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Book Reviews

Rodger W. Bybee Guest Book Review Editor

ATMOSPHERE- IN- plicitly what cleanliness means in a faucet run and pump the basement; TERACTIONS: TOWARD A BETTER global sense although they are able to some see the leak, but claim it is not UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECO- define pollutantsin a narrowsense. The their problem; and so on. LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF report of the committee does not give On the weak side, some of the discus- specific solutions to the dilemma of in- sion was sensational. While it held Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/45/4/240/9593/4447686.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 by the Committee on the dustrialprogress and clean air. They do one's interest, there was a feeling that and the Biosphere, Board on say that must be reduced, very complex issues were being Agriculture and Renewable but they do not say howwe should go presented with a simplicity and tren- , Commission on Natural about achieving those reductions. diness. While on the topic of Resources, National Research Coun- This report probablyis not valuable weaknesses, the diagrams and charts cil. 1981. National Academy Press as a classroombook because it is highly were not very good. Their production (2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., technicaland not meant for laypersons. was poor and several had little or no Washington, DC 20418. The best students should find it a useful explanation. Man is indisputably a geological force starting place for entering the rather Ostmann's orientation is clear from of global proportions. Interactions of sizable and confusing literatureon air the first chapter-"A Threatto Planet the atmosphere and biosphere are so . It would be valuable to any ." He makes the point that acid widespread that there is evidence of ac- teacher trying to increase the is not new, but public awareness cumulated heavy in arctic background of knowledge needed to of is new. Along the way he and elevated levels in the present the technical and scientific introducessome of the researchersand and of the antarctic . This aspects of . concepts importantfor furtherreading. report by a blue-ribbon panel of the Na- C.E. Buchwald The second chaptercontinues with in- tional Research Council composed of CarletonCollege troductionsto the destructiveprocesses experts in , science, Northfield,Minnesota of acids and the various effects of acid geochemistry, botany, , at- rain on plants, trees, , and mospheric sciences, , and air- materials. pollution engineering attempts to docu- ACID RAIN: A PLAGUEUPON THE Thereis a chapterI thought extreme- ment that evidence and raise concern ly interesting, and a new dimension over what to do about air pollution. by RobertOstmann, Jr. 1982. Dillon among books and articleson acid rain. Press, Inc. (500 South Third Street, "The Acid Rain Pioneers" is a The report is valuable because it is Minneapolis, MN 55415). 208 p. chapter concerning the and based on very broad fascinating concise $12.95 hardback. dilemmas faced by scientists studying literature; the bibliography alone is RobertOstmann is a journalistwho acidrain. (I imaginethat the discussions about 20% of the body of the report. specializesin environmentalreporting. would generalizeto scientists studying After explaining the fossil fuel scenario He spent two years doing researchfor other environmentalproblems as well.) and giving an historical overview, the this book and many more coveringacid Should the scientistmake public his/her report devotes separate chapters to rain for the Minneapolis Star. Ostmann results and advocate remedies, or biogenic eniissions to the atmosphere, has written a very readable and anthropogenic sources, atmospheric should the scientist publish his results understandable introduction to acid in scientificjournals and leave the ad- , transformation and deposi- rain. Acid Rain is directed toward the tion, biologic accumulation and the ef- vocacy to others? Ostmann interview- average reader and as such has little ed scientists such as Gene Likens, fect of atmospheric contaminants, scientific-technicallanguage. The jour- general areas of research, and finally, Svante Oden, Eville Gorham, and nalistic style is both a strength and William Lewis for the book, and the acid . Each chapter has a weakness. On the strong side, I found short but valuable summary. manner in which these individuals the book easy reading. It flowed well, resolvedthe dilemmaprovides far more National polls show that Americans had interesting facts and figures, and than interesting reading. are very much concerned about air and made excellentuse of analogies. Use of The last chapters of the book chroni- pollution and have been concern- a leaking basement faucet as a means cle the politicaldimensions of acid rain. ed for more than a decade. They con- of thinkingabout differentgroups' pro- "A Test of American Will" should be tinue to place a very high value on clean posed solutions to acid rainwas superb insightful to anyone who ever air and water. The Committee on the use of metaphor. For example, some wondered how things do and do not Atmosphere and the Biosphere shows groups wish to wait until the water is get done in Washington. The last us just how difficult it is to define ex- up to the first floor; some will let the chapterson the politicsof acid rain and

240 THE AMERICAN TEACHER, VOLUME 45, NO. 4, APRIL/MAY 1983