Available:*
Library | Item Barcode | Call Number | Material Type | Item Category 1 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... | 30000000614911 | BF353 E59 1982 | Open Access Book | Book | Searching... |
On Order
Summary
Summary
This book surveys the use, abuse and misuse of chemicals in our society. The disaster at Bhopal, the use of Agent Orange and chemical warfare in the Gulf all provide sobering, if sensational, examples of the potential dangers of chemicals, whilst the invidious accumulation of a wide range of chemicals in the environment is attracting increased publicity if not informed debate. Hugh Crone redresses this balance by providing a scientific yet accessible account of the benefits and risks of the increasing use of chemicals in society, whether they are used as drugs, food additives, herbicides or simply enter the environment as by-products of an industrial society. He describes how chemicals gain entry to the body and how their toxicity is assessed; particular examples are studied in detail to illustrate the complexities of the issues involved; other chapters consider chemical warfare and disarmament, the safe handling of chemicals and the problems of legislation and compensation.
Reviews 1
Choice Review
Written for educated persons without a technical chemistry background, a reader with no high school chemistry will, nonetheless, find this book difficult. Crone's apparent purpose is to give nontechnical readers an understanding of chemical problems such as pollution, disease, food additives, herbicides, drugs, and chemical warfare. Current concerns about chemicals are present in simple terms. Crone states that one reason for writing this book is that ``the public is bombarded'' with chemical facts ``from special interest groups whose aims are to mold your opinion, not to guide you to a logical conclusion.'' His aim is to present ``some tools with which to appraise the Chemical World in rational terms.'' He does not give tables of technical data, but how to interpret that data is illustrated. Crone expresses his opinion as to how information should be interpreted, and he handles this responsibly. He attempts to explain concepts of natural contamination or background count, toxic dosage, and harmful versus beneficial uses of chemicals. The material is presented in a very understandable way and should be interesting reading for persons with both technical and nontechnical backgrounds. Recommended for college students and for general readers.-W.H. Hohman, Marietta College
