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Industrial Guide to Chemical and Drug Safety
RESOURCE REVIEWS
Industrial Guide to Chemical and Drug Safety
T.S.S. Dikshith, Prakash V. Diwan, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 616 pp., $150, ISBN 0-471-23698-5 ‘‘I’ve never advocated the use of drugs. But they’ve always worked for me.’’ –Hunter S. Thompson Dr. H.S. Thompson’s remark is intended to attract attention to the subject matter included in this book, and, similar to many of his own books, this one is written in a narrative style that sets it apart from resource texts that tend to read like, well, resource texts. Having recently been named the overseer of the controlled substances program at my research institution, I welcomed the sections on drug safety. It appears to be a trend that controlled substance are being incorporated into Chemical Health & Safety programs, for the reason that they don’t fit well in any other program, unless given their own. The title is perhaps a bit misleading. To use the term ‘‘industrial’’ is restrictive, much like the fact that Industrial Hygienists do not limit performing occupational exposure assessments solely in industry. And although the topic of drugs is apparent, the fact that cosmetics and food additives are included is not. While there are encyclopedias which are far more intensive on the subject of chemical safety (e.g., Sigma–Aldrich’s three volume Library of Regulatory and Safety Data), this book is just the right size for anyone bookshelf, and it includes chapters on pesticides, heavy metals, herbicides, carbamates, industrial solvents, industrial gases, and the aforementioned topics of drugs and food additives. There are introductory chapters on the impact that chemicals have on risks to human health, and the environment, as well as an impressive section on toxicology that goes beyond basic elements and discusses metabolic reactions, genotoxicity, mutagenicity testing, and immunotoxicity. At the end of every chapter is an exhaustive list of references.
1074-9098/$30.00 doi:10.1016/j.chs.2003.09.010
Each chapter’s dealing with a specific chemical or chemical family is laid out to include common names, and synonyms, the molecular and structural formula, and a toxicity classification, based on the U.S. EPA, or the World Health Organization. Following this are narratives on uses and toxicity. Interesting anecdotes make these readable, such as the information that, for human study volunteers, there were no visible skin changes, sensitization, or other adverse dermal effects when Glyphosate (Roundup) was applied. Human study volunteers? The section on drugs begins with a chapter on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products. Tables are shown providing the steps involved in the discovery process, and the evaluation for therapeutic uses. Drugs are linked to their respective human diseases, and even common vitamins are included for discussion. Drugs of abuse and misuse are highlighted, but not given in depth evaluations. Common cardiovascular medications such as ACE inhibitors and Beta Blockers are given their due, however, I saw no mention of diuretics in the same section, even though this class of medicine is making a comeback in the treatment of hypertension. The book begins to wind down with a chapter on disposal of hazardous chemicals, and at the end of this particular chapter there are appendices listing shock sensitive chemicals, chemical incompatibilities, and one table indicating select ‘‘nonhazardous organic and inorganic chemicals suitable for sanitary sewer disposal.’’ I would not have included this table, as there are strict local and State regulations that may not allow such disposal. Finally, the reader is treated to concluding chapters on good laboratory practice and some guidelines for laboratory students and non-laboratory workers on topics such as equipment maintenance, cryogenic hazards, evacuation procedures, and warning signs. This has all been stated elsewhere, in many other books, and does not introduce anything new. By this time the reader has utilized the resource for its intended entitled subject matter, namely chemical and drug
safety, and this can be viewed either as filler material or the necessary complement to the subject matter. Thirty-eight appendices close out the book, with some interesting titles, such as ‘‘Industrial Chemicals and Global Disasters’’ and, ‘‘Highly Polluting Industries,’’ and a glossary. This book would make a great textbook or resource text for a course in chemical safety. The rudimentary treatment given to some chemicals is forgivable, knowing that there are other texts out there for the true toxicologist. Reviewed by Stefan Wawzyniecki Dioxins and Health, 2nd ed.
Arnold Schecter, Thomas A. Gasiewicz, Wiley/Interscience, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2003, 952 pp., $150.00, ISBN 0-471-43355-1. This hardbound book contains the most up to date scientific and medical information on one of the most potent, well-known, and long-lasting organic pollutants. Since the first edition of this book in 1994, there have been significant advances in dioxin research, especially in human epidemiology and animal studies involving dioxins and structural analogues. These chemicals include halogenated dioxins and dibenzofurans, some of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other compounds that are structurally and toxicologically similar to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD or TCDD). The chapter authors are internationally recognized scientists who have generated much of the original research data about dioxins. They discuss the relevance of their scientific data to possible human exposures and health risks. This book provides meaningful information to a broad range of health professionals, including toxicologists, nutritionists, environmental scientists, risk assessors, epidemiologists, and analytical chemists, as well as non-health professionals interested in dioxins, such as public health policy makers and the general public. The information presented is supported by over 3,700 refer-
ß Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
39
ence citations from the scientific and medical literature. The book basically provides current information relevant to human health risks as well as the molecular mechanisms used by these chemicals to affect cellular functions. The book begins with an introductory overview of the continuing dioxin debate—some believe it is the archetype of all toxic chemicals and others believe dioxin causes no harm to humans other than chloracne. The next two chapters provide a perspective on the sources of the dioxins, how they move in the environment, and how and why humans are exposed predominantly by dietary intake. Effects of these chemicals on certain health outcomes and a brief overview of the toxicology of the dioxins are summarized. Approaches used to consider the available animal and human
40
data for possible human health risks are summarized. Good news is presented that human body burdens of these chemicals are declining in industrialized countries. The fate of dioxins in animal and human tissues; responses to these chemicals; cellular and biochemical alterations that lead to toxic responses in the immune system, on developing and reproductive tissues; the role of the Ah receptor in toxic effects; the possibility of developing molecular biomarkers of susceptibility and exposure are all topics covered. Models using Zebra fish to understand relationships between molecular actions and effects of dioxins; cancer epidemiology; use of high resolution gas chromatography—high resolution mass spectroscopy in exposure assessment of dioxins; epidemiology of PCBs; epidemiology of dioxins
and human cancer; reproductive and developmental epidemiology of dioxins; details of the major dioxin incident that took place in Seveso, Italy; and health consequences of Japan rice oil, or Yusho, poisoning with PCBs, dibenzofurans, and small amounts of other chemicals; and a similar rice oil poisoning, the Yucheng incident, that occurred in Taiwan, are all discussed in detail. Dioxins and Health is an excellent presentation of policy and science from the level of the molecule to the level of the whole animal, as well as human epidemiology. It presents a large amount of information that is useful to scientific and medial experts, policy makers, and the general public. Reviewed by William E. Luttrell
Chemical Health & Safety, November/December 2003
Industrial Guide to Chemical and Drug Safety
T.S.S. Dikshith, Prakash V. Diwan, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 616 pp., $150, ISBN 0-471-23698-5 ‘‘I’ve never advocated the use of drugs. But they’ve always worked for me.’’ –Hunter S. Thompson Dr. H.S. Thompson’s remark is intended to attract attention to the subject matter included in this book, and, similar to many of his own books, this one is written in a narrative style that sets it apart from resource texts that tend to read like, well, resource texts. Having recently been named the overseer of the controlled substances program at my research institution, I welcomed the sections on drug safety. It appears to be a trend that controlled substance are being incorporated into Chemical Health & Safety programs, for the reason that they don’t fit well in any other program, unless given their own. The title is perhaps a bit misleading. To use the term ‘‘industrial’’ is restrictive, much like the fact that Industrial Hygienists do not limit performing occupational exposure assessments solely in industry. And although the topic of drugs is apparent, the fact that cosmetics and food additives are included is not. While there are encyclopedias which are far more intensive on the subject of chemical safety (e.g., Sigma–Aldrich’s three volume Library of Regulatory and Safety Data), this book is just the right size for anyone bookshelf, and it includes chapters on pesticides, heavy metals, herbicides, carbamates, industrial solvents, industrial gases, and the aforementioned topics of drugs and food additives. There are introductory chapters on the impact that chemicals have on risks to human health, and the environment, as well as an impressive section on toxicology that goes beyond basic elements and discusses metabolic reactions, genotoxicity, mutagenicity testing, and immunotoxicity. At the end of every chapter is an exhaustive list of references.
1074-9098/$30.00 doi:10.1016/j.chs.2003.09.010
Each chapter’s dealing with a specific chemical or chemical family is laid out to include common names, and synonyms, the molecular and structural formula, and a toxicity classification, based on the U.S. EPA, or the World Health Organization. Following this are narratives on uses and toxicity. Interesting anecdotes make these readable, such as the information that, for human study volunteers, there were no visible skin changes, sensitization, or other adverse dermal effects when Glyphosate (Roundup) was applied. Human study volunteers? The section on drugs begins with a chapter on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products. Tables are shown providing the steps involved in the discovery process, and the evaluation for therapeutic uses. Drugs are linked to their respective human diseases, and even common vitamins are included for discussion. Drugs of abuse and misuse are highlighted, but not given in depth evaluations. Common cardiovascular medications such as ACE inhibitors and Beta Blockers are given their due, however, I saw no mention of diuretics in the same section, even though this class of medicine is making a comeback in the treatment of hypertension. The book begins to wind down with a chapter on disposal of hazardous chemicals, and at the end of this particular chapter there are appendices listing shock sensitive chemicals, chemical incompatibilities, and one table indicating select ‘‘nonhazardous organic and inorganic chemicals suitable for sanitary sewer disposal.’’ I would not have included this table, as there are strict local and State regulations that may not allow such disposal. Finally, the reader is treated to concluding chapters on good laboratory practice and some guidelines for laboratory students and non-laboratory workers on topics such as equipment maintenance, cryogenic hazards, evacuation procedures, and warning signs. This has all been stated elsewhere, in many other books, and does not introduce anything new. By this time the reader has utilized the resource for its intended entitled subject matter, namely chemical and drug
safety, and this can be viewed either as filler material or the necessary complement to the subject matter. Thirty-eight appendices close out the book, with some interesting titles, such as ‘‘Industrial Chemicals and Global Disasters’’ and, ‘‘Highly Polluting Industries,’’ and a glossary. This book would make a great textbook or resource text for a course in chemical safety. The rudimentary treatment given to some chemicals is forgivable, knowing that there are other texts out there for the true toxicologist. Reviewed by Stefan Wawzyniecki Dioxins and Health, 2nd ed.
Arnold Schecter, Thomas A. Gasiewicz, Wiley/Interscience, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2003, 952 pp., $150.00, ISBN 0-471-43355-1. This hardbound book contains the most up to date scientific and medical information on one of the most potent, well-known, and long-lasting organic pollutants. Since the first edition of this book in 1994, there have been significant advances in dioxin research, especially in human epidemiology and animal studies involving dioxins and structural analogues. These chemicals include halogenated dioxins and dibenzofurans, some of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other compounds that are structurally and toxicologically similar to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD or TCDD). The chapter authors are internationally recognized scientists who have generated much of the original research data about dioxins. They discuss the relevance of their scientific data to possible human exposures and health risks. This book provides meaningful information to a broad range of health professionals, including toxicologists, nutritionists, environmental scientists, risk assessors, epidemiologists, and analytical chemists, as well as non-health professionals interested in dioxins, such as public health policy makers and the general public. The information presented is supported by over 3,700 refer-
ß Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical Society Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
39
ence citations from the scientific and medical literature. The book basically provides current information relevant to human health risks as well as the molecular mechanisms used by these chemicals to affect cellular functions. The book begins with an introductory overview of the continuing dioxin debate—some believe it is the archetype of all toxic chemicals and others believe dioxin causes no harm to humans other than chloracne. The next two chapters provide a perspective on the sources of the dioxins, how they move in the environment, and how and why humans are exposed predominantly by dietary intake. Effects of these chemicals on certain health outcomes and a brief overview of the toxicology of the dioxins are summarized. Approaches used to consider the available animal and human
40
data for possible human health risks are summarized. Good news is presented that human body burdens of these chemicals are declining in industrialized countries. The fate of dioxins in animal and human tissues; responses to these chemicals; cellular and biochemical alterations that lead to toxic responses in the immune system, on developing and reproductive tissues; the role of the Ah receptor in toxic effects; the possibility of developing molecular biomarkers of susceptibility and exposure are all topics covered. Models using Zebra fish to understand relationships between molecular actions and effects of dioxins; cancer epidemiology; use of high resolution gas chromatography—high resolution mass spectroscopy in exposure assessment of dioxins; epidemiology of PCBs; epidemiology of dioxins
and human cancer; reproductive and developmental epidemiology of dioxins; details of the major dioxin incident that took place in Seveso, Italy; and health consequences of Japan rice oil, or Yusho, poisoning with PCBs, dibenzofurans, and small amounts of other chemicals; and a similar rice oil poisoning, the Yucheng incident, that occurred in Taiwan, are all discussed in detail. Dioxins and Health is an excellent presentation of policy and science from the level of the molecule to the level of the whole animal, as well as human epidemiology. It presents a large amount of information that is useful to scientific and medial experts, policy makers, and the general public. Reviewed by William E. Luttrell
Chemical Health & Safety, November/December 2003