“…The study of bone anomalies in modern and extinct mammals (including marine species) traditionally focuses on biotic aspects – infectious diseases, traumas, physical stress, genetic changes and others (Greer et al ., 1977; Rothschild and Rothschild, 1994; Fabiš, 2004; Rothschild and Martin, 2006; Woodman and Branstrator, 2008; Räikkönen et al ., 2009; Hellier et al ., 2011; Blondiaux et al ., 2012; Brothwell and Schreve, 2012; Rothschild and Diedrich, 2012; Barbosa et al ., 2013; Shpansky et al ., 2015; Germonpré et al ., 2016; Thomas, 2019). Thus, the role of the abiotic (especially geochemical) environment in the aetiology of skeletal system diseases for large mammals (including humans) is still poorly understood.…”