Chemical & Engineering News 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 Editor: Michael Heylin Assistant Managing Editors: David M. Kiefer, James H. Krieger, Janice R. Long, Donald J. Soisson, William J. Storck. News Editor: Wilbert C. Lepkowski Staff Editor Ernest L. Carpenter Senior Editors: New York: Earl V. Anderson, Ste phen C. Stinson; Chicago: Joseph Haggin; Wash ington: Doron Dagani, Lois R. Ember, Bette Hileman, Rebecca L. Rawls, Pamela S. Zurer Associate Editors: Stuart A. Borman, Mairiη Β. Brennan, Ann Marie Menting, Richard J. Seltzer Service Departments Editor: Dolores Miner Editing Services: Anne Riesberg (Head), Arlene Goldberg-Gist (Editorial Assistant), Patricia Oates (Administrative Assistant) News Bureaus: Northeast News Bureau: (201) 9068300 Marc S. Reisch (Associate Editor), Ann M. Thayer (Assistant Editor), Rachel Eskenazi (Ad ministrative Assistant). Chicago: (312) 256-4143 Ward Worthy (Head). Houston: (713) 973-8161 Bruce F. Greek (Head). Washington: (202) 872-4495 David J. Hanson (Head). West Coast: (415) 6533630 Rudy M. Baum (Head). Foreign Bureau: Lon don: (01) 540-0414 Dérmot A. O'Sullivan (Head), Patricia L. Layman (Associate Editor) Graphics and Production: Leroy Corcoran (Manager). Alan Kahan (Art Director). Barbara Fryer (Production/Art Director). Linda Mattingly (Staff Artist). Diane Kelly (Costing). Business Manager: Arthur Poulos Circulation Development: Claud K. Robinson ADVISORY BOARD: Jacqueline K. Barton, George M. Bodner, Will D. Carpenter, Ernest H. Drew, Harry G. Drickamer, A. Nicholas Filippello, Ethan C. Galloway, Adam Heller, Christopher T. Hill, Kendall N. Houk, C. Bradley Moore, koji Nakanishi, George B. Rathmann, Robert M. Simon, William P. Slichter, Peter H. Spitz, Barry M.Trost Published by AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (202) 872-4600; TDD (202) 872-8733 John Κ Crum, Executive Director PUBLISHING BOARD: J e a n n e M. Shreeve (Chairman); Board of Directors Chairman: Ernest L. Eliel; President: Clayton F. Callis; William P. Jencks; Gary J. Long; John H. Nelson; and Louis D.Quin © Copyright 1989, American Chemical Society Subscription & Member Record Service: Send all new and renewal subscriptions with payments to: Controller, ACS, P.O. Box 28597, Central Sta tion, Washington, D.C. 20005. Correspondence and telephone calls for changes of address, claims for missing issues, subscription service, status of records and accounts should be directed to: Man ager, Member & Subscriber Services, ACS, P.O. Box 3337, Columbus, Ohio 43210; (800) 333-9511 or (614) 447-3776. For changes of address, include both old and new addresses with ZIP code numbers and mail ing label from a recent issue. Allow four weeks for change to become effective. Claims for missing numbers will not be allowed if loss was due to failure of notice of change of address to be received in the time specified; if claim is dated (a) North America: more than 90 days beyond issue date, (b) all other foreign; more than one year beyond issue date; or if the reason given is "missing from files." Subscription Rates 1989. Printed editions: nonmembers U.S. 1 yr. $55,2 yr. $99, outside U.S. 1 yr. $86, 2 yr. $161. Air freight rates available on re quest. Rates above do not apply to nonmember subscribers in Japan, who must enter subscription orders with Maruzen Co. Ltd., 3-10 Nihonbashi 2chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103, Japan. Tel: (03) 2727211. Single copies: Current $8.00. Rates for back issues and volumes are available from Microforms & Back Issues Office, ACS, 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Back and current issues available on microfilm and microfiche. Rates on request from Microform Program, ACS. Chemical & Engineering News (ISSN 00092347) is published weekly except for the last week in December by the American Chemical Society at 1155—16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Second-class postage paid at Washington, D.C, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Chemical & Engineering News, Membership & Subscription Services, P.O. Box 3337, Columbus, Ohio 43210. ACS assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions ad vanced by the contributors to its publications. Advertising Management CENTCOMLTD. (For list of offices see page 149) 4
July 17, 1989 CAEN
LETTERS
simply because there are many compli cating factors, including gradings of SIR: I have read several letters and re tooth decay. Disagreements with that ports on nuclear power, pesticides, and decision are best expressed by publica fluoridation with amazement. The argu tion in a relevant peer-reviewed jour ments are about the same as one reads nal. and hears daily in the news media. Do The risk of nuclear power has been chemists have a better understanding of the subject of numerous peer-reviewed scientific issues than the general public? studies and a number of professional so Is C&EN any more scientific than the cieties have reached a consensus on that popular print media? One would hope topic. The latest professional societies to so. The disagreements expressed by the do so are the American Medical Associa authors of the letters and reports are tion and the American Society of Me overwhelmingly based on a disregard chanical Engineers. They have dealt for the scientific process. with the health and engineering aspects Briefly, the scientific information can of nuclear energy respectively. Accord be categorized in four distinct catego ing to these societies, the risks of nucle ries. The first two categories are person ar power are smaller than those of the al opinions (most of the letters and news competing systems, notably coal. reports published in C&EN fall into this Finally, the fiasco with Alar would category) and gray literature (reports of never have happened if the mass media advocacy groups, government reports, had relied upon peer-reviewed infor and other unrefereed reports). These are mation, much of it published in ACS not necessarily reliable sources of scien journals. tific information and can be satisfactory In a free society, everyone has the only if they contain information exclu right to express an opinion. There is, sively derived from the next two catego however, such a thing as science and ries. there are those who express it properly Peer review is the basis for scientific by relying upon peer-reviewed or con credibility and ensures that a great deal sensus scientific information. Science of poor science never appears in the sci applies well-established procedures for entific literature. Peer review and peer determining the scientific validity of recognition are the foundation of scien claims. There are two sides to scientific tific acceptability, and information that facts. The opposite side of science is fic has not been subjected to an indepen tion. dent peer review has not passed that A. Alan Moghissi threshold. Despite its imperfections, the Institute for Regulatory Science peer-review process has served us well, Alexandria, Va. and no one has come u p with a better process. Editor's note: The Aug. 1,1988, article on It is inherent in the scientific inquiry fluoridation was reviewed prior to pub that contradictory results are obtained lication by experts on both sides of the by different investigators, particularly issue. in areas that are in the forefront of sci ence. The proper method for resolving these contradictions is the consensus process. Who would be more qualified Broad range of catalysts to resolve issues related to chemical SIR: We appreciated your comprehen analysis than analytical chemists? Why sive market overview of the catalyst not rely upon organic chemists to reach market (C&EN, May 29, page 29). The a consensus on the structure of a specific chart of major catalyst suppliers, howev organic compound? A panel appointed er, gives an incomplete view of the by the respective divisions of ACS with scope of catalysts we offer. proper safeguards is the most conve Engelhard Corp. develops and mar nient and most credible group to arbi kets catalysts for all three major a r e a s trate among conflicting results. emission and pollution control, petro The overview article on fluoridation leum refining, and chemical manufac published in C&EN (Aug. 1, 1988, page ture. Our wide range of catalysts in 26) apparently was not subjected to an cludes those based on precious metals, independent peer review. The Ameri base metals, and zeolites. The acquisi can Dental Association is the proper tion of Harshaw/Filtrol in May 1988 group to suggest the role of fluoridation marked our involvement in base metal in tooth decay. That group has reached a catalysis. consensus that fluoridation is beneficial In addition to catalysts for hydrogéin reducing tooth decay. The exact bene nation, dehydrogenation, oxidation, fits cannot be expressed in percentages and catalytic cracking (noted in the
Scientific information
I
chart), Engelhard also supplies catalysts and "she," now that those words have for catalytic reforming (isomerization) been melded, is the problem. S/he/it is and hydrotreating. more a candidate for restroom walls We believe Engelhard offers the than polite intercourse, so we may rule broadest range of catalysts of any sup- that possibility out. My suggestion is " s / plier in the world. With those two areas h / i , " pronounced "shy." The possessive added, your chart would support that " s / h / i s " form is the only socially acceptclaim. able one, the alternatives being either Paul J. Norris too ungainly ("hiserts" or "herhits") or President, Catalysts & Chemicals Division too suggestive ("s/h/its"). Fight thingEngelhard Corp. ism, or by the time devices are given the vote, they may be so angry that they'll establish their own welfare state, and taxpayers will have to bear the burFight thingism den of mandatory health-care service SIR: There can be no doubt that the age contracts, paid for from the public cofof the machine is upon us. We may not fers. Now, if I can only get my computer yet be at the point where a "Commander to print this out. Come on, baby, and . . . Data" (who, machine or not, is a much Oh, no! S / h / i wants coauthorship! better character than Spock ever was) Again! will be there for whatever task he is Robert M. Kren assigned, nor yet at the point where a Associate Professor voice-activated computer can do as it is S. E. (Lulu) Macintosh told, but we're close. No venture, it Department of Chemistry seems, is without its highly technical, University of Michigan, Flint menu-driven, miniaturized, ultramicrofiche and chips gadgets, with microcomputer built in, right there at whatever forefront we happen to be pushing back Patenting cold fusion at the time. When it comes to sheer SIR: I believe the reason why B. Stanley numbers of tasks performed in a ven- Pons and Martin Fleischmann anture, the most productive member of nounced their discovery through a press any team is the machine that facilitates conference before they could finish the important work to be done. The di- their experiment was because they lemma comes in giving due credit to our wanted to make sure that they would be electro-servo-mechanical-digitized col- the ones to get credit for this cold fusion leagues, who out of a sense of fairness discovery. If potential inventors knew must be acknowledged. And how may about the disclosure documents prowe mention them? gram available through the U.S. patent Perhaps you noticed that I have re- office, they would not have to do what ferred to Commander Data as " h e " Pons and Fleischmann did. I first used (Lieutenant Yar took no exception to the program about eight years ago, and that), but that is of course inaccurate at it is outlined as follows: its root—a machine is a thing, not as"A service is provided for inventors cribable a gender except in the sense by the U.S. Patent Office: the acceptance that a car is a "she" and so is a battleship. and preservation for a limited time of To refer to a machine as "it" seems 'Disclosure Documents' as evidence of harsh, given the spirit of collegiality the dates of conception of inventions. with which most all of us work with "A paper disclosing an invention and machines, and condescending—rather signed by the inventor may be forwardthan "sexism," this reference amounts ed to the Patent Office by the inventor. to "thingism." Suggestions have been It will be retained for two years and made to remove sexist references from then be destroyed unless it is referred to writing (if not from fact), by the relent- in a separate letter in a related patent less use of s/he (pronounced "zhuh") or application filed within two years. " s / h i s " (pronounced infrequently "The Disclosure Document is not a paenough that most of us don't worry tent application. It does, however, proabout how to do it, or merely say "their" vide a credible form of evidence of conand add to the use of poor English). To ception of an invention. Inventors are remove thingism, all we have to do is reminded that any public use or sale in find suitable nonthingist pronouns, and the United States or public disclosure of machinery worldwide—nay, solarsys- the invention anywhere in the world temwide—will applaud, or whatever, more than one year prior to the filing of our newfound sense of fairness and a patent application on that invention egalitarianism. will prohibit the granting of a patent on How to include "it" along with " h e " it."
One can write to the commissioner of patents and trademarks in Washington, D.C., for instructions and formats on this program. It is very simple. Just write down, in your own words, your idea of the invention, with or without a drawing, enclose a $10 check and a selfaddressed, stamped return envelope, and mail the letter to the patent office. Tin Boo Yee Huntsville, Ala.
Radiation epidemiology SIR: I noted the recent discussion of radiation epidemiology by Irwin D. Bross (C&EN, April 17, page 3) citing his own paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology [126,1042 (1987)] on excess cancers in atomic veterans. The cited paper claims 62% more cancers for persons exposed to 300 millirem or more than for less-exposed persons, with the letter stating that almost all the servicemen had received much less than 10 rad. Although Bross calls his results "an uncontested scientific fact," a letter from Seymour Joblon of the Medical Followup Agency, National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council appears in the same issue of the same journal, faulting the methodology and conclusions of Bross' study, which had cited a 1985 report by Joblon and others downplaying cancer risks in atomic veterans. Cancer epidemiology of Japanese Abomb casualties was recently reported by Dale L. Preston et al. in Radiation Research [111, 151 (1987)]. Their attributable risk for all cancer deaths for the period 1950-82 was only 8.5% with average doses of 42.2 rad for 22,431 males and 39.0 rad for 31,627 females. They computed an excess risk of all cancer deaths of 556 per 106 person-year-rad. Their relative risk figures for different cancer sites, such as 3.95 per 100 rad for leukemia, 1.17 for all other cancers, and 1.24 for all cancers, are consistent with figures from several other radiation epidemiology studies cited by radiation pathologist Luis F. Fajardo in "New Concepts in Neoplasia as Applied to Diagnostic P a t h o l o g y , " w h o cited publications noting difficulties in demonstrating carcinogenicity of radiation in humans (I presume for statistical reasons) below 10 rad. I certainly do not dispute the existence and dangers of radiation carcinogenesis or the importance of reasonable protective measures and of appropriate compensation of persons with credible radiation injuries. However, I believe it Continued on page 135 July 17, 1989 CAEN 5
Letters Continued from page 5 is important to assess the risks as accurately as possible and to avoid overstating them in order to avoid unwarranted alarm, wasted resources from excessive protective measures, and unjustified benefit claims. David B. Busch Radiation Pathologist, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Washington, D.C.
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