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The BMA guide to pesticides, chemicals, and health
Books
433
their mutual connections. They investigate current theoretical controversies, and take issue in particular with the mistaken belief that at some point in history human beings existed in harmony with nature, and that this harmony has somehow become unbalanced. Until the onset of the environmental crisis of the 1960s, ecology was considered a minor discipline among the biological sciences. Suddenly it became a buzz word--an important subject that everyone ought to know about. But what exactly is ecology? It has several meanings: that of nature, of a science, of an idea, and of a movement. These dimensions are widely disparate in content, sometimes contradictory, and often misunderstood. The authors argue that human activity should be included as part of nature and they establish the connection between ecological knowledge and radical politics. Many political movements are now taking ecology seriously. This book identifies the challenges they must now face and what this means in terms of political practice. This book is highly recommended as a desk copy for researchers and for those interested in environmental issues.
by the Universities of Siena (Institute of Public and International Law) and Parma (Institute of International Law). This book is highly recommended for environmental policy makers and researchers. It is also recommended as a library reference.
International Responsibility for Environmental Harm. Francesco Francioni and Tullio Scovazzi. Graham & Trotman Ltd, London, U.K.; 1991. 499 pp. (ISBN 1 85333 579 7) £70.00/$260.00 hardcover. This work addresses international concern about the harm which may result from environmentally hazardous activities. It embraces traditional transboundary harm originating in one country and affecting the territory of another country and includes global transboundary harm occurring when the sources of pollution and the potential damages are so widespread that it is impossible to point out either a single responsible State or a single injured State. Rules relating to environmental harm may be found at the level of i n t e r n a t i o n a l responsibility for wrongful conduct, the level of international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law and the level of domestic or uniform rules on civil liability for hazardous activities. While there is need for a more appropriate legal framework this book does not purport to give definite solutions to open questions. It describes legal tools presently available for dealing with the consequences of international environmental harm, and tries to focus on some specific risks or accidents, as well as on some aspects of international cooperation. This volume is the result of a research project financed by C.N.R. (Italian Council for Research) and carried out
The BMA Guide to Pesticides, Chemicals, and Health. British Medical Association. London, U.K.; 1992. 215 pp. (ISBN 0 340 54924 6) softcover. Chemicals have been used for crop protection since pre-Christian times and have played an increasingly important part in agricultural development. The widespread use of manufactured pesticides has resulted in dramatic increases in productivity in the ,.developed world over the last few decades. The world has benefitted from the use of pesticides through cheaper, safer, and more plentiful food; however, there is now growing public,concern over the levels of pesticide use and the adverse effects these may be having on the environment and, in the long term, on human health. Pesticide residues are regularly detected in everyday foods and in the one essential commodity --water. This has raised complex and difficult questions at all levels of society. With the opinions of scientists and doctors often being divided, the public is not surprisingly confused and concerned. Nothing in life is free of risk and balancing risks against benefits involves making both social and scientific judgements. In this book, the British Medical Association presents current evidence about the risks and benefits of pesticide use and looks forward to the future role and regulation of pesticides. This book is an authoritative reading for anyone interested in the important issues of public health, environment,
Land Planner's Environmental Handbook. William B. Honachefsky. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ; 1991. 722 pp. (ISBN 0 8155 1267 8) $96.00 hardcover. This book is intended as a resource to land planners, environmental engineers, policy makers, government executives, and others who need a compilation of environmental requirements. Major topics covered in the book include water resources, waste water, underground storage tanks, solid waste disposal, and radon. Included are also topics, such as geology and topography, soil, vegetation, mines, roadways, coastal areas, and wildlife. The book is in readable essay format and includes accurate scientific and engineering information. This book is recommended as a desk copy.
434
wildlife, and agricultural practice. The text, illustrations, and concisely presented data will enable scientists, students, medical professionals, and the general public to gain a clear insight into this complex subject. This book is highly recommended as a reference book for libraries, as a desk copy, and information cop for the general public.
Scientists on Gala. Stephen H. Schneider and Penelope J. Boston, eds. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA; 1992. 433 pp. (ISBN 0 262 19310 8) $55.00 hardcover. The Gaia hypothesis posits that earth's physical and biological processes are linked to form a complex, self-regulating system, and that life has affected this system over time. Science has traditionally proceeded under the assumption that life is passively dependent upon the earth's chemistry, atmosphere, geology, and oceans. The Gaia hypothesis, on the other hand, suggests that life is an active participant in shaping the physical and chemical environment on which it depends. This book provides a fascinating, multi-lenses examination of Gaia as science rather than as New Age philosophy and addresses significant changes in the hypothesis since its introduction nearly two decades ago. This book is a compilation of 44 contributions on Gaia containing philosophical, empirical, and theoretical foundations of Gaia. These contributions include mechanisms through which planetwide homeostasis could occur, applicability of the hypothesis to planets other than the earth, possible destabilization by outside forces, and public
Books
implications of Gaia. This book is recommended as a library reference.
After the Earth Summit: The Future of Environmental Governance. Hilary F. French. Worldwatch Paper 107. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.; 1992. 62 pp. (SBN 1 878071 08 4) $5.00 softcover.
Life Support: Conserving Biological Diversity. John C. Ryan. Worldwatch Paper 108. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.; 1992.62 pp. (ISBN 1 878071 09 2) $5.00 softcover.
Radon Research Program. U.S. Department of Energy and Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge Associated University. U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA; 1991. 279 pp. softcover.
Searching for a Way Out: Smoking Cessation Techniques. American Council on Science and Health, New York, N.Y.; 1991.21 pp. softcover.
The World Watch Reader on Global Environmental Issues. Lester R. Brown, ed. W.W. Norton & Company, London, U.K.; 1992. 336 pp. (ISBN 0 393 03007 5) £14.95 hardcover.
433
their mutual connections. They investigate current theoretical controversies, and take issue in particular with the mistaken belief that at some point in history human beings existed in harmony with nature, and that this harmony has somehow become unbalanced. Until the onset of the environmental crisis of the 1960s, ecology was considered a minor discipline among the biological sciences. Suddenly it became a buzz word--an important subject that everyone ought to know about. But what exactly is ecology? It has several meanings: that of nature, of a science, of an idea, and of a movement. These dimensions are widely disparate in content, sometimes contradictory, and often misunderstood. The authors argue that human activity should be included as part of nature and they establish the connection between ecological knowledge and radical politics. Many political movements are now taking ecology seriously. This book identifies the challenges they must now face and what this means in terms of political practice. This book is highly recommended as a desk copy for researchers and for those interested in environmental issues.
by the Universities of Siena (Institute of Public and International Law) and Parma (Institute of International Law). This book is highly recommended for environmental policy makers and researchers. It is also recommended as a library reference.
International Responsibility for Environmental Harm. Francesco Francioni and Tullio Scovazzi. Graham & Trotman Ltd, London, U.K.; 1991. 499 pp. (ISBN 1 85333 579 7) £70.00/$260.00 hardcover. This work addresses international concern about the harm which may result from environmentally hazardous activities. It embraces traditional transboundary harm originating in one country and affecting the territory of another country and includes global transboundary harm occurring when the sources of pollution and the potential damages are so widespread that it is impossible to point out either a single responsible State or a single injured State. Rules relating to environmental harm may be found at the level of i n t e r n a t i o n a l responsibility for wrongful conduct, the level of international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law and the level of domestic or uniform rules on civil liability for hazardous activities. While there is need for a more appropriate legal framework this book does not purport to give definite solutions to open questions. It describes legal tools presently available for dealing with the consequences of international environmental harm, and tries to focus on some specific risks or accidents, as well as on some aspects of international cooperation. This volume is the result of a research project financed by C.N.R. (Italian Council for Research) and carried out
The BMA Guide to Pesticides, Chemicals, and Health. British Medical Association. London, U.K.; 1992. 215 pp. (ISBN 0 340 54924 6) softcover. Chemicals have been used for crop protection since pre-Christian times and have played an increasingly important part in agricultural development. The widespread use of manufactured pesticides has resulted in dramatic increases in productivity in the ,.developed world over the last few decades. The world has benefitted from the use of pesticides through cheaper, safer, and more plentiful food; however, there is now growing public,concern over the levels of pesticide use and the adverse effects these may be having on the environment and, in the long term, on human health. Pesticide residues are regularly detected in everyday foods and in the one essential commodity --water. This has raised complex and difficult questions at all levels of society. With the opinions of scientists and doctors often being divided, the public is not surprisingly confused and concerned. Nothing in life is free of risk and balancing risks against benefits involves making both social and scientific judgements. In this book, the British Medical Association presents current evidence about the risks and benefits of pesticide use and looks forward to the future role and regulation of pesticides. This book is an authoritative reading for anyone interested in the important issues of public health, environment,
Land Planner's Environmental Handbook. William B. Honachefsky. Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ; 1991. 722 pp. (ISBN 0 8155 1267 8) $96.00 hardcover. This book is intended as a resource to land planners, environmental engineers, policy makers, government executives, and others who need a compilation of environmental requirements. Major topics covered in the book include water resources, waste water, underground storage tanks, solid waste disposal, and radon. Included are also topics, such as geology and topography, soil, vegetation, mines, roadways, coastal areas, and wildlife. The book is in readable essay format and includes accurate scientific and engineering information. This book is recommended as a desk copy.
434
wildlife, and agricultural practice. The text, illustrations, and concisely presented data will enable scientists, students, medical professionals, and the general public to gain a clear insight into this complex subject. This book is highly recommended as a reference book for libraries, as a desk copy, and information cop for the general public.
Scientists on Gala. Stephen H. Schneider and Penelope J. Boston, eds. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA; 1992. 433 pp. (ISBN 0 262 19310 8) $55.00 hardcover. The Gaia hypothesis posits that earth's physical and biological processes are linked to form a complex, self-regulating system, and that life has affected this system over time. Science has traditionally proceeded under the assumption that life is passively dependent upon the earth's chemistry, atmosphere, geology, and oceans. The Gaia hypothesis, on the other hand, suggests that life is an active participant in shaping the physical and chemical environment on which it depends. This book provides a fascinating, multi-lenses examination of Gaia as science rather than as New Age philosophy and addresses significant changes in the hypothesis since its introduction nearly two decades ago. This book is a compilation of 44 contributions on Gaia containing philosophical, empirical, and theoretical foundations of Gaia. These contributions include mechanisms through which planetwide homeostasis could occur, applicability of the hypothesis to planets other than the earth, possible destabilization by outside forces, and public
Books
implications of Gaia. This book is recommended as a library reference.
After the Earth Summit: The Future of Environmental Governance. Hilary F. French. Worldwatch Paper 107. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.; 1992. 62 pp. (SBN 1 878071 08 4) $5.00 softcover.
Life Support: Conserving Biological Diversity. John C. Ryan. Worldwatch Paper 108. Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C.; 1992.62 pp. (ISBN 1 878071 09 2) $5.00 softcover.
Radon Research Program. U.S. Department of Energy and Science and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge Associated University. U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA; 1991. 279 pp. softcover.
Searching for a Way Out: Smoking Cessation Techniques. American Council on Science and Health, New York, N.Y.; 1991.21 pp. softcover.
The World Watch Reader on Global Environmental Issues. Lester R. Brown, ed. W.W. Norton & Company, London, U.K.; 1992. 336 pp. (ISBN 0 393 03007 5) £14.95 hardcover.