Principles of Medical Geology

Abstract

Medical geology is a rapidly growing field concerned with the relationship between natural geologic factors and human and animal health, as well as with improving the understanding of the influence of environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems. Medical geology brings together geoscientists and medical/public health researchers to address health problems caused, or exacerbated, by geologic materials (rocks, minerals, atmospheric dust, and water) and processes (including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes). Among the environmental health problems that geoscientists are working on in collaboration with the medical and public health communities are exposure to toxic levels of trace essential and nonessential elements such as arsenic and mercury, trace element deficiencies, exposure to natural dusts and to radioactivity, naturally occurring organic compounds in drinking water, and volcanic emissions. Medical geology also deals with many health benefits of geologic materials and processes.