Applied Geology

1984 Edition
| Editors: Charles W. Finkl

Medical geology

  • Donald R. Coates
Reference work entry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30842-3_42
How to cite

Although geomedicine has not yet been recognized as a subfield specialty within the geological sciences, it constitutes a subject area that is becoming increasingly important throughout the world. The first medical geology textbook is still on the drawing boards, but many articles have been written on the topic and it does form a chapter in some recent textbooks (Cargo and Mallory, 1977; Keller, 1982). Although there is no unanimity as to what constitutes the field, geomedicine is usually considered to be the study that relates mineral, rock, and water properties to human health.

A wide range of disciplines are involved when factors of human health become influenced by the total geological environment. Medical pathologists must determine the character of the health problem. Analytical chemists must provide the measurements that prove the abnormalities. Geologists must discover the source of contamination intrusion as traced from rocks, soils, and waters. Thus the geologist acts as a...

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Cross-references

Copyright information

© Van Nostrand Reinhold Company Inc. 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • Donald R. Coates

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