Essentials of Medical Geology

This authoritative reference volume emphasizes the importance and interrelationships of geological processes to the health and diseases of humans and animals. Its accessible format fosters better communication between the health and geoscience communities by elucidating the geologic origins and flow of toxic elements in the environment that lead to human exposure through the consumption of food and water.

For example, problems of excess intake from drinking water have been encountered for several inorganic compounds, including fluoride in Africa and India; arsenic in certain areas of Argentina, Chile, and Taiwan; selenium in seleniferous areas in the U.S., Venezuela, and China; and nitrate in agricultural areas with heavy use of fertilizers. Environmental influences on vector borne diseases and stormflow water quality influences are also featured. Numerous examples of the environmental influences on human health from across the globe are also presented and discussed in this volume.

• Covers recent advances and future research topics at the intersection of environmental science and public health
• Developed by 60 experts from 20 countries and edited by professionals from the International Working Group on Medical Geology
• Includes 200+ color photographs and illustrations
• Organizes information in a highly structured format for easy reference
• Written for a broad audience, ranging from students, researchers, and medical professionals to policymakers and the general public

Geologists, geochemists, soil scientists, hydrologists, medical practioners, toxicologists, public health workers, biochemists, veterinartians, physicists, nutritionists, environmental economists, and social scientists.

Academics, professionals, and governmental policy makers from around the world. Note: Authors of individual chapters are international (approx. 20 nations).

1. Medical Geology: Perspective and Prospective Brian Davies Charlotte Bowman Theo Davies Olle Selinus

I. Environmental biology

Introduction to section. Ulf Lindh

2. Natural background Robert Garrett

3. Anthropogenic sources Ron Fuge

4. Uptake of elements from a chemical point of view Robert J.B. Williams

5. Uptake of elements from a biological point of view Ulf Lindh

6. Biological functions of the elements Ulf Lindh

7. Geological impacts on nutrition Gerald T. Combs

8. Deficiencies and toxicities of elements Monica Nordberg M. George Cherian

II. Pathways and exposures

Introduction to section. Ron Fuge

9. Volcanic emissions and health Philip Weinstein Angus Cook

10. Radon in air and water Don Appleton

11. Arsenic in groundwater and the environment Pauline Smedley David G. Kinniburgh

12. Fluoride in natural waters – occurrence, controls and health aspects Mike Edmunds Pauline Smedley

13. Water hardness and health effects Eva Rubenowitz-Lundin Kevin M. Hiscock

14. The bioavailability of trace and major elements in soil Brian Alloway

15. The natural environment - selenium deficiency and toxicity – process related diseases Fiona Fordyce

16. Iodine geochemistry, soils and iodine deficiency Ron Fuge

17. Geophagy and the involuntary ingestion of soil Peter Abrahams

18. Natural aerosolic mineral dusts and human health: potential effects Edward Derbyshire

19. An overview of the ecology of soil-borne human pathogens Mark Bultman Frederick S. Fisher Demosthenes Pappagianis

20. Animals and medical geology Bernt Jones

III. Environmental toxicology, pathology and medical geology Introduction to section. Jose A. Centeno

21. Environmental epidemiology Jesper B. Nielsen Tina Kold Jensen

22. Environmental medicine Jefferson Fowles Philip Weinstein Chin-Hsiao Tseng

23. Environmental pathology Jose A. Centeno Florabel G. Mullick Kamal G. Ishak Teri J. Franks Allen P. Burke Michael N. Koss Daniel P. Pearl Paul B. Tchounwou Joseph P. Pestaner

24. Toxicology Tee L. Guidotti

25. Speciation of trace elements: methods and public health Bernhard Michalke Sergio Caroli

IV. TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS

Introduction to section. Robert B. Finkelman

26. Using geographic information systems (GIS) databases for human health studies Joseph E. Bunnell Alexander W. Karlsen Timothy M. Shields Robert B. Finkelman

27. Use of remote sensing and geographic information science techniques in the study of vector borne and zoonotic diseases Stephen Guptill Chester G. Moore

28. Mineralogy of bioapatites: bones, teeth and pathological deposits Catherine W. Skinner

29. Inorganic and organic geochemistry techniques Mitko Vutchkov Gerald Lalor Stephen Macko

30. Histochemical and microprobe analysis in medical geology Jose A. Centeno Todor Todorov Joseph P. Pestanov Wayne B. Jonas

31. Modeling ground-water flow and quality Leonard F. Konikow Pierre D. Glynn

APPENDICES A. International reference values Peter Bobrowsky Roger Paulen Pauline Smedley Brian Alloway B. Glossary C. Annottated URLs for chapter-related Websites of interest