Essentials of medical geology : impacts of the natural environment on public health

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 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 Essentials of Medical Geology reviews the essential concepts and practical tools required to tackle environmental and public health problems. It is organized into four main sections. The first section deals with the fundamentals of environmental biology, the natural and anthropogenic sources of health elements that impact health and illustrate key biogeochemical transformations. The second section looks at the geological processes influencing human exposure to specific elements, such as radon, arsenic, fluorine, selenium and iodine. The third section presents the concepts and techniques of pathology, toxicology and epidemiology that underpin investigations into the human health effects of exposure to naturally occurring elements. The last section provides a toolbox of analytical approaches to environmental research and medical geology investigations. Essentials of Medical Geology was first published in 2005 and has since won three prestigious rewards. The book has been recognized as a key book in both medical and geology fields and is widely used as textbook and reference book in these fields. For this revised edition, editors and authors have updated the content that evolved a lot during 2005 and added two new chapters, on public health, and agriculture and health. This updated volume can now continue to be used as a textbook and reference book for all who are interested in this important topic and its impacts the health and wellbeing of many millions of people all over the world. · Addresses key topics at the intersection of environmental science and human health · Developed by 60 international experts from 20 countries and edited by professionals from the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) · Written in non-technical language for a broad spectrum of readers, ranging from students and professional researchers to policymakers and the general public · Includes color illustrations throughout, references for further investigation and other aids to the reader Contributors 7 Preface 9 1. Medical Geology: Perspectives and Prospects 13 Section I Environmental Biology 27 2. Natural Distribution and Abundance of Elements 29 3. Anthropogenic Sources 55 4. Uptake of Elements from a Chemical Point of View 73 5. Uptake of Elements from a Biological Point of View 99 6. Biological Functions of the Elements 127 7. Geological Impacts on Nutrition 173 8. Biological Responses of Elements 191 Section II Pathways and Exposure 213 9. Volcanic Emissions and Health 215 10. Radon in Air and Water 239 11. Arsenic in Groundwater and the Environment 275 12. Fluoride in Natural Waters 313 13. Water Hardness and Health Effects 343 14. Bioavailability of Elements in Soil 359 15. Selenium Deficiency and Toxicity in the Environment 385 16. Soils and Iodine Deficiency 429 17. Geophagy and the Involuntary Ingestion of Soil 447 18. Natural Aerosolic Mineral Dusts and Human Health 471 19. The Ecology of Soil-Borne Human Pathogens 493 20. Animals and Medical Geology 525 Section III Environmental Toxicology, Pathology, and Medical Geology 539 21. Environmental Epidemiology 541 22. Environmental Medicine 553 23. Environmental Pathology 575 24. Toxicology 607 25. Speciation of Trace Elements 621 Section IV Techniques and Tools 643 26. GIS in Human Health Studies 645 27. Investigating Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases with Remote Sensing and GIS 657 28. Mineralogy of Bone 679 29. Inorganic and Organic Geochemistry Techniques 707 30. Histochemical and Microprobe Analysis in Medical Geology 737 31. Modeling Ground water Flow and Quality 749 Appendices A. International Reference Values Soils 779 Appendices B. Web Links 783 Appendices C. Glossary 787 INDEX 805 "Essentials of Medical Geology can work as both a reference and course book. With over 30 authoritative chapters, it conveys the essential concepts and practical tools required to tackle environmental and public health problems. It is organized into four main sections, allowing users to read from beginning to end or quickly turn to the sections that they need."--BOOK JACKET