geology and health

Question 1

What tools can be used to analyze relationships between geological/environmental issues and human health?

Question 1

What geologic materials are associated with human health problems?

Answer 1

• radon

Question 2

What is radon and how does it affect human health?

Answer 2

• a natural gas produced by radioactie decay of uranium and thorium found in rocks and soil
• particulary granites, gneisses and shales
• radon permeates upwards through soil- into groundwater or directly into homes or buildings
• as it decyays (natural Radon-222 decays to radioactive elements lke polonium-218 and polonium-214) releases tissue damaging alpha particles
• radon can cause diseasses especially lung cancer over long term exposure
• leading cause of lung cancer among non smokers
• estimated to kill 3000 canadians/year
• high radon exposure in Ancaster

Question 3

what is medical geology

Answer 3

an earth science specialy that concerns how geologic materials and earth processes affect humans health

Question 4

how are geologic materials important to health

Answer 4

such as rocks, soils, dusts, and volcanic emissions can contain naturally elevated levels of elements, minerals, other compounds, or microbes that harm or benefit human health. they can also contain human-related chemical, mineral, or pathogen contaominants. some are helpful to such such as iron but some are harmful like asbestos
- geologic processes can help us understand human health

Question 5

what are medical geologists

Answer 5

work with earth, biological, physical, and health scientists to help improve public health

Question 6

what is a collodial silver enhanced ceramic water filter

Answer 6

• simple household water treatment devices based on a physical treatment which does not require energy supply
• use a clay candle, pot, or disc made of porous ceramic materials similar to traditional ceramic filters
• a short term solution to help with the 2.2 billion people globally who lack safely managed drinking water.
• an example of how we can use a geologic material to aid humans
• this is a household intervention instead of a community wide intervention

Question 7

how do geologic materials affect human health

Answer 7

need to consider:
mobilizaion/release and transport mechanisms
- natural processes such as volcanic emissions, mineral dissolutions during weathering and water rock interventions, radioactive decay, solute transport by groundwater, etc

human actitvites
- mining
- groundwater development, drainage and irrigation
- land use that leads to enhanced erosion, burning of fossil fuels

exposure pathways
- air: inhalation of gases or particulates
- water: drinking water and skin contact
- food: including geophagy
- occupational: miners, metal workers
- use ( and improper disposal) of materials containing toxins: asbestos insulation, mecury thermometers, building stone with high concentrations or radionuclides