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Restoration ecology. A synthetic approach to ecological research
Book reviews
evident that these networks provide a unique insight into the pollution of air, water, and food at the global level. Examples of other GEMS monitoring projects are also included, such as climate and long-range transport of pollutants. The Environmental Data Report will serve as an invaluable reference source for government departments, research organizations and environmental scientists world-wide. It is recommended for libraries and as a textbook for environmental courses.
Restoration Ecology. A synthetic approach to ecological research. William R. Jordan III, Michael E. Gilpin, John D. Aber, eds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1990. 342 pp. (ISBN 0-521-33728-3) £14.95/$24.95 softcover. This is a reprinted version of the 1987 edition. The new edition contains no additions. Expert Systems f o r Environmental Applications. Judith M. Hushon, ed. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1990. 232 pp. (ISBN 0-8412-1814-5) $49.95 hardcover. This book resulted from a symposium held in conjunction with the 198th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Miami Beach, Florida, September 10-15, 1989. Expert systems in the environmental area have been relatively slowly developed because of disagreements on methods and usefulness of the results. Furthermore, few environmental problems can be solved by a single expert. Often there is a need to involve scientists from many disciplines to identify an optimal problem solution. This 16-chapter book reviews the state of the art in developing expert systems to solve environmental problems. Some chapters describe the process of expert system development and the stages in their life cycles. Other chapters provide specific case studies, such as those in the Intelligent Quality Assurance Planner, a system for prediction of aquatic toxicity, the Citizen's Helper, the system to diagnose performance-limiting factors at publicly owned treatment works, the Activated Sludge Advisor prototype, the Cost of Remedial Action Model, a system for performing risk assessments, and the Defense Priority Model. Some of the systems described can be used on personal computers and others on mainframes with artificial intelligence shells. This volume is recommended as a reference book. Drinking Water and Health. Volume 9: Selected Issues in Risk Assessment. National Academy Press,
501
Washington, DC, 1989. 268 pp. (ISBN ISBN 0-30903897-9) $29.95 softcover. This is the final volume of the National Research Council's landmark series Drinking Water and Health. The first part, DNA Adducts, provides an overview of molecular adducts of DNA and their effects on human health, explores the techniques currently in use for detecting them, examines their use in risk assessment, and offers an outlook on future toxicity testing. The second part, Mixtures, explores the issues surrounding multiple-chemical exposure from drinking water, reviews current techniques for assessing the toxicity of chemical mixtures including options for grouping compounds so their toxicity in mixtures can be more reliably assessed. The book describes several alternative approaches to the risk assessment of mixtures. This volume also contains a comprehensive index for all nine volumes of the series. This is a highly recommended book for individuals and libraries.
The Heavy Elements: Chemistry, Environmental Impact and Health Effects. Jack E. Fergusson. Pergamon Press plc, Oxford, UK, 1990. 614 pp. (ISBN 008 0348602) £45.00/$75.00 hardcover, (ISBN 008 0402755) £27.50/$45.00 softcover. The intention of this book is to provide a survey of the heavy elements, their chemistry, environmental impact, and health effects. The particular group of ten elements has a number of features in common. These are arsenic, selenium, cadmium, indium, antimony, tellurium, mercury, thallium, lead, and bismuth. The book is divided into four parts. The first is a brief introduction to the criteria used to select the elements, and the history of the discovery and uses of the elements. The second part is on the chemistry of the elements relevant to the rest of the book. In part three the environmental impact of the elements is reviewed. This includes the concentrations in the environment, sources, and chemistry. The final section is a brief introduction to the health effects of the heavy elements. Permethrin. Environmental Health Criteria 94. World Health Organization Publications, Geneva, Switzerland, 1990. 125 pp. (ISBN 92-4-154294-2) Sw.fr. 15./$12.00 softcover. This book evaluates the design and findings of over 250 studies on human health and the environmental effects of permethrin, a photostable synthetic pyrethroid insecticide marketed since 1977. Because of its strong repellent properties and effectiveness as a stomach and contact insecticide, permethrin is widely
evident that these networks provide a unique insight into the pollution of air, water, and food at the global level. Examples of other GEMS monitoring projects are also included, such as climate and long-range transport of pollutants. The Environmental Data Report will serve as an invaluable reference source for government departments, research organizations and environmental scientists world-wide. It is recommended for libraries and as a textbook for environmental courses.
Restoration Ecology. A synthetic approach to ecological research. William R. Jordan III, Michael E. Gilpin, John D. Aber, eds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1990. 342 pp. (ISBN 0-521-33728-3) £14.95/$24.95 softcover. This is a reprinted version of the 1987 edition. The new edition contains no additions. Expert Systems f o r Environmental Applications. Judith M. Hushon, ed. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1990. 232 pp. (ISBN 0-8412-1814-5) $49.95 hardcover. This book resulted from a symposium held in conjunction with the 198th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Miami Beach, Florida, September 10-15, 1989. Expert systems in the environmental area have been relatively slowly developed because of disagreements on methods and usefulness of the results. Furthermore, few environmental problems can be solved by a single expert. Often there is a need to involve scientists from many disciplines to identify an optimal problem solution. This 16-chapter book reviews the state of the art in developing expert systems to solve environmental problems. Some chapters describe the process of expert system development and the stages in their life cycles. Other chapters provide specific case studies, such as those in the Intelligent Quality Assurance Planner, a system for prediction of aquatic toxicity, the Citizen's Helper, the system to diagnose performance-limiting factors at publicly owned treatment works, the Activated Sludge Advisor prototype, the Cost of Remedial Action Model, a system for performing risk assessments, and the Defense Priority Model. Some of the systems described can be used on personal computers and others on mainframes with artificial intelligence shells. This volume is recommended as a reference book. Drinking Water and Health. Volume 9: Selected Issues in Risk Assessment. National Academy Press,
501
Washington, DC, 1989. 268 pp. (ISBN ISBN 0-30903897-9) $29.95 softcover. This is the final volume of the National Research Council's landmark series Drinking Water and Health. The first part, DNA Adducts, provides an overview of molecular adducts of DNA and their effects on human health, explores the techniques currently in use for detecting them, examines their use in risk assessment, and offers an outlook on future toxicity testing. The second part, Mixtures, explores the issues surrounding multiple-chemical exposure from drinking water, reviews current techniques for assessing the toxicity of chemical mixtures including options for grouping compounds so their toxicity in mixtures can be more reliably assessed. The book describes several alternative approaches to the risk assessment of mixtures. This volume also contains a comprehensive index for all nine volumes of the series. This is a highly recommended book for individuals and libraries.
The Heavy Elements: Chemistry, Environmental Impact and Health Effects. Jack E. Fergusson. Pergamon Press plc, Oxford, UK, 1990. 614 pp. (ISBN 008 0348602) £45.00/$75.00 hardcover, (ISBN 008 0402755) £27.50/$45.00 softcover. The intention of this book is to provide a survey of the heavy elements, their chemistry, environmental impact, and health effects. The particular group of ten elements has a number of features in common. These are arsenic, selenium, cadmium, indium, antimony, tellurium, mercury, thallium, lead, and bismuth. The book is divided into four parts. The first is a brief introduction to the criteria used to select the elements, and the history of the discovery and uses of the elements. The second part is on the chemistry of the elements relevant to the rest of the book. In part three the environmental impact of the elements is reviewed. This includes the concentrations in the environment, sources, and chemistry. The final section is a brief introduction to the health effects of the heavy elements. Permethrin. Environmental Health Criteria 94. World Health Organization Publications, Geneva, Switzerland, 1990. 125 pp. (ISBN 92-4-154294-2) Sw.fr. 15./$12.00 softcover. This book evaluates the design and findings of over 250 studies on human health and the environmental effects of permethrin, a photostable synthetic pyrethroid insecticide marketed since 1977. Because of its strong repellent properties and effectiveness as a stomach and contact insecticide, permethrin is widely