Medical Geology: A Regional Synthesis

Olle Selinus, Robert B. Finkelman, Jose A. Centeno

Springer Science & Business Media, Jun 27, 2010 - Medical - 392 pages

Medical Geology is a rapidly growing field concerned with the relationship between natural geological factors and human and animal health, as well as with improving our understanding of the influence of environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems. This book brings together the work of geoscientists and medical/public health researchers, which addresses health problems caused, or exacerbated by geological materials (rocks, minerals, atmospheric dust and water) and processes (including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Among the environmental health problems discussed in this book are: exposure to toxic levels of trace essential and non-essential elements such as arsenic and mercury; trace element deficiencies; exposure to natural dusts and to radioactivity; naturally occurring organic compounds in drinking water; volcanic emissions, etc. The text also deals with the many health benefits of geologic materials and processes.

This wide-ranging volume covers issues in medical geology all over the world with each author covering their respective region. It provides examples from different continents as well as a state-of-the-art review of the latest developments in the discipline. The authors are all recognized geoscientific and medical experts working in the field. The book is written for a wide variety of specialists from geologists, geochemists, pathologists and medical doctors to veterinarians and biologists.

Contents

• Medical Geology Issues in North America: 1
• A Regional Perspective of Medical Geology 0 Cadmium in Jamaica: 28
• Medical Geology in Mexico Central America and the Caribbean: 59
• Medical Geology Studies in South America: 79
• An Overview of Medical Geology Issues in Australia and Oceania: 107
• Medical Geology in the Middle East: 135
• Some Aspects of the Medical Geology of the Indian Subcontinent and Neighbouring Regions: 175
• Medical Geology in Africa: 199
• Medical Geology in Russia and the NIS: 220
• Medical Geology in Europe: 259
• Then and Now: 303
• Medical Geology in Japan: 328
• The Lavrion Environmental Pollution Study: 355
• Index: 391

Bibliographic information

• Title: Medical Geology: A Regional Synthesis; International Year of Planet Earth
• Editors: Olle Selinus, Robert B. Finkelman, Jose A. Centeno
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media, 2010
• ISBN: 9048134307, 9789048134304
• Length: 392 pages
• Subjects: Medical / Clinical Medicine; Medical / General; Medical / Occupational & Industrial Medicine; Medical / Public Health; Science / Earth Sciences / General