Tacken, Vol . 24, No . 7, pp . 735-714, 1986.

0011-0101/86 ß.00+ .00Printed in Grert Brinin. PerEattron Journrls Ltd .

REVIEWSSMITH, J . E. and Moss, M . O. Mycotoxins, Formation, Analysisand Sign~cance, 148 pp ., f14 .93 . Chichester:John Wiley & Sons (1983) .

THE TITLE Of this small and comprehensive book sounds rather modest in comparison to its contents .Mycotoxicoses in animals, as well as in man, are a very serious problem of our day, causing large economiclosses in farming and cattle raising, and being responsible for a numberof serious diseases in man. This book is abonanza in many respects . Toxigenic fungi and their oauaence are discussed, as well as chemistry and analysisof mycotoxins in foodstuff . Short, but comprehensive, chapters on animal diseases and human mycotoxicosesmake the book complete . Although the single chapters are short, they provide an amazing amount of data,completed by many tables and figures. Moreover, for details, an excellent selection of references is given . Thisbook should not be missing from the shelf of anyone concerned with myrntoxins or mycotoxicoses .

G. HABERMEHL

ENSLEIN, K., LANDER, T. R., Tolle, M. E. and CRA[G, P. N. A Predictive Modeljorlstimating Rat Oral Ln�values, 123 pp . ISSN 83-61731 . Princeton: Princeton Scientific Publishers (1983) .

BASED GN SOnlt 4300 compounds, the rat oral Ln� of which is available, a mathematical model was developedusing the quantitative structure-activity relationship equation (QSAR). In s first step, a computer was used toderive a model by searching for significant relationships between biological responses and a wide variety ofphysical properties . In a second step, this model was tested based on estimations of a set of 908 randomlyselected chemicals which were not included in the development of themodel. All statistical methods used employleast-square techniques . Acomparison of the gained estimations with data available from bioassays revealed asimilar level ofaccuracy. However, at least to date, every mathematical model ofbiological activity is limited inseveral aspects : firstly, because of the simplifying assumptions inherent in it and, secondly, because of theapproximations and possible lack of precision in the parameters chosen to represent biological, structural andphysicochemical effects . Furthermore, the possible influence of, for example, solvents on the compound'sconformation, as well as such complex phenomena like, for example, metabolic events, are ignored . The authorsare aware ofthese limitations and their conclusions are consequently drawn with caution : at this stage, the modelcan certainly be used for `range-fording', to set priorities for testing or to eliminate compounds likely to behighly toxic from further consideration, for example, in drug design . If, at a future date, we succeed in includingmuch more information, both relevant and reliable, in computer data-bases, the ultimate goal of QSAR- anassessment of the overall biological reactivity of an untested substance only from our knowledge of its structureand physicochemical properties - could possibly be achieved and a marked reduction in animal usage then berealised . Further activities of the authors in this field deserve to be followed up .

BHATT, H. G., $YKES, R. M. and $WEENEY, T. L. (Eds) Management ojToxic and Hazardous Wastes, 418 pp .ISBN 0-87371-023-1. Chelsea, MI:Lewis Publishers (1983) .

NOWADAYS, hazardous wastes are the most prominent rnvronmental problem. Thus, proper management ofhazardous waste materials, facilities and disposal sites has become a major concern for industry, governmentand, last but not least, the private citizen . This book contains revised and up-dated papers presented at the 3rdOhio Environmental Engineering Conference held in Columbus in 1983 . Special attention is focused on theimpact on groundwater and the cleaning up of disposal sites, two important aspects of hazardous wastemanagement . With sections on waste treatment and rxycling, risk assessment, public participation, landdisposal and legal considerations, the book rnvers the whole field of hazardous waste management and providesvaluable strategies on the precautions to be taken, as well as on pitfalls to be avoided to minimize legal liabilities .In conclusion, this book, although dealing predominantly with the situation in the United States, may beregarded as a generally valid, current reference work on the management of toxic and hazardous wastes.

HUNTER, K. W. JR ., BRIMF[ELD, A. A., M[LLF.R, M., FINKFIMAN, F. D. and CHU, S. F. (Departments ofPediatrics, Preventive Medicine/Biometrics, and Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health

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J. MEIER

I. MEIER