The emerging field of medical geology in brief: some examples

Buck, Brenda J.; Londono, S. Carolina; McLaurin, Brett T.; Metcalf, Rodney V.; Mouri, Hassina; Selinus, Olle; Shelembe, Refilwe

doi:10.1007/s12665-016-5362-6

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This review reiterates the findings of the previous studies that have attributed elements in geological materials (e.g. rocks, soils and groundwater) as causative factors of some noncommunicable diseases (Gomes and Silva, 2007;Selinus et al, 2005;Buck et al, 2016).…”

Section: Case Study Areasupporting

confidence: 74%

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Kazapoe

Arhin²,

Amuah

2021

EFCC

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Purpose This paper aims to review the known and anticipated medical geology problems in Ghana, to highlight the impact of some trace elements on human health and to reveal some essential aspects of medical geology on health. Design/methodology/approach Literature and empirical studies relating to medical geological issues in Ghana were reviewed. Secondary data were used in the present study such as case studies, reports, geological bulletins and published research studies. Findings High levels of heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium and mercury in gold extraction processes through artisanal small-scale mining have contributed to high concentrations of toxic elements in the environment. The distribution and availability of these elements in the environment are facilitated by the geological, chemical and local environmental activities that are irregularly spread exposing people mining areas to pollutions. Exposures to these elements in above and below baseline levels contributed to health implications including fluorosis, intellectual or developmental disability and death in some regions of Ghana. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases linked to mining activities were also presented in this study. Similarly, non-communicable diseases can affect many people if correct measures are not considered. Following the geometric increase in mining activities, it is anticipated that deleterious environmental and health impacts associated with mining may persist in mining areas in Ghana. Reported implications and continuous contamination of water bodies in mining areas could result in high pollution levels beyond treatment for human use or destroy aquatic habitats and aquatic lives through acid drainage. Above-threshold concentrations of heavy metals in soils could bio-accumulate in crops, and this could pose deleterious public health implications on consumers. Continuous effects posed on the environment and public health may prompt communities, regulatory institutions and government to reduce or ban mineral development. Originality/value This review has significantly revealed potential public health issues from the impact on the natural environment and recommends that medical geologists work together with medical workers to devise preventive and therapeutic techniques to address many geology-related-health issues in Ghana.

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Section: Case Study Areasupporting

confidence: 74%

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Kazapoe

Arhin²,

Amuah

2021

EFCC

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“…These also raise validity challenges related to potential modes of action. Current studies in medical geology delve into the impact of clays on human health (Buck et al, 2016;Londono and Williams, 2016). For example, Fe(II) in goethite has been linked to some form of transmission mechanism (Mustafa et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of letsoku and related Southern African clayey soils

Morekhure-Mphahlele

Focke

Grote

et al. 2018

CATENA

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“…Respiration involves inhaling soil materials. Some serious problems are linked to inhalation, such as coccidioidomycosis (Bultman et al ., 2005; Stockamp & Thompson, 2016), acute inflammation of the bronchial passages, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and fibrotic changes from breathing in soil-derived dust (Zosky et al ., 2014), and mesothelioma from breathing in naturally occurring asbestos minerals from soil-derived dust (Buck et al ., 2016). Absorption or penetration of the skin can expose an individual to pathogens and soil chemicals (Brevik, 2013).…”

Section: Routes Of Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of soil on human health: an overview

Steffan

Brevik

Burgess

et al. 2017

European J Soil Science

255

111

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Summary Soil has a considerable effect on human health, whether those effects are positive or negative, direct or indirect. Soil is an important source of nutrients in our food supply and medicines such as antibiotics. However, nutrient imbalances and the presence of human pathogens in the soil biological community can cause negative effects on health. There are also many locations where various elements or chemical compounds are found in soil at toxic levels because of either natural conditions or anthropogenic activities. The soils of urban environments have received increased attention in the last few years, and they too pose a number of human health questions and challenges. Concepts such as soil security may provide a framework within which issues on soil and human health can be investigated using interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. It will take the contributions of experts in several different scientific, medical and social science fields to address fully soil and human health issues. Although much progress was made in understanding links between soil and human health over the last century, there is still much that we do not know about the complex interactions between them. Therefore, there is still a considerable need for research in this important area. Highlights Soil is important to human health. Effects can be positive or negative, direct or indirect. Advances have been made in recent years. Inter‐ and trans‐disciplinary research is needed.

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The emerging field of medical geology in brief: some examples

Cited by 19 publications

References 25 publications

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Known and anticipated medical geology issues in Ghana

Evaluation of letsoku and related Southern African clayey soils

The effect of soil on human health: an overview

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