Methods for the measurement of vinyl chloride in poly (vinyl chloride), air, water and foodstuffs

197 liver. Having described y e t another elegant activation method hopefully case histories using this m e t h o d following Cd and Zn exposure will not be t o o long before they appear in the literature. Final papers of this volume are concerned with medical applications of whole b o d y analysis such as observations on total-body Ca in humans with bone diseases, assessment of the distribution of protein in the b o d y , determination of nitrogen in wasting disease and a round table discussion. The general format of this b o o k is similar to previous symposia on the subject, b u t it appears to mark a watershed in the series. The first t w o were firmly entrenched in the value of activation analysis, its unique capabilities, such as high sensitivity for detection of a large number of elements and freedom from contamination, at least for post irradiation procedures. Neutron activation prospered when there were really no competitive methods for many types of analysis and quite correctly the various techniques became, and still are, established as reliable reference methods. Today there are several alternative methods of analysis which do n o t require the special facilities essential to radioactivation analysis and this volume identifies some advantages and disadvantages of nuclear versus non-nuclear methods. Nevertheless while the tendency is to emphasise the unique aspects of activation analysis, several contributions are merely repetitions of previous rather mundane descriptions where activation analysis has been used to determine a few elements in a few samples and little new information is gained. On the other hand this volume does contain some papers which mark significant advances in the life sciences and hopefully in the future further symposia will concentrate upon activation methods to defined problems and matrixes which cannot be tackled b y other methods. Nuclear activation requires very special facilities which are only available to a few and they should be used on problems which cannot be easily solved with other more commercially available instrumentation.

Yelverton (England)

E.I. Hamilton

Environmental Carcinogens Selected Methods of Analysis, edited by H. Egan, Volume 2, Methods for the measurement of vinyl chloride in poly (vinyl chloride), air, water and foodstuffs, By D.C.M. Squirrell and W. Thain, IARC Scientific Publications No. 22, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland. 1978, 142 pp. Price: Sw. fr. 75.00; US $ 45.00. The methods described in this volume are based upon those presented in the UK Chemical Industries Association Manual (Ed. 3) and reflect generally accepted methods of analysis used throughout the world. Nevertheless it is essential to select methods in order that data obtained from various sites and in different environmental matrixes may be compared one with another in a satisfactory manner. The various methods are presented in a very clear and concise manner, b u t they are qualified b y reference for the need to recognise

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problems of sampling because of the volatile nature of vinyl chloride and also they should be used by analysts experienced in handling volatile substances at trace concentrations. The instrumental m e t h o d of choice is gas chromatography using a flame detector and calculation of results on the basis of peak height measurement of GC traces. Altogether eight methods are described, six concerned with air and one each for water and foodstuffs; detailed procedures for the preparation of standard mixtures and their testing are also provided. Although mainly concerned with chemical analysis, this volume also contains an introduction to the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride and an excellent review of techniques for monitoring and measurement. In keeping with other IARC monographs, this one is very well presented; selection of material, references and attention to details essential for practical use are excellent.

Yelverton (England)

E.I. Hamilton