Other Applications of Medical Geology. Trace Element Exposure- As, Hg, F, Se, Zn, Al Dust- Asbestos,...
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Transcript of Other Applications of Medical Geology. Trace Element Exposure- As, Hg, F, Se, Zn, Al Dust- Asbestos,...
Other Applications of Medical Geology
• Trace Element Exposure- As, Hg, F, Se, Zn, Al• Dust- Asbestos, African, Valley Fever, Silicosis, CWP,VOG• Radionuclides - Radon, Radium, Uranium• Organics - VOCs, MTBE, PAHs, Antibiotics, Pesticides • Microbes, Pathogens - West Nile Encephalitis,
LaCrosse Encephalitis, Plague, Hantavirus, Rift Valley Fever, Lyme disease, etc.
• Global Climate Change
Medical Geology-Range of Issue
Other Medical Geology Issues
• Volcanism
• Organics (BEN)
• Radioactivity
• Pathogens and Microbes
• Occupational Health
• Nutrition
Health effects of eruptive events
• Lava flows• Pyroclastic flows
The health effects of tephra dispersal
Volcanic tephra dispersal
• Mucous membrane irritation
• Silicosis
• Adsorbed toxins
Silicotic nodule in the lung tissue with disruption of surrounding alveoli
Calcium fluorosilicate (CaSiF6)
The health effects of volcanic gas emissions
Inert asphyxiants Carbon dioxide, CO2
Lake Nyos, Cameroon
Irritant gases
• Hydrofluoric acid, HF /hydrochloric acid, HCl – Mucosal irritation
– Cutaneous burns
– Respiratory disease
• Sulphur dioxide, SO2
- Asthma
- Acid rain
G e o g r a p h i c A n a l y s i s o f D i s e a s e R i s k
• W h e r e a r e t h e p o t e n t i a l a r e a s o f d i s e a s e ?
• W h o a r e t h e p o p u l a t i o n s a t r i s k n o w a n d i n t h e f u t u r e ?
• W h e n m i g h t a n o u t b r e a k o c c u r ?
• H o w c a n o u t b r e a k s b e m i t i g a t e d ?
Locating Mosquito Breeding Sites
Mosquito trap
Use land characteristics, FEMA flood maps, and imagery to identify locations of potential Culiseta melanura habitat, but still accessible by roads or trails, where mosquito traps may be placed; determine risk to human health.
Mosquito trap
geology
geochemistry
soils
remote sensing interpretation
elevation
Valley Fever favorableness
….spatial datai
Valley Fever: Geological/Ecological occurrence modeling
A n a l y s i s o f L y m e D i s e a s e
Plague Cases in the SW United StatesNORTH AMERICAN SEASONAL LANDCOVER
REGIONS (5 km buffer)
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7 50 58 62 65 74 77 82 101
124
133
141
147
155
169
180
184
205
Total
#65 - Mixed Rangeland
#82 - Desert Shrubland & Grassland
#148 -Ponderosa Pine
#184 -Pinyon Juniper
Spread of West Nile Virus 1999-2002
(Avian Mortality)
Medical Geology and Occupational Health
• Hard Rock Mining
• Coal Mining
• Asbestos Mining and Processing
• Ore Processing
• Farming
• Power Plant Workers
Mseleni Joint Disease
• Multiple epiphyseal displasia (long bones have malformed growth)
• Polyarticular osteoarthritis (arthritis of several joints)
• Protrusio acetabuli (hip disorder)
• Dwarfism
Disease Progression
- Onset unknown- Overall 39% women, 11% men - >19, 66% women, 25% men
Prevalence
Prior Geochemical Research
• Soils
- Deficient: N, P, K, S, Ca, Zn, Cu, and B
- Suspected: Mo
- Not studied: F, I, V and Se
Grey Fernwood Sand
• Near neutral pHH2O 6.9
• < 4% clay (kaolinite and quartz)
• Low organic C ~1.6%
• CEC 2.0 cmolc kg-1