Biochemistry

A. L. Lehninger Worth: New York. $16.75. 792 pp.

This is a book for rich stage II students but it could be worth while for the poor to struggle a bit to buy it. It is of a type which is becoming less rare than hitherto in that it is directed primarily at science students and not at the medical market. The preface indicates it is written as a first course in biochemistry; for all practical purposes it assumes no great knowledge of chemistry and would be adequate for many biology students who would do no more biochemistry.

page 147

It would also serve very well as a first-year text for biochemistry majors who would have further opportunities in later years to get the detailed discussion of the topics dealt with and also to tackle areas of biochemistry not here mentioned.

This is, in fact, a core-biochemistry text with a very well done account of the properties of biochemical materials, and metabolism of protein, carbohydrate, fat and nucleic acid. Its strong point is the way in which these are related to cell structure and functions and its excellent diagrams and illustrations.

Highly recommended.

Global Effects of Environmental Pollution

Edited by S. F. Singer

Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht —

Holland, 1970. 218 pp.

Over the past few years there has been a growing awareness among scientists that, in addition to local effects, pollution is producing changes in the environment on a much broader scale. In 1968 the American Association for the Advancement of Science held a symposium at which specialists from several countries and in different fields of research discussed what was known of the global effects of pollution and defined the uncertainties which hindered the accurate prediction of future trends. The present volume consists of the papers presented at the symposium and additional papers to supplement them.

For convenience, the subject has been divided into four major headings:

(1)	the chemical balance of gases in the Earth's atmosphere;
(2)	nitrogen compounds in soil, water, atmosphere and precipitation;
(3)	the effects of atmospheric pollution on climate;
(4)	world-wide ocean pollution by toxic wastes.

In part one observed changes in the concentrations of atmospheric gases, particularly CO² and CO, are described, and the various mechanisms which exist to counteract both natural and man-induced changes are outlined and their relative importance discussed. Part two includes discussion of the use of fertiliser nitrogen and its effects on the nitrogen cycle; the dangers of excess nitrate levels in food, and the man-induced eutrophication of lakes. Of all the sections this page 148 one has the greatest immediate significance to New Zealand, since many of our lakes and rivers are now showing signs of increasing eutrophication. The influence of CO² and particulates on global temperature fluctuation, and the effects of particulates on cloud formation, are dealt with in part three. Part four details the various compounds which have been discovered accumulating in marine ecosystems, discusses the biological implications of these accumulations in relation to human food supply, and outlines the interactions of oceanic and terrestrial ecosystems involving certain pollutants.

By combining the approaches of meteorology, chemistry, ecology, limnology, agriculture, soil science, etc., a very objective outline of the problem has been achieved, and in addition has served to emphasise that for the accurate prediction of long-range effects the co-operation of specialists from many scientific disciplines will be required. Subjective assessments and emotional statements have no place in a book of this kind, and it is pleasing to note that these have been virtually eliminated from the present volume.

The conclusions brought out by this book are that present trends can be reversed, or at least halted. But it is quite clear that we cannot afford to be complacent. Large-scale changes are occurring, albeit slowly at present, and it is essential that further research be instigated immediately so that accurate prediction of future trends is possible at the earliest opportunity.

By offering researchers, engineers, administrators, and other interested persons a concise introduction to current knowledge of the global effects of environmental pollution, a reasonably comprehensive list of references and suggestions for further reading, and by defining the gaps in our present knowledge, this book should go some way to stimulating and directing further research in this field.