range of difficulty, class discussion questions, a bibliography, and a glossary. The ease histories for the most Dart are concerned either with current oroblems such as nuclear the faculty member than to students. The text contains some typographical errors, but none appear to impair the understanding seriously. The emphasis on the use of Fortran may date the text if Pascal or subsequent generations of structured languages are adopted widely by chemists. The exclusive use of Fortran in the text is not necessarily a flaw, however, since the nu^ merieal methods, once mastered, can be programmed in the newer languages as desired. The level af the text is suitable for integrate use of the text into a n existing
system is introduced and used extensively. Included are a six-page general glossary, a three-page appendix, and a three-page index. J. Michael Conner Regis College Denver, 60 80221
Environmental S c i e n c e in Perspective Thomas G. Spiro and William M. Stigliani, State Unlv. of NY Press, Albany, NY, 1980.ix 236 pp. Figs. and tables. 15 X 22.5 cm. $6.95.
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in chapters author probes topics, parti&ly 5-8. Obviously, the better solution is to offer a course in numerical methods as the author does at the University of Pittsburg. Researchers who encounter problems requiring numerical methods with which they are not familiar will fmd the text to he a useful reference. J. Emory Howell University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg. MS 39401
Introduction t o Environmental Studles Jonathan Turk, W. 5. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1980.vii 329 pp. Figs, and tables. 19.5 X 26.5 cm.
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The author has written an outstanding introductory text for this field, and it should be considered carefully for all serious environmental studies courses, especially in chemistry. In the author's own words, "interrelated problems of ecological disruptions, growth of human populations, land use, energy, nuclear power, food supplies, pesticides, air and water pollution, solid waste, and noise are all eovered."The discussions are readable, current, extensively illustrated, and would be especially interesting to the serious environmental studies student. The chemical, biological, physical, social, and legal implications of each problem are considered along with attempts a t solution from each of these aspects. This will be a particularly challenging bmk far the non-seience major attempting that first science course. Nonetheless, it has great flexibility and would he a valuable learning aid for both of the above types of student. There is ample lecture material for a full~year sequence, with ideas for field trips and the laboratory. Selective use of topics would adapt it well t o a one-semester course also. Six general units are organized into fifteen chapters covering specific environmental ~ r o b l e m sin greater depth. Most chapters include each of the following: an actual case history, a concise summary, a list of key words, take-home experiments with practical everyday applications, problems with a wide
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Many environmental science teats are written a t the introductory level and are aimed a t freshman who possess little or no knowledge of ehemistry. Although notes on the back cover of this text suggest that this book requires little background in science, the level of presentation is actually fairly sophisticated, and the problem solutions are beyond the capabilities of the average freshman. In addition, the use of line structural diagrams for polynuelear aromatics, pesticides, and insect pheremones would be meaningless to thaae who had not already had an introduction t o organic chemistry. As a result this text would be more suitable for a special topics eourse a t the advanced undergraduate level. Each chapter is concluded with an extensive list of references to more specialized books and the state of the art as reported in Science, Chemical and Engi-
actually caused a decrease in gasoline eonsumotion in the U.S. and has stimulated the have also altered the energy outlook. The latter section of Part I examines alternative energy sources. Those emphasized include coal, nuclear (both fission and fusion), and solar. The authors are clearly anti nuclear. The discussion on nuclear power is introduced with. "Since the erim dawn ofthe also several errors are present. Minor alternative energy sources briefly noted include wind, ocean thermal gradients, organic wastes, and tides. Thermal pollution is also treated here, although i t would seem more logical to put it in the hydrosphere section. Part 11, "Atmosphere," is the strongest section of the book. Here the authors discuss the earth's radiation balance, the greenhouse effect, atmospheric layering, the atmospheric chemistry of small molecules including
ehlorofluoromethanes, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrocarbon automobile emissions. The chemistry of a typical internal combustion engine is presented and contrasted with the chemistry of the Hondaa stratified charge engine. Finally, particulate air pollution is examined. Part 111, "Hydrosphere," covers acidity due to acid rains and mine effluent, water hardness, soaps and detergents, detergent formulation and eutrophication, the oceans, sewage treatment (primary, secondary, and tertiary), drinking water treatment, and agricultural pollution. Part IV, "Biosphere," presents relationships between chemicals and living things. Here one finds the nitrogen cycle, the use of fertilizers, the importance of amino acids in nutrition, types of insecticides (their modes of action and persistence in the environment), inadvertent contamination by toxic (industrial) chemicals, tonicity of heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium), and environmental links to cancer. The two authors have engaged in a n ambitious undertaking. The difficulty of environmental science lies in its interdisciplinary diversity in contrast to the high degree of specialization normally found in most professionals. In this case the authors have created a well-organized, interesting, readable teat. Its strength lies in its examination of several ~ * p wI$ ~~i ~ n v i r ~ m n ~ n ht ~w tali q ~ r vi n dcplh. I t , n t a k ~ ~ lies ~ s s i ~ s ~ , v o rl.rrvity. ~.l \\'it h only L Y J pagr., many n q w t 1 t t > \ . i ronmental science are discussed only briefly or not a t all. For instance, current toxic waste disposal practices, a growing concern due to problems arising from past practices, are omitted entirely. Figures and tables abound, hut several are never discussed in the main body of the text. While the knowledgeable reader will teadily comprehend, the student will need some help. This problem is parti& offset by the many references. The net result is a stimulating text for a one-quarter or one-semester course, but one which sometimes merely whets the reader's appetite for more information. Students will appreciate the fact that this text is available in an inexpensive ($6.95) paperback edition. David L. Dean Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA 99004
Enzymes Malcolm Dixon and Edwin C Webb, Aca1 1 16 demic Press, New York, 1980.v pp. Figs and tables. 23.2 X 15.5 cm. $49.50.
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The authors of this book provide the seientifie public with a broad overview of the field of enzymology. The topics covered include enzyme isolation, kinetics, classification, specificity, mechanisms, inhibition and activation, cofactors, structure, biosynthesis, and biology. At the end of the book, an atlas of crystalline enzymes and a table of enzymes is provided. Together these constitute ap(Continued on page A70)
