OnlineM In Print
Forensic and Environmental Detection of Explosives Jehuda Yinon John Wiley & Sons New York, NY 2000, 235 pp., $285 ISBN 0-4719-8371-3 This book, the second text in a series about explosives analysis and detection, complements another John Wiley publication, Modern Methods and Applications in the Analysis of Explosives, by Yinon and coauthor Shmuel Zitrin. Although chapter headings in the two books are very similar, the text is not, and in Forensic and Environmental Detection of Explosives, the author has succeeded in compiling a comprehensive review of recent advances. This is a notable accomplishment, as keeping abreast of changes and progress in detecting explosives, including analytical techniques and technologies, is an arduous task. The book focuses mainly on in situ detection of explosives and illustrates different perspectives as well as important needs concerning their detection and analysis. The chapter on land mines introduces the reader to the significant environmental threats posed by these devices and to detection technologies that are far removed from the analytical laboratory. © 2001 American Chemical Society
Detailed coverage is also provided concerning research on identifying, detecting, and tagging explosives. In addition, there are chapters dealing with the vapor detection and bulk detection of explosives that inform the reader of the challenges and complexities of detecting explosives and explosive devices on individuals, in luggage, and in packages. The author provides an extensive discussion about individual modes of detection, including the integration of instruments and devices to detect hidden explosives. Regarding environmental detection of explosives, the author deals specifically with degradation pathways and resulting explosives decomposition products. Current environmental field-testing and field-monitoring methods for explosive detection are discussed. We found the author’s descriptions of the analysis and detection of explosives to be detailed and clear throughout the text. The information presented is current, comprehensive, and condensed into a helpful review format. The extensive reference list included provides readers ready access to the original sources of the subject matter covered in the text. Keeping informed of advances in explosives detection is not an easy task for the forensic scientist, environmental chemist, or others involved in the analysis and detection of explosives. Yinon’s compilation of these resources provides readers with a helpful, “one-stop” reference about explosives analysis and detection. In summary, this is an excellent text and should be a welcome addition to any forensic science or environmental science library. Reviewed by Philip Antoci, supervisor, Police Laboratory, Forensic Investigations Division, NY City Police Department, Jamaica, NY; e-mail:
[email protected]; and Peter De Forest, professor of Criminalistics, John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY, NY; e-mail:
[email protected] Books Pollution Causes, Effects, and Control (4th Edition), R. M. Harrison, Ed. (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001, 604 pp., 2001, $51). This revised edition of this introductory text concerns chemical and radioactive pollution in its broadest sense, with topics ranging from pollutant sources and their environmental behavior, to their effects on humans and animals, to the technologies and strategies available for pollution control. Climate Change 2001—Mitigation, B. Metz, O. Davidson, R. Swart, J. Pan, Editors (Cambridge University Press, 2001, 752 pp., $130). This extensive contribution of the Working Group III of the International Panel on Climate Change is the most comprehensive and up-to-date scientific, technical, and economic assessment of options to mitigate climate change and their costs. The Tapir’s Morning Bath—Mysteries of the Tropical Rain Forest and the Scientists Who Are Trying to Solve Them, E. Royte (Houghton Mifflin, 2001, 288 pp., $25). This book for general readers presents the author’s onsite account of research performed by scientists studying rainforests in Panama’s Barro Colorado. The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2001, E. O. Wilson, Ed. (Houghton Mifflin, 2001, 272 pp., $27). With topics ranging from animal detectives to quantum physics, this engaging book for general readers contains a collection of essays from some of the world’s foremost scientists and writers. Risk, Reliability, Uncertainty and Robustness of Water Resource Systems (International Hydrology Series), J. J. Bogardi; Kundzewicz, Z. W., Eds. (Cambridge University Press, 2001, 352 pp., $110). Thirty-five lead-
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ing scientists provide state-of-the-art reviews of topical areas of research on water resources systems and in a book that will assist those interested in applying theoretical methods to the solution of practical problems in water resources. The Physics of Atmospheres (3rd Edition), J. Houghton (Cambridge University Press, 2001, 416 pp., $28.95 (paperback)). The author has revised his acclaimed textbook to bring it completely up-to-date and provides a comprehensive description of the physical processes governing the structure and the circulation of the atmosphere, with new chapters introduced on topics such as chaos and predictability and climate change, and chapters on global observations and numerical modeling have been substantially extended.
Web Sites The EPA’s Region 9 PCB Web site (www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/pcb/ index.html) has recently been revised to include information on a broad array of PCB-related topics. In addition to links to other federal PCB Web sites, issues of the free quarterly newsletter PCBs in the News have been indexed. The newsletter details important information about PCBs pertinent to the regulated community. PCBs in the News is only disseminated electronically via e-mail. Back issues can be accessed at the Web site, and visitors can sign up for the free service by e-mailing their name, company, address, and e-mail address to Max Weintraub at (
[email protected]) of the Region 9 PCB program. Genomics and proteomics, bioremediation, biotechnology, and biologicalbased sensors are playing an increasingly important role in environmental research. However, environmental scientists who are nonspecialists in this emerging field may find themselves unfamiliar with the language and terminology used to describe developments in this area. A useful resource that addresses this issue is Biotech’s Life Science Dictionary (http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/ search/dict-search.html). This free resource is still under construction.
Currently, most of the 8300+ terms described deal with biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, cell biology, and genetics. There are also terms relating to ecology, limnology, pharmacology, toxicology, and medicine. Also included are medically and biotechnologically relevant organisms such as bacteria, worms, fungi, and some plants. Confused about the difference among the acronyms, NOM, NOMS, SNOM, ASNOM, and NOMAD? Don’t know what the acronyms DOM or SVOC or PCDD mean? Sometimes reading environmental research papers can be confusing, because the authors forgot—oops!—to indicate what the acronyms mentioned in their articles represent or just assume that the readers are already familiar with the terms used. This vexing problem can confound easy reading of manuscripts. One helpful resource for deciphering the confusing melange of DOMs, NOMs, and SNOMs as well as many other acronyms is the Indiana University Science Libraries’ Acronym Database (http://129.79.137.107/cfdocs/ libchem/searchu.html). There are two discrete queries available, search by acronym and search by keyword. The simple-to-use resource also provides an online form for users to make additions to the acronyms database. How much of the United States is covered by forests? How much pollution is produced annually in the United States? How many tons of coal are consumed annually? To know the answers to these and a host of other environmentally relevant questions, why not consult the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Statistical Abstract of the United States (www.census.gov/ prod/www/statistical-abstract-us. html), the definitive government resource for a broad spectrum of environmental, energy, transportation, and other important data. Publications (the current and back issues of the abstract) are listed in Portable Document Format (PDF). In order to view these files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available for free from the Adobe Web site. The abstracts are organized categorically (e.g., energy, transportation), and there is an exhaustive index of words and terms, as well as explanations of data uncertainties and data sources.
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