Essentials of Medical Geology: Impacts of the Natural Environment on Public Health.: O. SELINUS, B. ALLOWAY, J.A. CENTENO, R.B. FINKELMAN, R. FUGE, U. LINDH, AND P. SMEDLEY, EDITORS. 832 Pp. Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-636341-2. Price US.$99.95.

Abstract

This attractive, well-illustrated volume contains 31 interdisciplinary chapters (articles) that weave together the geological, environmental, and public health sciences. Essentials of Medical Geology is global in scope: the impressive list of contributors consists of 60 international experts representing 20 countries. It is an initiative of the International Union of Geological Sciences, in response to the growing interest in the relationship between geology and human health. Classically trained geologists may be pleasantly surprised to pick up this book and discover how the tools of their profession are being applied in new territory, helping to address a diverse array of public health issues. The introduction by Brian Davies and colleagues traces the relationship between geology, the environment, and public health from ancient China to the 21st century. They conclude with a glimpse into the future of medical geology as a discipline and provide opinions on research directions. The remaining 30 chapters are grouped into four sections. Each section deals with a different aspect of medical geology and includes a 1- to 2-page introduction that provides a context for the included chapters. These introductory pages are colored, which helps the reader flip easily to the beginning of each section. Section 1, on “Environmental Biology,” is a collection of seven chapters introduced by Ulf Lindh. This section provides an overview of the natural and anthropogenic sources of …