Book Review HANDBOOK OF U.S. COLORANTS FOR FOODS, DRUGS AND COSMETICS, Daniel M. Marmion, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1979, VII + 350 pages. Price: $21.5o. This book is a compilation of informa- tion on the color additives used in the United States for food, drugs, and cosmetics. The author has collated and summarized the various published docu- ments and records constituting the current state of the art for colors in order to prepare this comprehensive reference text on color additives. Functionally, this presentation has been divided into three major units a history of the regulations and use of colors, the chemical analysis of the colorants, and a review of the methodology for the analy- sis of colors in mixtures and products. In each of these sections, the relevant litera- ture has been compiled and referenced. Part A--History, Regulations, Descrip- tions, and Use--briefly describes the development and widespread use of colo- rants from early historical times to today's highly regulated period. This discussion includes a description and the specifica- tions for each of the colorants permitted for use in products regulated under the Color Additive Amendments to the Food and Drug Act. From the cosmetics' view- point, the descriptions of the colorants exempt from certification could have been more detailed with respect to back- ground and usage. Part B--Colorant Analysis--provides much detail on the methodology and techniques used for the analysis of the color additives subject to certification. This information includes analytical pro- cedures and criteria for the identification, strength, and purity of these certified colorants. Part C--Resolution of Mixtures and Analysis of Commercial Products-- briefly discusses techniques used to isolate and determine the levels of color- ants in combinations and in a variety of product categories. Since the number of chemical product types and systems are virtually endless, the major part of this section is devoted to an annotated biblio- graphy that will direct the readers to the literature pertinent to their needs. The author notes that this text reflects the regulatory situation as of January 1, 1979. As every cosmetic chemist with even a fleeting exposure to the color regulations quickly learns, the usage and restrictions on color additives are exceed- ingly complex and constantly changing. The reader will therefore need to update this information regularly to stay abreast of the current regulatory state. In spite of this limitation, which faces any attempt to codify color additive information, this handbook is a valuable reference for the cosmetic chemist.--JAMES M. AKERSON-- Clairol Incorporated. 105