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.
