Table Of ContentIntroduction to Medical Geology
Focus on tropical environments
Erlangen Earth Conference Series
SeriesEditor
Andre´ Freiwald
UniversityErlangen,Germany
Forfurthervolumes:
http://www.springer.com/series/7037
·
C.B. Dissanayake Rohana Chandrajith
Introduction to Medical
Geology
Focus on tropical environments
123
Prof.Dr.C.B.Dissanayake Dr.RohanaChandrajith
UniversityofPeradeniya UniversityofPeradeniya
Dept.Geology Dept.Geology
Peradeniya Peradeniya
SriLanka SriLanka
[email protected] [email protected]
ISBN978-3-642-00484-1 e-ISBN978-3-642-00485-8
DOI10.1007/978-3-642-00485-8
SpringerDordrechtHeidelbergLondonNewYork
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(cid:2)c Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2009
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Dedicated to the
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT
STIFTUNG/FOUNDATION
&
to
Professor Dr. Heinz J. Tobschall
Chair of Applied Geology, Friedrich-Alexander University of
Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Foreword
Tropical lands are unique in a number of ways. Over150 countries have at
least half their landmass in the tropics and these represent more than 40%
of the world’s population of around 6 billion. Only two regions namely,
Singapore and Hong Kong lying in the tropical zone, rank among the 30
countries classified as those with high income by the World Bank. The ge-
ography, geology, extreme rock weathering, depletion of essential ele-
ments, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems, poverty, among others all
contribute to the uniqueness of these land masses. Most interestingly, the
fact that the vast majority of these people live in close association with the
geological environment points to a remarkable association with certain
diseases. This fact is highlighted by the authors in a number of interesting
case studies involving millions of people. The role of certain trace ele-
ments, their geochemical pathways under the extreme climatic conditions
as seen in the tropical environments lead to a fascinating aetiology of cer-
tain tropical diseases as exemplified by dental and skeletal fluorosis, iodine
deficiency disorders and diseases caused by a lack of essential trace ele-
ments. This would almost certainly create a major interest among the
medical fraternity on the importance of natural geological and geochemical
processes and pathways in the aetiology of some tropical diseases.
A central premise of this book is that humans are also well and truly a part
of the entire global environmental system and that they too are subjected to
all the complex geochemical processes that operate around them. Logically
therefore, humans who live in close contact with the immediate physical
environment should also be influenced to a marked degree by the geo-
chemistry of rocks, soils and water around them. It is this influence that
has resulted in the emergence of the new discipline of Medical Geology.
Nowhere is this better observed than in the tropical countries of the world.
The authors of this book have carried out significant research on the as-
pects mentioned above and their work has already been highlighted in sev-
eral prestigious scientific journals.
viii Foreword
This work can be considered as one of the pioneering efforts in the emerg-
ing discipline of Medical Geology, particularly on the tropical environ-
ment. There is clearly a dire need for the better understanding of the role
of the geological processes in human health and this book fulfils a long felt
global need.
Professor Dr. André Freiwald
Series Editor/ Erlangen Earth Conference Series
Erlangen, Germany
Preface
The emerging scientific discipline of Medical Geology has fascinated both
scientists and laymen alike in view of its highly interdisciplinary nature.
Medicine and Geology indeed form a truly awe inspiring scientific combi-
nation. The geosphere-biosphere interactions form an integral part of
Medical Geology and some of its impacts cover millions of people the
world over. From among these, those living in the tropical environments
are particularly vulnerable to the effects of “geo-bio” relationships.
Tropical environments are unique from the point of view of their climate,
soil characteristics, trace element deficiencies and enrichment, mineral im-
balances, extreme cases of rock weathering and leaching out of nutrients,
agricultural calamities among others. Millions of people living in these
geologically and geochemically unique environments serve as classic ex-
amples of human beings who live in intimate contact with the geo-
environment and whose general health characteristics are markedly influ-
enced by the geochemistry of the rocks, soils, water and plants found in
their habitats. The influence of geochemistry on human and animal health
is therefore best seen in the tropical environment. Medical Geology, as a
scientific discipline has derived immensely from the earlier studies of the
lands of the tropical belt of the world.
The extreme scarcity of text books covering the subject of Medical Geol-
ogy is understandable in view of its very recent origin as a scientific disci-
pline. It is the aim of this book to introduce the subject to students and re-
searchers both in the fields of Medicine and Geology interested in
geosphere-human interactions. It is clear that the geosphere does influence
human health to a marked degree and it is up to the scientists to track the
pathways of the disease - causing substances and elements originating
from the geosphere and how they cross the biological barriers and enter the
human body.
This book illustrates some interesting case studies of such geo-bio interac-
tions affecting a very large population of the world. Throughout the book,
the focus is on tropical environments and the impact of Medical Geology
x Preface
on millions of people, the vast majority of them living in developing coun-
tries of the tropical belt.
It should be emphasized that this book deals only with the relationship be-
tween natural geological factors and health in man and animals. As an in-
troductory text it is not intended to deal with the medical aspects of the
diseases mentioned in any great detail.
The authors wish to express their deepest gratitude to the Alexander von
Humboldt Foundation of Germany, which funded the research that culmi-
nated in the publication of the book. Grateful thanks are due to Hema and
Peter Dietze of Erlangen and also to Dr. med. Jayasumana and Nayananjali
Jagoda, Erlangen, for providing accommodation during the time, in which
this book was written. We thank colleagues and students of the Depart-
ment of Geology of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and Institute
of Geology and Mineralogy, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg for their as-
sistance in various ways. We particularly would like to thank Mr. Rasika
Mallawarachchi for typing the entire manuscript and Miss. Kushani Ma-
hatantila for editorial assistance.
The authors wish to place on record the most valuable support and encour-
agement given by Professor Dr. Heinz J. Tobschall, Chair of Applied Ge-
ology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg throughout the compilation of this
book. All laboratory and office facilities at the Institute for Geology and
Mineralogy granted by him to the authors are deeply appreciated. Further,
his comments and criticisms have been most helpful to the authors in im-
proving the scientific value of the book. The authors also wish to record
their most sincere appreciation to Mr. Bill Campbell for his editorial cor-
rections which undoubtedly improved the grammar and style.
Special thanks are due to Professor Dr. André Freiwald, the Series Editor
of Erlangen Earth Conference Series for his guidance and support. We also
thank Dr. med. Alexander Woywodt of for making extremely valuable
comments on the medical aspects of the book. Finally, Dr. Christian
Witschel and Mrs. Christine Adolph from Springer are thanked for under-
taking the publication of this book.
C.B.Dissanayake
Rohana Chandrajith
Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
June, 2008
