BOOK REVIEWS Energy." Use, Conservation and Supply. Edited by P. H. Abelson. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington DC, 20005, 1974. Price: $12-95 (hardback), $4.95 (paperback). This excellent compilation of essays by thirty-nine authors makes easy and highly informative reading. It gives an overall perspective on 'energy' and, as such, the volume can be regarded as profitable study material for the final years at school or for other non-specialists. The considered topics range from what industry can achieve to recommendations for improving individual self sufficiency. Energy balances are described for various systems and interesting facts revealed--for example, food production in the past required about ten times the energy input that it yielded. Accident Hazards of Nuclear Power Plants, by R. E. Webb. University of Massachusetts Press, 1976. Price: $6.95. Treatment of this subject does not imply that nuclear reactors pose the greatest risk to the public or the environment. Barring accidents and seepage of harmful amounts of radioactive waste into the environment, nuclear power could solve both the 'energy crisis' and the air pollution problem in our cities. Nuclear power plants emit no noxious gases such as the hydrocarbons and sulphur dioxide that are given off by fossil-fuelled power plants. Electricity from nuclear generators can be used to power mass transit systems as well as to release hydrogen gas (from water) which could be employed in a suitable form as a pollution-free fuel for vehicles. Thus enormous benefits are derivable from nuclear power. These conclusions should be borne in mind while reading about the accidents (reported in this text) which have occurred with nuclear reactors and the possibility of hazards arising as a result of sabotage. Nevertheless, after considering the conflicting evidence, the book concludes that 'in view of the enormous potential for disaster, civilian nuclear reactors ought to be shut down and a moratorium placed on nuclear plant construction while society determines the safe course of action'. This text thus provides much food for thought and debate and forces one to realise the enormous responsibilities of the world governments with respect to releasing nuclear energy. 319 Applied Energy (5) (1979) (t) Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1979 Printed in Great Britain

Accident hazards of nuclear power plants: by R. E. Webb. University of Massachusetts Press, 1976. Price: $6·95

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B O O K R E V I E W S

Energy." Use, Conservation and Supply. Edited by P. H. Abelson. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington DC, 20005, 1974. Price: $12-95 (hardback), $4.95 (paperback).

This excellent compilation of essays by thirty-nine authors makes easy and highly informative reading. It gives an overall perspective on 'energy' and, as such, the volume can be regarded as profitable study material for the final years at school or for other non-specialists. The considered topics range from what industry can achieve to recommendations for improving individual self sufficiency. Energy balances are described for various systems and interesting facts revealed--for example, food production in the past required about ten times the energy input that it yielded.

Accident Hazards of Nuclear Power Plants, by R. E. Webb. University of Massachusetts Press, 1976. Price: $6.95.

Treatment of this subject does not imply that nuclear reactors pose the greatest risk to the public or the environment. Barring accidents and seepage of harmful amounts of radioactive waste into the environment, nuclear power could solve both the 'energy crisis' and the air pollution problem in our cities. Nuclear power plants emit no noxious gases such as the hydrocarbons and sulphur dioxide that are given off by fossil-fuelled power plants. Electricity from nuclear generators can be used to power mass transit systems as well as to release hydrogen gas (from water) which could be employed in a suitable form as a pollution-free fuel for vehicles. Thus enormous benefits are derivable from nuclear power. These conclusions should be borne in mind while reading about the accidents (reported in this text) which have occurred with nuclear reactors and the possibility of hazards arising as a result of sabotage. Nevertheless, after considering the conflicting evidence, the book concludes that 'in view of the enormous potential for disaster, civilian nuclear reactors ought to be shut down and a morator ium placed on nuclear plant construction while society determines the safe course of action'. This text thus provides much food for thought and debate and forces one to realise the enormous responsibilities of the world governments with respect to releasing nuclear energy.

319 Applied Energy (5) (1979) (t) Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1979 Printed in Great Britain