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Reviews of environmental contamination and toxicology
Environmental Pollution
50 (1988) 253-256
Book Reviews
Nuclear Environmental Chemical Analysis. By J. T61ygessy and E. H. Klehr. Ellis Horwood Ltd, distributed by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, 1987. Pp. 185, ISBN 0 7458 0176 5. Price: £35"00. A book for analysts, about the direct measurement of radionuclides present in environmental samples, and also the use of radionuclides for the indirect detection and determination of analytes in environmental samples. These indirect methods fall into three groups: indicator methods such as isotope dilution analysis, activation analysis, and non-activation interaction methods such as neutron absorption. After an introductory chapter, one proceeds logically from the taking of samples, their treatment and the use of standards, to an account of the various analytical methods available. The text is terse, to the point, and ends with seven useful pages of more general references to relevant books.
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 98 (Continuation of Residue Reviews). Edited by G. W. Ware. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987. Pp. 166, ISBN 3 540 96448 7. Price: DM 92.00. The previous 97 volumes of this journal were entitled 'Residue Reviews'. The new title, for this and subsequent volumes, indicates the wider range of topics now covered. This volume contains four reviews, of which two may be of immediate relevance to readers. Sklarew and Girvin discuss the behaviour of PCBs in soils, with an emphasis on sorption, and conclude that current data and models are inadequate to predict the movement of PCBs in soils. Reinert and Rodgers 253 Environ. Pollut. (50)(1988)--© ElsevierApplied SciencePublishers Ltd, England. Printed in Great Britain
254
Book reviews
summarise the available data on the aquatic fate and persistence of those herbicides registered in the USA for use in aquatic habitats, and note that the available data are of variable quality, with many gaps. The other two reviews discuss the toxicological implications of residues of maleic hydrazide in tobacco, and residues of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and vegetables in the U K and some other EEC countries since 1976.
Surfactants in Consumer Products: Theory, Technology & Application. Edited by J. Falbe. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987. Pp. 547, ISBN 3 540 17019 7. Price: D M 228.00. The title of this book reflects the contents exactly. It is a technical summary and survey of developments in the uses of surfactants, or surface active agents. It is also a fascinating mine of information. The contributors to this volume all come from industry, mostly from the West German firm of Henkel, and they write with authority and clarity. After a brief historical review, which starts with the Sumerian tablet of 2500 Bc on how to make soap (the first known record of a chemical reaction), there follow chapters on the structure and application of surfactants, their synthesis, properties, performance, the manufacture of consumer products, and economic trends. There are also two chapters, both of about 25 pages, on environmental impact and on toxicology. The intended audience is experts in industry and universities, but judicious use of the glossary at the end of the book should enable any reader of this journal to understand the text. The chapter on environmental impact gives data on the quantities of raw material used in West Germany for surfactants, with a mass balance study which compares predicted with observed concentrations of surfactants in five major rivers. The data show clearly that biodegradable surfactants do indeed break-down relatively quickly, thus minimising the problems of foam and of toxicity to aquatic species. Surfactants in detergents require 'builders' for optimum performance, and their function and types are described at length. Sodium triphosphate was the dominant builder until 1975, by which time detergents were said to contribute 60% of the phosphate in sewage, 40% of that in surface waters, and were therefore of concern in the control of eutrophication. Zeolite A is the major replacement. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the contamination of the environment by surfactants and detergents, who would like a thorough understanding of the technical background and use of these products.
50 (1988) 253-256
Book Reviews
Nuclear Environmental Chemical Analysis. By J. T61ygessy and E. H. Klehr. Ellis Horwood Ltd, distributed by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, 1987. Pp. 185, ISBN 0 7458 0176 5. Price: £35"00. A book for analysts, about the direct measurement of radionuclides present in environmental samples, and also the use of radionuclides for the indirect detection and determination of analytes in environmental samples. These indirect methods fall into three groups: indicator methods such as isotope dilution analysis, activation analysis, and non-activation interaction methods such as neutron absorption. After an introductory chapter, one proceeds logically from the taking of samples, their treatment and the use of standards, to an account of the various analytical methods available. The text is terse, to the point, and ends with seven useful pages of more general references to relevant books.
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 98 (Continuation of Residue Reviews). Edited by G. W. Ware. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987. Pp. 166, ISBN 3 540 96448 7. Price: DM 92.00. The previous 97 volumes of this journal were entitled 'Residue Reviews'. The new title, for this and subsequent volumes, indicates the wider range of topics now covered. This volume contains four reviews, of which two may be of immediate relevance to readers. Sklarew and Girvin discuss the behaviour of PCBs in soils, with an emphasis on sorption, and conclude that current data and models are inadequate to predict the movement of PCBs in soils. Reinert and Rodgers 253 Environ. Pollut. (50)(1988)--© ElsevierApplied SciencePublishers Ltd, England. Printed in Great Britain
254
Book reviews
summarise the available data on the aquatic fate and persistence of those herbicides registered in the USA for use in aquatic habitats, and note that the available data are of variable quality, with many gaps. The other two reviews discuss the toxicological implications of residues of maleic hydrazide in tobacco, and residues of organophosphorus pesticides in fruits and vegetables in the U K and some other EEC countries since 1976.
Surfactants in Consumer Products: Theory, Technology & Application. Edited by J. Falbe. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987. Pp. 547, ISBN 3 540 17019 7. Price: D M 228.00. The title of this book reflects the contents exactly. It is a technical summary and survey of developments in the uses of surfactants, or surface active agents. It is also a fascinating mine of information. The contributors to this volume all come from industry, mostly from the West German firm of Henkel, and they write with authority and clarity. After a brief historical review, which starts with the Sumerian tablet of 2500 Bc on how to make soap (the first known record of a chemical reaction), there follow chapters on the structure and application of surfactants, their synthesis, properties, performance, the manufacture of consumer products, and economic trends. There are also two chapters, both of about 25 pages, on environmental impact and on toxicology. The intended audience is experts in industry and universities, but judicious use of the glossary at the end of the book should enable any reader of this journal to understand the text. The chapter on environmental impact gives data on the quantities of raw material used in West Germany for surfactants, with a mass balance study which compares predicted with observed concentrations of surfactants in five major rivers. The data show clearly that biodegradable surfactants do indeed break-down relatively quickly, thus minimising the problems of foam and of toxicity to aquatic species. Surfactants in detergents require 'builders' for optimum performance, and their function and types are described at length. Sodium triphosphate was the dominant builder until 1975, by which time detergents were said to contribute 60% of the phosphate in sewage, 40% of that in surface waters, and were therefore of concern in the control of eutrophication. Zeolite A is the major replacement. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the contamination of the environment by surfactants and detergents, who would like a thorough understanding of the technical background and use of these products.