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Rudnik, V.A., and Melnikov, E.K.,
2010. Pathogenic effect of fault zones in the urban environment. In:
Florinsky, I.V. (Ed.), Man and the Geosphere.
Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp. 169–183. The authors discuss geological and
geophysical factors which can influence human health in the urban
environment. In the city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, and in settlements of
the Saint Petersburg Region, combined medical and geological investigations
have established a strong relationship between spatial distribution of cancer
incidence rate in apartment buildings and zones of enhanced permeability of
the crust (ZEPC), comprising faults, associated underground watercourses, and
areas of increased rock fracturing. Compared to ZEPC, soil and air anthropogenic pollution seems to have
only a secondary role in causing cancers. Indeed, the cancer
incidence rate was 2.8 and 4.1
times higher in apartment buildings located within ZEPC and their intersections, respectively,
than outside them, regardless of a level of total soil pollution with heavy
metals. On the other hand,
the cancer incidence rate was a mere 1.3 and 1.5 times higher in
buildings at areas marked by moderate- and high level of soil
pollution with heavy metals, respectively, than at low-polluted areas, regardless of their
position relative to ZEPC.
The cancer incidence rate
was 1.8 and 2 times higher in settlements located within ZEPC and their intersections, respectively,
than outside them, regardless of a level of total air pollution. On the other hand,
the cancer incidence rate was only 1.2 higher in settlements with a high level of total air pollution than in low-polluted
settlements, regardless of
their position relative to ZEPC. Mechanisms of the adverse effect
of ZEPC on human health may be connected with a disturbance of mitosis and
cell development due to three factors: (a) fluctuation of geomagnetic
gradients within fault zones; (b) a specific air ion regime connected
with tectonic movements along faults; and (c) a specific gaseous and
geochemical regime associated with the fluid degassing via faults. City
building design principles should consider the pathogenic influence of ZEPC.
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