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Residue Reviews. Residues of Pesticides and Other Contaminants in the Total Environment
BOOK Food Protein Sources. International Biological Programme 4. Edited by N. W. Pirie. Cambridge University Press, London, 1975. pp. xx + 260. f7.50.
REVIEWS earth’s protein resources has been tackled at an international level (the table of contents in English, French, Russian and Spanish reflects the approach of this International Biological Programme) and the volume provides a useful guide to both conventionai and unconventional sources of food protein throughout the world.
This book is one of a series summarizing the results of national and international studies carried out within the framework of the International Biological Programme, which was established to meet the need for a better understanding of man’s environment in Residues of Pesticides and Other order to provide for the rational management of Residue Reviews. Contaminants in the Total Environment. Vol. 56. natural resources. Volume 4 draws together contribuEdited by F. A. Gunther. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, tions describing the major types of protein source, 1975. pp. ix + 138. DM 29.80. and divides them clearly into three main classes: sources edible after minimal processing, concentrates made by mechanical extraction and concentrates Volume 56 of this excellent series presents a major made by biological conversion. The lower limit for treatise on the gas chromatography of carbamate resia ‘protein source’ has been set arbitrarily at lS”/, produes, a review of the effect of sulphur dioxide on plant tein. This definition excludes those cereals that supply metabolism and structure and finally, and perhaps more than half the protein now eaten, but not some most notably, an account by a WHO scientist of the of the newer cereals. work and achievements of the Joint FAO/WHO Within the first class of protein source considered Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues, with special are protein-rich cereal seeds, seed legumes, some reference to organochlorine pesticides. minor food seeds, vegetables and algae. The second Since its inception in 1961. this Joint Committee class includes coconuts, soya beans. rapeseed. sunhas been charged with the task of recommending acflower and other oil seeds, groundnut. broad beans ceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for man and approand leaf protein. The chapters on the third group of priate residue limits in food for a variety of pesticidal protein sources provide a detailed, but far from comchemicals, 114 of which had been evaluated up to prehensive, description of concentrates formed by bioand including the 1973 meeting. Brief consideration logical conversion. Although domestic ruminants is given in this review to the conceptual meaning of have not been included, because of the wealth of inthe ADI, to the toxicological basis for arriving at an formation already available, there are four chapters ADI, to the type of information required for the on mammals that are widely eaten, one on mamrecommendation of residue limits in food and finally malian products that could be eaten but are not at to the more recent attempts to determine actual pestipresent, and an interesting account of the uses of cide intakes on the basis of average food consumption fungi. The final section in the volume discusses the figures and the assumed presence of the pesticide at need to provide standards, establish safety and draw the recommended residue limit. up legislation to cover the processing and use of proThe main part of the review concludes with a presteins. Details of regulatory bodies such as the Food entation of toxicity profiles and AD1 status for each and Agriculture Organization, the World Health of the following organochlorine pesticides: Aldrin, Organization and the Protein Advisory Group, and BHC, camphechlor (toxaphene), chlordane, dieldrin, their connexion with the Codex Alimeritarius, are proendosulfan, endrin, heptachlor, lindane, chlorbenside, vided. The author also describes problems that have chlorfenson, tetrasul, bromopropylate, chlorobenzibeen encountered in the use of new proteins both late, chloropropylate, DDT, dicofol, methoxychlor, by the industrialized nations and by developing counhexachlorobenzene, quintozene, 24-D and 2,4,5-T. tries. This, together with a contribution on product Further reviews of other classes of pesticides already acceptability, provides an important and extremely evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee relevant termination to the book. on Pesticide Residues are to be published in future Of particular interest to the toxicologist are those issues of Residue Reviews, the next in the series being on organophosphorus pesticides. sections of the text dealing with natural toxins. The problem of the allatoxins is outlined briefly and attention is drawn to the toxins to be found in sunflower Organochlorine Insecticides: Persistent Organic Pollumeal and castor meal. Described in greater detail are tants. Edited by F. Moriarty. Academic Press Inc., the toxicological studies on hydrocarbon-grown yeast. (London) Ltd., London, 1975. pp. xii + 302. f7.90. Despite its wide subject area, the book discusses the relative merits and potentialities of the various protein sources at sufficient length to allow their Certain parts of this wide-ranging book on organochlorine pesticides may give the impression world role to be assessed and to provide a guide for that the ever increasing attention paid to this much future research. Although several protein sources have maligned group of pesticides raises more questions been omitted, their inclusion would probably have made the volume unmanageable. The use of the than it could ever hope to answer. Yet anyone directly 493
REVIEWS earth’s protein resources has been tackled at an international level (the table of contents in English, French, Russian and Spanish reflects the approach of this International Biological Programme) and the volume provides a useful guide to both conventionai and unconventional sources of food protein throughout the world.
This book is one of a series summarizing the results of national and international studies carried out within the framework of the International Biological Programme, which was established to meet the need for a better understanding of man’s environment in Residues of Pesticides and Other order to provide for the rational management of Residue Reviews. Contaminants in the Total Environment. Vol. 56. natural resources. Volume 4 draws together contribuEdited by F. A. Gunther. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, tions describing the major types of protein source, 1975. pp. ix + 138. DM 29.80. and divides them clearly into three main classes: sources edible after minimal processing, concentrates made by mechanical extraction and concentrates Volume 56 of this excellent series presents a major made by biological conversion. The lower limit for treatise on the gas chromatography of carbamate resia ‘protein source’ has been set arbitrarily at lS”/, produes, a review of the effect of sulphur dioxide on plant tein. This definition excludes those cereals that supply metabolism and structure and finally, and perhaps more than half the protein now eaten, but not some most notably, an account by a WHO scientist of the of the newer cereals. work and achievements of the Joint FAO/WHO Within the first class of protein source considered Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues, with special are protein-rich cereal seeds, seed legumes, some reference to organochlorine pesticides. minor food seeds, vegetables and algae. The second Since its inception in 1961. this Joint Committee class includes coconuts, soya beans. rapeseed. sunhas been charged with the task of recommending acflower and other oil seeds, groundnut. broad beans ceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for man and approand leaf protein. The chapters on the third group of priate residue limits in food for a variety of pesticidal protein sources provide a detailed, but far from comchemicals, 114 of which had been evaluated up to prehensive, description of concentrates formed by bioand including the 1973 meeting. Brief consideration logical conversion. Although domestic ruminants is given in this review to the conceptual meaning of have not been included, because of the wealth of inthe ADI, to the toxicological basis for arriving at an formation already available, there are four chapters ADI, to the type of information required for the on mammals that are widely eaten, one on mamrecommendation of residue limits in food and finally malian products that could be eaten but are not at to the more recent attempts to determine actual pestipresent, and an interesting account of the uses of cide intakes on the basis of average food consumption fungi. The final section in the volume discusses the figures and the assumed presence of the pesticide at need to provide standards, establish safety and draw the recommended residue limit. up legislation to cover the processing and use of proThe main part of the review concludes with a presteins. Details of regulatory bodies such as the Food entation of toxicity profiles and AD1 status for each and Agriculture Organization, the World Health of the following organochlorine pesticides: Aldrin, Organization and the Protein Advisory Group, and BHC, camphechlor (toxaphene), chlordane, dieldrin, their connexion with the Codex Alimeritarius, are proendosulfan, endrin, heptachlor, lindane, chlorbenside, vided. The author also describes problems that have chlorfenson, tetrasul, bromopropylate, chlorobenzibeen encountered in the use of new proteins both late, chloropropylate, DDT, dicofol, methoxychlor, by the industrialized nations and by developing counhexachlorobenzene, quintozene, 24-D and 2,4,5-T. tries. This, together with a contribution on product Further reviews of other classes of pesticides already acceptability, provides an important and extremely evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee relevant termination to the book. on Pesticide Residues are to be published in future Of particular interest to the toxicologist are those issues of Residue Reviews, the next in the series being on organophosphorus pesticides. sections of the text dealing with natural toxins. The problem of the allatoxins is outlined briefly and attention is drawn to the toxins to be found in sunflower Organochlorine Insecticides: Persistent Organic Pollumeal and castor meal. Described in greater detail are tants. Edited by F. Moriarty. Academic Press Inc., the toxicological studies on hydrocarbon-grown yeast. (London) Ltd., London, 1975. pp. xii + 302. f7.90. Despite its wide subject area, the book discusses the relative merits and potentialities of the various protein sources at sufficient length to allow their Certain parts of this wide-ranging book on organochlorine pesticides may give the impression world role to be assessed and to provide a guide for that the ever increasing attention paid to this much future research. Although several protein sources have maligned group of pesticides raises more questions been omitted, their inclusion would probably have made the volume unmanageable. The use of the than it could ever hope to answer. Yet anyone directly 493