Review by Choice Review
This new edition (1st ed., 1999) provides more than 350 pages of well-written, comprehensive, up-to-date information on human and environmental toxicity of both man-made and naturally synthesized organic and inorganic chemicals. If the reader is not already fairly familiar with the concept of an electrophile and a nucleophile, then this book would be very heavy going. Sterner (Lund Univ., Sweden) unfortunately uses the word "chemical" to mean "man-made chemical." He states: "Today, we are well aware that most tumors that afflict humans are caused by chemicals ..."; this is certainly correct if the meaning of chemicals is the broad meaning espoused by chemists. If the author means that most human tumors are caused by exposure to man-made chemicals, then he should at least provide a credible reference. The total lack of any literature references is one of the few drawbacks of this otherwise excellent tome. This reviewer learned about such diverse topics as the amazing chlorinated organics produced by fungi and the interesting human metabolism of asparagus. Detailed chapter subsection headings and a comprehensive index make this a usable reference book. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. D. H. Stedman University of Denver
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
