Medical Geology Gebunden

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 discu ssed 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.