Books Laboratory Handbook for Analysts Contamination Control in Trace Element Analysis. Morris Zief and James W. Mitchell, xiv + 262 pages. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1976. $22.50
Reviewed by Kenneth W. Boyer, Division of Chemistry and Physics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C. 20204 This book is a must for any laboratory conducting chemical analyses. Although the authors emphasize contamination control in trace metals analyses, many of the principles discussed are directly applicable to all chemical analyses, whether they be inorganic or organic, single or multireel due, and at all analyte component levels from ultratrace to major. After reflecting on the current emerging awareness t h a t much of the analytical data reported in the literature may be seriously in error because of the lack of contamination control, especially at trace (1-100 Mg/g) and ultratrace ( < 1 Mg/g) levels, the authors systematically review in d e p t h each of the parameters t h a t must be controlled to obtain analytical data free from unintentional losses or interferences. These parameters include the nature of the sample and the procedure used to collect it, t h e sample a n d laboratory environments, the analytical reagents and standards used in the analysis, the analytical methodology and common laboratory practices, and finally the least often suspected source of contamination—the analyst himself. T h e analyst will find this to be a very practical and useful laboratory handbook. It tells how to upgrade a conventional laboratory, for example: how to provide class 100 clean air working space; how to set u p highpurity subboiling acid stills and other reagent purification equipment; how to produce and store high-purity reagents and very dilute solutions. T h e reasons why selected materials or procedures are preferable, depending on application, are discussed in detail. Finally, the listing of sources with addresses for most of the reagents, materials, and equipment discussed is a valuable practical feature. T h e authors conclude with a chapter briefly discussing the advantages and limitations of the various determinative step analytical instrumental
methods available for characterizing ultrapure materials. This discussion, which curiously excludes electroanalytical techniques, includes neutron activation analysis, isotope dilution, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, spark source mass spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. T h e cost of the book is certainly reasonable considering the improvement in the quality of analytical data t h a t will result if the wealth of practical hints, precautions, ideas, and procedures are consulted and applied routinely in the analytical laboratory. Microtechniques for the Clinical Laboratory: Concepts and Applications. Mario Werner, Ed. xv + 442 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 605 Third Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1976. $29.50
Reviewed by Hanns-Dieter Gruemer, Department of Pathology, M-352, Loehing Hall, 320 West 10th Ave., Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Chemists who are interested in microanalytical methods for analytes in biological fluids will enjoy reading this book. This volume is the natural outgrowth of a long standing interest by Mario Werner in the application of methodology for the betterment of the practice of medicine. It is a compilation of 26 chapters by authors with expertise in various areas. T h e reader will be impressed by the wide variety of topics covered, including chapters dealing with concepts and techniques on immunology, enzymology, spectrophotometry, electrochemistry, chromatography and acid-base physiopathology, microsampling and blood collection. Microtechniques are suitable for all patients, and their use reduces the blood loss for patients undergoing repeated blood testing. T h e application of micro methods still lags behind the macro methods in the clinical laboratory. T h i s volume may stimulate chemists to look further into micro methods. Some of the techniques such as molecular spectrophotometry, bioluminescence, coulometry, and other electroanalytical procedures are not currently generally applied in the clinical laboratory. T h e chapters t h a t describe these areas may foretell what the future applications and developments will be.
Throughout this volume, the emphasis is on principles of microanalysis. Most of the chapters are brief but contain a succinct discussion of each topic. T h e chapters on electrochemistry are exceptionally good. Microtechniques on the AutoAnalyzer are described in detail, and manifold diagrams are included. Anyone who needs to set u p an automated micro laboratory would be helped by these chapters. T h e book is attractively arranged, and the figures and photographs are of high quality. It will be most useful to those analytical and clinical chemists who seek applications of analytical research developments for the clinical situation. This book is a must for trainees and will also be valuable for the practicing chemist. We look forward to a future and possibly expanded volume on the same topic.
New Books Environmental Monitoring. Stanton S. Miller, Ed. ix + 197 pages. American Chemical Society, 1155 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. 1976. Cloth, $13.50; paperbound, $8.50
Reproduced in this volume are selected feature articles t h a t appeared in Environmental Science and Technology from 1973 to 1976. It complements earlier ES&T books on air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste. In addition to 48 articles, it includes four editorials and listings of 43 books and 38 news leads relevant to environmental monitoring. T h e articles are organized into six general sections: international activity, U.S. activity, business, air, water, and miscellaneous. T h e articles on air and water are further grouped into instruments, techniques, and applications.
Continuing Series Encyclopedia of Electrochemistry of the Elements, Vol. VII. Allen J. Bard, Ed. xiv + 483 pages. Marcel Dekker, Inc., 270 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016. 1976. $75
T h e aim of this series is to provide a critical and comprehensive review of the electrochemical behavior of the el-
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 49, NO. 4, APRIL 1977 · 439 A
