Environmental Mutagenesis 1 : 295-296 (1 979)

Book and Article Reviews

The potential linkages of the processes of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and terato- genesis from exposure to single or multiple agents have become widely known; those involved with these processes know only too well the numerous areas of uncertainty and the continuing need for further investigation and analysis. This is really the state of the art for far too many vital public health questions.

These are trying times, particularly for a media-influenced, anxious, cynical, or apathetic public, resulting from the publicized discordant conclusions of “experts” and “authorities”, anointed somehow. It is a pleasure to refer here to two volumes, so very different in many aspects, which can be very helpful to the many engaged in the areas of mutation and malignancy.

cinogens and Mutagens, $66.75, Elsevier, NY, 1979, and H.C. Pitot’s Fundamentals of Oncology, $9.95, Marcel Dekker, NY, 1978.

to provide basic information as to the language, mechanisms, and assorted problems of malignancy, and this he achieves extremely well. It is but 180 pages long with tables and figures and a 12 page index that is really helpful. Broad-ranging, general, and yet quite specific, Pitot has a model here for many would-be authors.

The book is not for the professional pathologist, but principally for scientists and students in the biomedical sciences over the spectrum who wish to learn succinctly but well the biology and biochemistry of the neoplastic processes. Many of our membership and others concerned in some manner with carcinogenesis ought find this volume valuable to have at hand. I do hope that Pitot can find the time to update as required, and in his fashion, this singular book.

With Fishbein’s study we enter a vividly different world from that of Pitot’s work, in purpose, content, and style. The purpose is to put into useful order purported carcinogens and/or mutagens so as to highlight their potential industrial and other risks. The audience might include, among others, geneticists, toxicologists, those engaged in occupational health, and regulatory advisers.

being several thousand. (I didn’t add them all.) Chapter 1, Introduction, has 20 pages and 197 references. Chapter 1 1, “Halogenated Unsaturated Hydrocarbons,” consists of 31 pages and 274 references. Tables, charts, figures, and models abound, illustrating pathways and possible mechanisms of agent actions. The study can overwhelm at times, and much more than occupational considerations is involved despite the title.

The volumes are the comprehensive study of L. Fishbein, Potential Industrial Gzr-

I refer first to the smaller, superbly done introduction to oncology which is intended

Each chapter, excepting the terminal summary, has its own reference list, the total

0192-2521/79/0103-0295$00.80 0 1979 Alan R. Liss, Inc.

296 Sonnenblick

The principal portion consists of almost 200 “industrial organic chemicals” organized into 21 major groups and accentuating an even greater number of structural subgroups. There are five more or less general statements, three listed as Chapters and two unnum- bered which are of particular interest, at least to this writer, since in these we come to learn best much of the author’s thinking and attitude toward significant aspects of this diffuse health area. We shall refer below to these areas.

me. So much material has been incorporated that one random count plus some repeated overviews make it appear that the majority of individual sentences have one reference, some more than one. It is a type of discontinuity which can be disconcerting to some but valuable to the seeker of detail.

defined. Other than the Preface, they include the Introduction (Chap. l ) , “Combination Effects in Chemical Carcinogenesis” (Chap. 2), “Aspects of Epidemiology: Risk-Assess- ment and ‘Threshold Dose”’ and Summary (no Chapter listing). This is stimulating reading now, but with further experimental studies, views of advisory panelists and commission members on various problems, and decisions with wide impact which are yet to emanate from current suits concerning regulations, Fishbein’s as well as our specific and conceptual views will likely be altered.

engaged in the range of the mutagenesis/carcinogenesis relationship will be grateful to Fishbein for this work. Its cost is high but it merits purchase, somehow.

It should be of interest to you to read a current editorial by the chief Editor of JAMA entitled “Science Reporting to Alarm the Public”. It is on page 754 of the Journal, Volume 242, for August 24/3 1 , 1979. After discussing the reserpine episode specifically, the editorial concludes, “Perhaps the editors of the major medical journals should organize a task force to respond quickly to prematurely issued reports, to challenge officials who promulgate these reports and to advise science reporters on which of the reports are accu- rate, responsible, and acceptable.” The Associated Press has already given widespread notice to this editorial, and that is how I became aware of it. “Experts” once again?

Readers will respond variedly, but Fishbein’s writing style was often troublesome to

We mentioned certain statements wherein Fishbein’s opinions are more clearly

This a valiant and valuable study in many ways, and appreciable numbers of those

B.P. Sonnenblick Department of Zoology and Physiology Rutgers University, Newark