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Volfson, I.F., Paul, W., and
Pechenkin, I.G., 2010. Geochemical anomalies: Sickness and health. In:
Florinsky, I.V. (Ed.), Man and the Geosphere.
Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp. 69–113. Natural geochemical anomalies can both
adversely and positively affect human health influencing the balance of trace
elements in the organism. It is obvious that content of trace elements in a
particular terrain is controlled by a combination of various climatic and
landscape characteristics, which, in turn, depend on the geological,
mineralogical, and geochemical features of bedrocks, as well as endogenous
and exogenous geological processes. Endemic diseases usually exemplify links
between human health and geological processes. On the other hand, humans
have used geological products for healing since time immemorial. A major
portion of both endemic-disease areas and balneological resorts are located
within geodynamically active regions. This chapter consists of three parts. In
the first part, we present a model for the development of geochemical halos
in geodynamically active regions. We distinguished three interrelated
ore-forming systems playing a crucial role in the epigenesis: catagenetic,
exfiltration, and infiltration. Fluid degassing via faults is the main factor
responsible for the concentration of elements, mineralization, and formation
of ore deposits. In the second part, we review health effects of natural
abnormal concentrations of trace elements (i.e., F, Si, Co, Zn, As, Se, Sr,
I, and U), Rn, and volcanic gases in the environment. In the third part, we
address healing effects of natural geological products, such as mineral and
thermal waters, clays, muds, moor, sapropel, sands, flints, shungite, salt,
and shilajit. An assessment of health risks or
benefits caused by geological materials should be started with the study of
geological settings responsible for the concentration of trace elements and their
geochemical features. It is important to map territories in terms of both
epidemiological and balneological states, and to model their spatio-temporal
dynamics under distinct environmental scenarios.
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