o m a n two h a n d l e d flask; vessel for sacred nses', hardly suitable for c o n t a i n i n g radioactive materials. D. B. SsuTu
R a d i o i s o t o p e s in the D e t e c t i o n o f Pesticide R e s i d u e s , I n t e r n a t i o n a l Atomic Encrgy Agency, V i e n n a , 1966.
118 pp., H . M . S . O . 17/8d.
THE INTRODUCTION to this p u b l i c a t i o n concludes: " R e s i d u e analysis must become a routine quality control test. Analytical isotope techniques are simple a n d highly accurate, b u t sometimes timeconsuming a n d not yet suitable for routine application." Despite these reservations, the majority of papers in this meeting of a p a n e l of experts describe the use of radioactive tracer techniques for the m e a s u r e m e n t of insecticide a n d herbicide residues a n d tbr the study of their retention a u d metabolism. A wide range of
Book revieu:s
Stochastik der S t r a h l e n w i r k u n g , O. Huc. u n d A. M. KELLERER, Springer-Verlag (1966). t37 pp., D M 28. IN QUANTITATIVE radiation biology r a d i a t i o n effects on living systems are mostly described in terms of dose-effect relationships, the interpretation of which is usually based on target theory. T h e r e are cases where this i n t e r p r e t a t i o n is straightforward a n d unambiguous. T h e r e are, however, m a n y instances where a n application of target theory is no more t h a n a pure formality a n d no longer justified. T h e reason is t h a t the radiation effect is not only d e t e r m i n e d by the discrete absorption events b u t also by the multiple stochastics of the vital processes involved. T h e book contains three almost i n d e p e n d e n t sections. T h e first p a r t deals with the question of w h i c h i n h e r e n t features of the systems can (or cannot) be derived front a n experimentally obtained dose-effect curve. T h e radiation effect is described as a Markoffprocess a n d the systems u n d e r investigation are d e t e r m i n e d by state-vectors composed of occupation immbers ( n u m b e r of elements with 0, 1 . . . n hits), a n d by characteristic transition matrices. By this means a general scheme of the kinetics of the radiation effect is given which is not only a generalization of target theory b u t also covers the physiological processes involved. T h e governing biological concept postulates an i n h e r e n t probability for each cell to fail in a certain critical phase of its existence, the effect of radiation being a n increase in this probability. I n Part I I suitable parameters are defined which should be used in characterizing dose-effect curves. I m p o r t a n t quantities are the " m e a n activation dose" and the "relative steepness" of the dose-effect curve. It is d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t there is a f u n d a m e n t a l a n d useful correlation between the relative steepness a n d the n u m b e r of absorption events. Pm't I I I contains a detailed discussion of the distribution of dose in microscopic volumes a n d time, following Rossi's concept of microdosimetry. Correlations between different distribution functions of dose a n d local energy density are derived. N u m e r i c a l results are given for a 1,, sphere i r r a d i a t e d by Co G°radiation a n d neutrons of m e d i u m energy. T h e m i n i m u m d i a m e t e r of the sensitive volume of m a m m a l i a n cells has been estimated by c o m p a r i n g the theory with experimental d a t a to be a b o u t 1.u for sparsely ionizing radiation. This excellent a n d very clearly written book contains a great deal of useful information even t h o u g h it is not i n t e n d e d to be a textbook, b u t r a t h e r the outline of a p r o g r a m m e . It was a pleasure for the reviewer to read it. It will certainly b e of great value to all those working actively in this interesting field of m o d e r n r a d i a t i o n biology. Its literature index is a
useful guide, covering also very recent publications u p to 1966. HOIST H. EISENLO~IR
Guide to the Safe H a n d l i n g o f R a d i o i s o t o p e s in Hydrology, Safety Series No. 20. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Atomic Energy Agency, V i e n n a (Her Majesty's Stationery Oltice, London) 1966. 39 pp., S1.00 THIS is not one of I.A.E.A.'s best 'Safety Series' guides. It is p e r h a p s fortunate t h a t the 'provisions of the m a n u a l should not be treated as regulations b u t as r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ' since it is difficult to o b t a i n firm g u i d a n c e from such a n agglomerate of facts. T h e p r o b l e m is t h a t the m a n u a l tries to cover too wide a field a n d one finds the a u t h o r s ' t h o u g h t s j u m p i n g from one type of investigation to a n o t h e r in the same p a r a g r a p h a n d trying to cover all the eventualities w h i c h m a y occur. P a r t of the confusion arises from the c o m b i n a t i o n of h a n d l i n g r e c o m m e n dations for hydrological tracer investigations a n d for coastal a n d river siltation experiments. T h e two do not fit together in one general guide such as this. O n e a p p e n d i x gives a useful analysis of safcty considerations in a g r o u n d w a t e r tracer e x p e r i m e n t a n d t h e n is spoilt by a n incomplete note of a few of the points to be considered in a sediment tracing investigation. T h e r e are a n u m b e r of" p r i n t i n g e r r o r s - - i t is p e r h a p s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t the Oxford Dictionary defines ' a m p u l l a ' not as the plural of a m p o u l e b u t as a ' R o m a n two h a n d l e d flask; vessel for sacred nses', hardly suitable for c o n t a i n i n g radioactive materials. D. B. SsuTu
R a d i o i s o t o p e s in the D e t e c t i o n o f Pesticide R e s i d u e s , I n t e r n a t i o n a l Atomic Encrgy Agency, V i e n n a , 1966.
118 pp., H . M . S . O . 17/8d.
THE INTRODUCTION to this p u b l i c a t i o n concludes: " R e s i d u e analysis must become a routine quality control test. Analytical isotope techniques are simple a n d highly accurate, b u t sometimes timeconsuming a n d not yet suitable for routine application." Despite these reservations, the majority of papers in this meeting of a p a n e l of experts describe the use of radioactive tracer techniques for the m e a s u r e m e n t of insecticide a n d herbicide residues a n d tbr the study of their retention a u d metabolism. A wide range of