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Polycyclic Hydrocarbons
214
BOOK REVIEWS
General analytical methods are considered as well as special methods for application to foods and drinks and for monitoring atmospheric sulphur dioxide. It is praiseworthy that although it is directed primarily at the food technologist this monograph includes a chapter entitled "Toxicity". Phytotoxicity receives brief attention, but the main considerations lie in the effects of sulphur dioxide and sulphite on man and animals following inhalation, topical application and parenteral (animals only) and oral administration. Although a quite impressive review of the literature up to 1964 has been made, a critical appraisal of sulphite toxicity in relation to its use as a food additive has not been attempted. Sadly overlooked in this connexion are the views expressed in the Sixth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (Cited in F.C.T., 1963, 1, 37); admittedly the re-evaluation of sulphite toxicology in the Eighth Report published in 1965 (ibid 1965, 3, 814 & 819) would have been too late for consideration. Since this book was written, we have acquired a better understanding of the effects of sulphite on calcium balance, vitamin A and thiamine which is particularly t~mely in view of the increasing dietary intake of sulphite. The implications of these findings will not have escaped our more discerning readers (ibid 1966, 4, 187). Finally, it is to be hoped that readers of this volume will not take as authoritative the author's views on food legislation in the UK and place too literal an interpretation on the following: "The governmental requirements for food additives in Great Britain are especially stringent. Therefore, it is significant that only benzoic and sulfurous acid and certain of their salts are permitted food additives." Only two permitted additives ? What next--a food-additive squeeze ? Polyeyelic Hydrocarbons. Vol. 1. By E. Clar. Academic Press, London-New York/SpringerVerlag, Berlin, 1964. pp. xxvii+487. 126s. Polyeyelie Hydrocarbons. Vol. 2. By E. Clar. Academic Press, London-New York/SpringerVerlag, Berlin, 1964. pp. lvii+487. £7. These two volumes provide a comprehensive survey of the wide range of compounds coming under the general heading of polycyclic hydrocarbons. Avid readers of Food and Cosmetics Toxicology may sometimes feel that this class of compounds is merely a collection of contaminants which turn up from time to time in unfortunate places, but this publication is a salutary antidote to such an impression. The first 19 chapters deal with such basic considerations as nomenclature, theories relating to structure, magnetic and chemical properties and spectra, carcinogenic properties (about which more later) and general methods of preparation. Then follow descriptions of individual compounds, some 260 in all, arranged according to structural group and providing information on synthesis and physical and chemical properties, together with an indication of occurrence, where appropriate, and whether the material is carcinogenic or not, if this is known. The question of careinogenicity is reviewed in a special contribution by Dr. Regina Schoental of the Medical Research Council. Starting from the eighteenth-century observation of a high incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps and the discovery of the first carcinogenic constituent of coal tar--our old friend 3,4-benzopyrene Dr. Schoental brings us up to date with a consideration of the proposed mechanisms of carcinogenesis, the main groups of chemical carcinogens and the special properties which distinguish
BOOK REVIEWS
215
carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons from other carcinogens, notably their ability to induce tumours in nearly every tissue and animal species in which they are tested. The metabolism of some of these compounds and the relationship between carcinogenic action and molecular structure are discussed and attention is drawn to the suggestion that carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons, which have a steric resemblance to some steroids, may act as antimetabolites. This contribution puts the carcinogenlcity of polycyclic hydrocarbons into perspective in a manner which should prove interesting and readable to the chemists, physicists and technologists in the dyestuffs, coal and oil industries, for whom this book was written and who are not primarily concerned with biological matters. Biochemistry of Phenolic Compounds. Edited by J. B. Harborne. Academic Press, LondonNew York, 1964. pp. x+618. 126s. The first reaction to this volume was to doubt whether phenolic compounds form a sufficiently unified group, biochemically speaking, for a treatise devoted entirely to the biochemistry of phenols to have much value. Phenols do not serve one or two major roles as do amino acids or carbohydrates, but turn up in odd corners of the metabolic chart, performing specialized and unrelated functions as pigments, hormones, alkaloids etc. On reflection however, this view seems unduly restricted. The very fragmented nature of the subject renders it difficult for those working on one aspect of phenolic biochemistry to keep abreast of progress in related fields, and this volume should help them to maintain a broad overall view of the subject. Its value would have been even greater if the compounds mentioned had been indexed by their chemical names, instead of only by tlieir trivial names, as this would have facilitated the location of chemically-related compounds mentioned in different contexts. The first four chapters are devoted to the chemistry and distribution of natural phenols and glycosides and these are followed by seven chapters covering metabolism, biosynthesis and genetics including a valuable account of "Metabolism of Plienolics in Animals" by R. T. Williams. Some functional aspects are discussed under the above headings, but the last three chapters are devoted to specific natural functions, namely "The Physiology and Pharmacology of Phenolic Compounds in Animals" by P. W. Ramwell, H. S. A. Sherratt and B. E. Leonard; "Pathological Function of Phenolic Compounds in Plants" (a discussion of the function of plant phenols in relation to disease resistance) by I. A. M. Cruickshank and Dawn R. Perrin; "Relations between the Taste and Structure of some Phenolic Glycosides" by R. M. Horowitz. The Editor has made a brave first attempt at a difficult task and earns an encouraging "well tried". The individual chapters are well written, but more space could have been given to functional aspects and the indexing should have been more helpful in a volume of this standard and price.
lmmunotolerance to Simple Chemicals. Hypersensitivity to Simple Chemicals as a Model for the Study of Immunological Tolerance. By A. L. De Week and J. R. Frey. VoL 1. Monographs in Allergy. Edited by P. Kall6s, H. C. Goodman and T. Inderbitzin. S. Karger, Basel-New York, 1966. pp. 142. D M 32. The sub-title conveys to the reader precisely the ground covered in this first volume in the series Monographs in Allergy. The text takes the form of a discussion, based on the existing literature (there are 718 references to substantiate this) and on personal experiments and
BOOK REVIEWS
General analytical methods are considered as well as special methods for application to foods and drinks and for monitoring atmospheric sulphur dioxide. It is praiseworthy that although it is directed primarily at the food technologist this monograph includes a chapter entitled "Toxicity". Phytotoxicity receives brief attention, but the main considerations lie in the effects of sulphur dioxide and sulphite on man and animals following inhalation, topical application and parenteral (animals only) and oral administration. Although a quite impressive review of the literature up to 1964 has been made, a critical appraisal of sulphite toxicity in relation to its use as a food additive has not been attempted. Sadly overlooked in this connexion are the views expressed in the Sixth Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (Cited in F.C.T., 1963, 1, 37); admittedly the re-evaluation of sulphite toxicology in the Eighth Report published in 1965 (ibid 1965, 3, 814 & 819) would have been too late for consideration. Since this book was written, we have acquired a better understanding of the effects of sulphite on calcium balance, vitamin A and thiamine which is particularly t~mely in view of the increasing dietary intake of sulphite. The implications of these findings will not have escaped our more discerning readers (ibid 1966, 4, 187). Finally, it is to be hoped that readers of this volume will not take as authoritative the author's views on food legislation in the UK and place too literal an interpretation on the following: "The governmental requirements for food additives in Great Britain are especially stringent. Therefore, it is significant that only benzoic and sulfurous acid and certain of their salts are permitted food additives." Only two permitted additives ? What next--a food-additive squeeze ? Polyeyelic Hydrocarbons. Vol. 1. By E. Clar. Academic Press, London-New York/SpringerVerlag, Berlin, 1964. pp. xxvii+487. 126s. Polyeyelie Hydrocarbons. Vol. 2. By E. Clar. Academic Press, London-New York/SpringerVerlag, Berlin, 1964. pp. lvii+487. £7. These two volumes provide a comprehensive survey of the wide range of compounds coming under the general heading of polycyclic hydrocarbons. Avid readers of Food and Cosmetics Toxicology may sometimes feel that this class of compounds is merely a collection of contaminants which turn up from time to time in unfortunate places, but this publication is a salutary antidote to such an impression. The first 19 chapters deal with such basic considerations as nomenclature, theories relating to structure, magnetic and chemical properties and spectra, carcinogenic properties (about which more later) and general methods of preparation. Then follow descriptions of individual compounds, some 260 in all, arranged according to structural group and providing information on synthesis and physical and chemical properties, together with an indication of occurrence, where appropriate, and whether the material is carcinogenic or not, if this is known. The question of careinogenicity is reviewed in a special contribution by Dr. Regina Schoental of the Medical Research Council. Starting from the eighteenth-century observation of a high incidence of scrotal cancer in chimney sweeps and the discovery of the first carcinogenic constituent of coal tar--our old friend 3,4-benzopyrene Dr. Schoental brings us up to date with a consideration of the proposed mechanisms of carcinogenesis, the main groups of chemical carcinogens and the special properties which distinguish
BOOK REVIEWS
215
carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons from other carcinogens, notably their ability to induce tumours in nearly every tissue and animal species in which they are tested. The metabolism of some of these compounds and the relationship between carcinogenic action and molecular structure are discussed and attention is drawn to the suggestion that carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons, which have a steric resemblance to some steroids, may act as antimetabolites. This contribution puts the carcinogenlcity of polycyclic hydrocarbons into perspective in a manner which should prove interesting and readable to the chemists, physicists and technologists in the dyestuffs, coal and oil industries, for whom this book was written and who are not primarily concerned with biological matters. Biochemistry of Phenolic Compounds. Edited by J. B. Harborne. Academic Press, LondonNew York, 1964. pp. x+618. 126s. The first reaction to this volume was to doubt whether phenolic compounds form a sufficiently unified group, biochemically speaking, for a treatise devoted entirely to the biochemistry of phenols to have much value. Phenols do not serve one or two major roles as do amino acids or carbohydrates, but turn up in odd corners of the metabolic chart, performing specialized and unrelated functions as pigments, hormones, alkaloids etc. On reflection however, this view seems unduly restricted. The very fragmented nature of the subject renders it difficult for those working on one aspect of phenolic biochemistry to keep abreast of progress in related fields, and this volume should help them to maintain a broad overall view of the subject. Its value would have been even greater if the compounds mentioned had been indexed by their chemical names, instead of only by tlieir trivial names, as this would have facilitated the location of chemically-related compounds mentioned in different contexts. The first four chapters are devoted to the chemistry and distribution of natural phenols and glycosides and these are followed by seven chapters covering metabolism, biosynthesis and genetics including a valuable account of "Metabolism of Plienolics in Animals" by R. T. Williams. Some functional aspects are discussed under the above headings, but the last three chapters are devoted to specific natural functions, namely "The Physiology and Pharmacology of Phenolic Compounds in Animals" by P. W. Ramwell, H. S. A. Sherratt and B. E. Leonard; "Pathological Function of Phenolic Compounds in Plants" (a discussion of the function of plant phenols in relation to disease resistance) by I. A. M. Cruickshank and Dawn R. Perrin; "Relations between the Taste and Structure of some Phenolic Glycosides" by R. M. Horowitz. The Editor has made a brave first attempt at a difficult task and earns an encouraging "well tried". The individual chapters are well written, but more space could have been given to functional aspects and the indexing should have been more helpful in a volume of this standard and price.
lmmunotolerance to Simple Chemicals. Hypersensitivity to Simple Chemicals as a Model for the Study of Immunological Tolerance. By A. L. De Week and J. R. Frey. VoL 1. Monographs in Allergy. Edited by P. Kall6s, H. C. Goodman and T. Inderbitzin. S. Karger, Basel-New York, 1966. pp. 142. D M 32. The sub-title conveys to the reader precisely the ground covered in this first volume in the series Monographs in Allergy. The text takes the form of a discussion, based on the existing literature (there are 718 references to substantiate this) and on personal experiments and