Book Review

Principles of Integrative
Environmental Physiology
G. Edgar Folk, Jr., Marvin L. Riedesel, and Diana L. Thrift
Bethesda, MD: Austin & Winfield, 1998, 502 pp., illus., index, $62.95.
ISBN: 1-57292-109-9

    This text, intended for use in a one-semester course in environmental physiology, is an updated version of the 1974 benchmark Textbook of Environmental Physiology. One of the stated goals was to update the extensive bibliography to reflect recent developments in the field. Certainly, much progress has been made in environmental physiology since the Textbook of Environmental Physiology was published. For example, Human Performance Physiology and Environmental Medicine at Terrestrial Extremes, a 1988 monograph by physiologists from the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, reviewed most of the pertinent literature to 1988. In the past decade, knowledge about mammalian responses to various environmental stressors has increased rapidly. Thus, it is exciting that a new textbook has been published that will bring together many of the developments of the last 10 years in environmental physiology and relate these recent findings to the literature published 30-50 years ago. 
    However, the Principles of Integrative Environmental Physiology and the earlier Textbook of Environmental Physiology are quite similar. Although 25 years have elapsed since the original text, paragraphs are repeated verbatim and at times recent data are lacking. For example, no mention is made of the studies of Young et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 60:1542-1548, 1986) and Bittel et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 62:1627-1634, 1987) describing the various mechanisms (metabolic, insulative, habituation) by which human beings acclimate to cold environments. The chapter on non-shivering thermogenesis presents no new information. Also, in addition to referring readers to the Handbook of Physiology for comprehensive reviews, it would be helpful if more primary literature was cited. 
    In a section on glycerol hyperhydration, the authors describe various studies from their own laboratory that demonstrate an effect of glycerol-induced hyperhydration on thermoregulation and cardiovascular adjustments during exercise. They also reference a study by Latzka et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 83:860-866, 1997) but do not mention that this study, in contrast to their own work, found no effect on thermoregulation after glycerol-induced hyperhydration. It would have been helpful to compare and contrast these studies, deconstruct the experimental designs, and possibly elucidate why differences have been observed.
    One of the strengths of this textbook is the inclusion of older literature that is not found in recent texts. This gives the reader an historical perspective that, frankly, is not taught to students these days. Many modern students do not have an appreciation of “personality driven” science by such luminaries as Dill, Krogh, Nielsen, and Hill. This textbook presents earlier studies and provides insight into the forefathers of environmental physiology. The book is divided into the most common environmental extremes encountered by humans and animals (heat, cold, altitude, radiation, hyperbaria) with other chapters devoted to biological rhythms, temperature regulation, and pollution. The book is easy to read, leaves space for notes in the margin, and has numerous figures to allow the reader to grasp concepts.
    Given the depth of literature presented before 1970, this book is particularly recommended for students unfamiliar with earlier studies in environmental physiology. It would be a good textbook for the advanced undergraduate or the graduate student with little background in environmental physiology, particularly when supplemented with reviews of recent literature. 

Reed W. Hoyt 
and John W. Castellani
US Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine

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