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The potential impact of geological environment on health status of residents of the Slovak Republic

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Abstract

In order to assess the potential impact of the geological environment on the health of the population of the Slovak Republic, the geological environment was divided into eight major units: Paleozoic, Crystalline, Carbonatic Mesozoic and basal Paleogene, Carbonatic-silicate Mesozoic and Paleogene, Paleogene Flysch, Neovolcanics, Neogene and Quaternary sediments. Based on these geological units, the databases of environmental indicators (chemical elements/parameters in groundwater and soils) and health indicators (concerning health status and demographic development of the population) were compiled. The geological environment of the Neogene volcanics (andesites and basalts) has been clearly documented as having the least favourable impact on the health of Slovak population, while Paleogene Flysch geological environment (sandstones, shales, claystones) has the most favourable impact. The most significant differences between these two geological environments were observed, especially for the following health indicators: SMRI6364 (cerebral infarction and strokes) more than 70 %, SMRK (digestive system) 55 %, REI (circulatory system) and REE (endocrine and metabolic system) almost 40 % and REC (malignant neoplasms) more than 30 %. These results can likely be associated with deficit contents of Ca and Mg in groundwater from the Neogene volcanics that are only about half the level of Ca and Mg in groundwater of the Paleogene sediments.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been performed within the project LIFE10 ENV/SK/000086 “The impact of geological environment on health status of residents of the Slovak Republic” that is financially supported by the EU’s funding instrument for the environment—Life + programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Geological Institute of D. Štúr, Mlynská dolina 1, 817 04, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    S. Rapant, V. Cvečková & K. Fajčíková

  2. Goethe Uni Bratislava, Radlinského 9, 813 45, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    S. Rapant

  3. Department of Geosciences, The University of Texas, Dallas, TX, USA

    R. B. Finkelman

  4. Regional Office of Public Health, Ipeľská 1, 040 11, Kosice, Slovak Republic

    Z. Dietzová

  5. Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina 16, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    E. Hiller & S. Škultétyová

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  1. S. Rapant
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  3. Z. Dietzová
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  4. K. Fajčíková
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  6. R. B. Finkelman
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Correspondence to S. Rapant.

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Rapant, S., Cvečková, V., Dietzová, Z. et al. The potential impact of geological environment on health status of residents of the Slovak Republic. Environ Geochem Health 36, 543–561 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9580-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-013-9580-5

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