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RADIOISOTOPES IN INDUSTRY
Edited by John R. Bmdford, Director, Radioisotopes Laboratory, Case Institute of Technology, Cleveland, Ohio. Reinhold Puhlishing Cow., New York, 1953. vii 309 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $8.
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THIS is by far the best and most informative treatment on the subject to appeir t o date. It is a good text for the industrial man who has been hearing about the uso of these atomic energy by-products, the radioisotopes, but doesn't. know how thcy can be applied to the problems of his own company and has little knowledge of what is involvod in their use. The "experts" in tho field will also find i t valuable in broadening their appreciation of topics and applications outside their psrticuler specialities. The make-up and layout are conductive to easy and camprehensive reading. The publisher claims that the book has bcen written with a minimum of mathematical treatment and with a few exceptions this is true. Generous use of pictures, graphs, diagrams, and sketches throughout the text has upped the price hut it is well worth it. I n many instances they clinch a description, a n application, or a point an facilities and handling tech. niques that twice as many written words would have failed to do. "Ritdioisotopes in Industry" is not, however, without its shortcomings. It is a collection of papers presented a t a confercnee of the same name a t Case Institute of Technology in April, 1951. It has been the aim of the 15 or so contributing authors as woll as the editor to incorporate its many of the new developments as possible that have occurred since the time of the conference. Yet the rapidity with which the industrial use of radioisotopes is developing makes this impossible. Many of the new applications not included, however, are based an the same principles described in the text, principles which all new users will want t o heaome versed in before setting out t o apply the isotope technique to their own particular situations. Aa the editor points out in his preface, "In a book consisting of papers written by various persons, it becomes inomasingly dificult. to eliminate all repetitious material. Cert8,iinly this book is no exception." Although there is some repetition, it is my guess that this won't disturb the reader as much as the ctppxront contradictions between the views of various authors, especially an regards proper techniques and facilities for handling radioactive materials of various kinds and quantities. By using generalities same of the authors appear to have not given pmper perspective to the health-safety problems associated with the industrial use of radioisotopes. The use of small quantities of radiomaterials as tracers in industrial rescereh and development requires one set of criteria for safe handling. The use of larger quantities, especially if they are to be used out, side the confines of the lahoratory, requires a more rigid act of criteria. However, even if a. comparatively large amount of radiomaterid is t o he used as s. sealed source and them is no possibility of a contaminstian problem, the critelis. will again he quite different. Them difloronces will not be mado suficiontly apparent to some readers. I n Chapter 4, far example, Otto Glitsser of the Cleveland Clinic indicates that "(Isotope) applicants should pass a rigid medical examination as well 8 s a s~ecialexamination for nossible vontnminntiou. Ilnnds 4>ouldlw iwviull! inspwred lor por:inlr wrller r~dlntioniujurics. +vi:,l !~tlrntlo!~ snoulll hc pnid l c , the blood rounr n r d s p r m i~wprrtiun.'l'htw e~nminntionsrl~ould be repeated every y e a and, in ease of accident, blood counts
should be made every t.Ilrce months.'' Also, in Chapter 7, Thomas B. Lanahsn of S. Bliekman, Inc., in discussing the Bandling of one-millicu~iclevels of such oft beta-ray emitters as carlmn 14, calcium 45, and aulfur 35, states that "floors should he designed of a material which has vcry little cold flow, is aridresistant, replaceable sud casy to olcan." Later he points out that, "walk in new construction should he designed nn metal partition8 eoatcd with an acid-resistant paint,." In a 8ubsequent discussion of I-millicuric to 1-curie levels of 8, bctaray emitter such as phasphords 32, the author shows a picture of an Argonne-type hood with air lock, working arrangement. with remote-control valve, dish-washing hood unit, and remote control water-valve sink. .Many readers will undoubtedly infer from these two cl~npters that the hazards assoeiatcd with handling radioisotope8 and the necessary facilities for coping with these hazards most certainly preclude any wide applicability or versatility for the isotope technique. On the other hand, Donald R. Ward of the Oak Ridge National Lahorstory points out in Chapter 8 that "a rsdiochemicd lxboratory is similar to a regular chemical lahoratory in most rerpeets. I'rs,\,i.ionr must bv mndr ior prriurming kwh procrsvs a*
