BOOKSHELF

An Ecological Handbook: A Gaggle of Facts

Environmental Biology. Compiled and edited by Philip A. Altman and Dorothy S. Dittmer. xxi + 694 pages. Federa- tion of American Societies for Experi- mental Biology, Bethesda, Md. 20014. 1966. $15.00, hard cover. Daniel J . Nelson is in the Radiation Ecology Section, Health Physics Dicision of the Oak Ridge Nutionul Laboratories, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830.

BJJ Daniel J. Nelson

“Environmental Biology” is the fourth book in the series of handbooks of biological data compiled for reference purposes under the auspices of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The book follows the previously established format and consists of tabular data prepared by specialists in zoology, botany, and medicine. The handbook is an ambitious attempt to categorize the responses of living systems to environmental condi- tions. The following environmental factors are considered in the 10 separate sections: temperature; radiant energy; sound, vibration, and impact; accelera- tion and gravity; atmosphere and pol- lutants; atmospheric pressures; gases; water; solutes; and biological rhythms. Two appendices are included which give cross references for scientific and com- mon names of organisms. In addition there is a thorough index.

The editors have done a n admirable job in organizing the data from approxi- mately 450 contributors. Data are pre- sented in 190 tables with the contributors and references listed immediately follow- ing each table. Hence, the handbook can serve as a convenient reference source for selected environmental factors. The scope of a n environmental handbook, however, should generally be restricted to environmental factors. The editors attempted to include data on normal biological experience as well as changes that have occurred in the environment as the result of human cultural activities. On this basis I think most ecologists

will be curious about the inclusion of some types of specialized data such as the responses of individual astronauts and cosmonauts t o weightlessness. In fact, the whole section on acceleration and gravity is devoted to the specialized field of aerospace medicine. Similarly, data on the effects of underwater ex- plosions on man and other mammals or the chemical composition of the atmos- phere of nuclear submarines appear to be directed toward a highly seIected audience or the idle curiosity of others.

Much of the material included would be useful for industrial hygienists-such as the data on responses to radio-fre- quency radiation, effects of exposure to noises, and the effects of breathing unusual gaseous atmospheres. Food technologists can find the thermal death point for nonpathogenic bacteria in chopped okra and a variety of other foods. I am sure that other technical disciplines will find similar information of value.

Atmospheric environment

The three sections (about 30z) of the book devoted to various aspects of gaseous environments result in very comprehensive coverage of this portion of the environment. Atmospheric pol- lutants are considered specifically with respect to sources. And data on the effects of the various pollutants on animals and plants are included. Inter- estingly, the effects of abnormal carbon dioxide concentrations on the various body functions of mammals require nearly 45 pages, while the secular change in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere is indicated weakly in a footnote.

A relatively good summary of the effects of temperature on a wide variety of organisms is included.

The sections on water and solutes provide much data on interactions among soil, water, and plants. Data on the responses of aquatic organisms to water quality are restricted to the effects of salinity. With the volume of published

research on toxicities of metallic ions, pesticides, and organic compounds to fish and other aquatic life, a table of toxicities would have been desirable. Water quality affects the toxicity of various pollutant materials, which might explain a reluctance of the editors to include the data. However, as potential users of the handbook should note, many of the tables contain an explana- tory heading which discusses constraints that are to be considered in applying the data.

Missing information

There are other bodies of information that could be included in the book, such as dissolved oxygen requirements for fish. Populations of organisms in nature and their characteristics (such as density, birth rate, death rate, and fecundity) are important environmental attributes, but this entire topic was excluded. Similarly, despite the concern for man- induced environmental alterations, the carefully documented levels of radio- active fallout are not mentioned nor are the levels of pesticides in the environ- ment considered. The effects of ionizing radiation are reported for mammals, for dominant plants in major ecosystems, and for dormant seeds. The exclusion of data on other organisms has resulted in an uneven coverage of the effects of ionizing radiation.

The scientific names of organisms usually are given in the tables, along with synonyms. In the case of the apple (Malus pumiia) the synonymy is confused among the various entries in several tables. The two appendices giving cross references for common and scientific names of biota are useful and quite complete. I had some trouble identifying the viscacha and the hual- lata. The llama is generally known and the vicufia has political fame. None of these species was included in the appendices.

Attempting to catalog biological sys- tems in a handbook is a difficult task. I feel that the editors and contributors

444 Environmental Science and Technology

have done a remarkable job in organiz- ing data. Obviously, the advisory com- mittee on this handbook chose to include much material of doubtful application to natural environments. As an ecologi- cally oriented environmental scientist, I think the title is a misnomer. However, I will use this new handbook for selected data as I have used the previously published handbooks.

Local Weather: More Order, Less Chaos Watching for the Wind: The Seen and Unseen Influences on Local Weather. James G. Edinger. 149 pages. Doubleday & Co., New York, N.Y. 10017. 1967. $4.50, hard cover; $1.25, paper. Lau- rence E. Strong is with the Depurtment of Chemistry, Eurlhum College, Rich- mond, Ind. 47374

By Laurence E. Strong Dr. Edinger has written a most inter-

esting account of some of the main factors that determine local weather. The book is intended for amateur meteorologists. Much of the description relates t o weather conditions found in the Los Angeles area where the author lives. His concern is that of showing, by giving examples, the possibilities in observation, interpretation, and appre- ciation of one’s own local weather. Publication of this book represents a joint venture by the American Meteoro- logical Society and Educational Services, Inc, These two groups intend this book t o be one of a series for high school science students and interested laymen.

The story begins with a discussion of large-scale air circulation patterns over and around the United States. Vertical motion of air and the resultant changes in pressure and temperature are de- scribed. Emphasis is given to the role played in air motion by the condensation or evaporation of water.

Since the author is interested in pre- senting weather watching as a n inter- esting activity for the amateur a t home, he devotes considerable attention to the effects of local terrain on air movement. His illustrative examples are drawn mostly from the interaction of air masses, water masses, and land masses along the Pacific Coast of southern California. In some detail he shows how much of the Los Angeles weather flows from a large anticyclone off the Cali- fornia coast.

Smog is the subject of one chapter. The author shows how local weather conditions favor smog formation. At the same time he argues that weather modification, even if possible, cannot provide a way of improving the situa- tion. Along with smog, fire hazards peculiar to California weather are dis- cussed.

Probably the most interesting chapter is entitled “A Meteorology Field Trip.” It recounts a 500-mile auto trip from Monterey Bay south to Los Angeles. The author’s purpose is to show the variety of observations and interpreta- tions that can be made of wind and weather from the visual data available t o anyone who cares t o look. The pur- pose is well served by this concluding chapter.

Force or energy

As a book for young students of science there are a few points to ques- tion. Modern science textbook writing tends toward the use of the MKS system for quantitative data. However, in this book the British system is used for no readily apparent reason. Some- what more dubious is the author’s statement (page 50) “Air does not occur as separate bits and pieces, like billiard balls or Chevrolets. Instead, air is continuous and extremely deformable.” However, students brought up on a molecular theory of gases may find this treatment of air as a fluid rather a t odds with their own developing notions. The author discusses the motion of air masses in terms of forces. However, it seems to me that the treatment would be simpler and more in line with modern high school physics courses if energy, not force, were the guiding principle. It would then be feasible to discuss the gravitational potential energy of a n air mass and how changes in this potential energy would be accompanied by tem- perature changes, phase changes, and interaction with land masses and other air masses.

The author wrote “Watching for the Wind” in hopes he would help people to see “a little more order, a little less chaos, in the seemingly random distribu- tion of the clouds, wind, rain, and snow that together make up the local weather.” H e has succeeded admirably in fulfilling his hopes. Readers young and old will find the book well worth their time and money.

if you have an industrial waste pollution problem . . .

has the answer!

Many industrial com- panies find that the injection of wastes into a disposal well has pro- vided a permanent, low-cost solution to their problem. This is known as “deep-well” waste disposal. IDCI cambines the 25 years of drilling ex- perience of Lohmann-Johnson Drill- ing with the geological and engineer- ing know-how of Mitchell and Stan- onis, Inc. into an organization capable of providing:

0 Geological feasibility studies for injection in your plant area

0 Studies to detennlne the necessary pre-injection sur- face treatment of your ma- terial

0 Engineering design and con- tract iizstallation of the en- tire surface and subsurface systems

0 Continued supervision of the operation and mainten- ance of the fluid injection system

For mnre information, write (on your Com- pany lrttrrhend please) to International Disposal Contm;,tors, Inc., 355 Permanent Savings Blrlg., Evansville, Indiana, 47708. Or phone (812) 425-1349.

t

INTERNATIONAL DISPOSAL CONTRACTORS, INC. Subsurface Industrial Waste DisDosal Svsrems . I

Suite 355 Permanent Savings Bldg. Evansville, Indiana 47708

BRANCH OFFICES 881 Hiah S h t

1734 Wichita PInm Bldg.

1306 Clark Bldg.

740 Elueden House

Piltsburgh. Pa 15222 Worthmgton, Ohio

Calgary, Alberta. Canada Wichita, K-er Circle No. 26 on Readers’ Service Card

Volume 1, Number 5, May 1967 445