Nuclear analytical chemistry

142 The authors, using defined procedures, have provided a very valuable atlas of mortality which should form the basis for further studies in which other environmental and social variables can be incorporated. I recommend this book to all who are interested in the geographical distribution of disease, and especially to those who believe that environmental factors can influence or even give rise to defined types of disease; mining and pneumoconioses is now accepted, but the concentration of particulate debris in the air and lung disorders, or heart disease and the quality of water still have to be examined in depth in relation to environmental factors.

Plymouth (United Kingdom)

E.I. Hamilton

Nuclear Analytical Chemistry, by D. Brune, B. Forkman and B. Persson, Studentlitteratur, Chartwell Bratt Ltd., Bromley, 1984, 557 pp. Over the past few decades various nuclear techniques have provided an important contribution to the determination of a large number of elements, especially those present at trace levels in a variety of matrices. This book contains all the information required to understand the basis of nuclear analytical chemistry, from the more popular slow neutron activation methods to more recent innovations which use epithermal and fast neutrons, p h o t o n activation and the various methods which employ shallow penetration for determining the distribution of elements on surfaces. The methods are still restricted to those who have access to a suitable source of irradiation and the necessary laboratories for handling radioactive materials. Part A of this book deals with the fundamentals of nuclear processes and identifies the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods, but insufficient attention is paid to alpha emitters and the use of dielectric detectors. Part B deals specifically with the detection of nuclear particles, including essential electronics and data processing. Part C describes various types of activation analysis, but there is insufficient attention given to the detection limits which are attainable for different chemical matrices. The discussion of the use of various Reference Materials is poorly covered, which is unfortunate as it is the only way of illustrating the advantages of the nuclear analytical technique. In the Preface, I quote, " . . . is generally considered superior to the other techniques with respect to accuracy and freedom from interferences"; this is probably true in the hands of a skilled analyst, but an examination of data obtained from interlaboratory standardisation exercises, and the use of Reference Materials, clearly illustrates that the techniques are not free from problems which plague many types of analyses. Nevertheless, the methods have provided some of the most reliable measurements available, but increasingly t h e y compete with non-nuclear techniques such as atomic absorption and inductive coupled plasma spectrometry.

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Part D provides a useful review of various applications of the techniques, and dwells upon the chemical aspects of radionuclide separations, for example in biological and medical research, criminology and environmental sciences and concludes with a brief discussion of various aspects of radiological protection. Although I highly recommend this book to those interested in nuclear analytical chemistry, its main purpose seems to be directed towards students rather than those engaged in analytical chemistry, although they also will certainly benefit from reading this book. Throughout the text little attention is given to identifying the best methods, and instead all methods are treated in a similar manner with an emphasis on theory rather than practice. As a source book on nuclear analytical chemistry it should be welcomed by a wide audience and clearly identifies what the various techniques have to offer. Plymouth (United Kingdom) E.I. Hamilton