Changes

===Environment and our health===

===Environment and our health===

[[File:UNN_Medical_Geology_Fig_2.png|thumb|400px|{{figure number|2}}Geologic cross-section of the Pikes Peak area showing the sources of fluoride in the Colorado Spring.<ref name=Fnklman2010b>Finkelman, R. B., H. Gingerich, J. A. Centeno, and G. Krieger, 2010b, Medical Geology Issues in North America, in O. Selinus, B. Alloway, J. A. Centeno, R. B. Finkelman, R. Fuge, U. Lindh, and P. Smedley, eds., Essentials of Medical Geology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1-9.</ref>]]

[[File:UNN_Medical_Geology_Fig_2.png|thumb|400px|{{figure number|2}}Geologic cross-section of the Pikes Peak area showing the sources of fluoride in the Colorado Spring.<ref name=Fnklman2010b>Finkelman, R. B., H. Gingerich, J. A. Centeno, and G. Krieger, 2010b, Medical geology Issues in North America, ''in'' O. Selinus, B. Alloway, J. A. Centeno, R. B. Finkelman, R. Fuge, U. Lindh, and P. Smedley, eds., Essentials of Medical Geology: Amsterdam, Elsevier, p. 1–9.</ref>]]

Over the years, it has been observed that the environment man lives in affects his health. For instance, the people of Maputaland, South Africa, are plagued by nutrient-poor soil. Maize grown in this region has very low content of elements such as calcium, potassium and phosphorous.<ref>Selinus, O. and A. Frank, 2000. Medical Geology. Environmental Medicine, Joint Industrial Safety Council, 333, 164-183.</ref> This is as a result of low concentration of these elements in the rocks of that region. Countries in southern Africa also suffer from selenium deficiency in their soils. This accounts for the spread of HIV-1 virus in this zone as selenium which inhibits the replication of HIV-1 is lacking in their soil. Still in Africa, Kerala Province in Uganda is another region under the “hammer” of geology. Children in this province suffer from a ‘grave’ coronary heart condition called endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). This epidemic is attributed to the deliberate eating of soil containing the element cerium.<ref name=Dvies>Davies, T. C., 2010. Medical Geology in Africa, ''in'' O. Selinus, R. B. Finkelman, and J. A. Centeno, eds., Medical Geology: A Regional Synthesis, 199–216.</ref>

Over the years, it has been observed that the environment man lives in affects his health. For instance, the people of Maputaland, South Africa, are plagued by nutrient-poor soil. Maize grown in this region has very low content of elements such as calcium, potassium and phosphorous.<ref>Selinus, O. and A. Frank, 2000, Medical geology: Environmental medicine: Joint Industrial Safety Council, v. 333, p. 164–183.</ref> This is as a result of low concentration of these elements in the rocks of that region. Countries in southern Africa also suffer from selenium deficiency in their soils. This accounts for the spread of HIV-1 virus in this zone as selenium which inhibits the replication of HIV-1 is lacking in their soil. Still in Africa, Kerala Province in Uganda is another region under the “hammer” of geology. Children in this province suffer from a ‘grave’ coronary heart condition called endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). This epidemic is attributed to the deliberate eating of soil containing the element cerium.<ref name=Dvies>Davies, T. C., 2010, Medical geology in Africa, ''in'' O. Selinus, R. B. Finkelman, and J. A. Centeno, eds., Medical Geology: A Regional Synthesis: Berlin, Springer, p. 199–216.</ref>

China is not left aside in these problems. The country suffers from deficiencies and excessiveness of selenium in many parts of the country resulting in life-threatening health problems. China also suffers from the influx of arsenic into [[coal]] deposits whose domestic use has resulted to untold chronic health effects over the years.<ref name=Skinner />

China is not left aside in these problems. The country suffers from deficiencies and excessiveness of selenium in many parts of the country resulting in life-threatening health problems. China also suffers from the influx of arsenic into [[coal]] deposits whose domestic use has resulted to untold chronic health effects over the years.<ref name=Skinner />

The use of water from the Colorado Springs at the Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountain region of USA had led to dental fluorosis amongst children. This condition arose as a result of meteoric waters that flowed over faulted granitic batholiths.<ref name=Fnklman2010b /> The meteoric waters ‘picked up’ fluoride from easily dissolved minerals at the fault and incorporated it into the flow. Fluoride was also injected into the Colorado Springs by fluoride-enriched fractured and faulted Cretaceous Pierre Shale that underlies the spring ([[:File:UNN_Medical_Geology_Fig_2.png|Figure 2]]).

The use of water from the Colorado Springs at the Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountain region of the United State had led to dental fluorosis amongst children. This condition arose as a result of meteoric waters that flowed over faulted granitic batholiths.<ref name=Fnklman2010b /> The meteoric waters ‘picked up’ fluoride from easily dissolved minerals at the fault and incorporated it into the flow. Fluoride was also injected into the Colorado Springs by fluoride-enriched fractured and faulted Cretaceous Pierre Shale that underlies the spring ([[:File:UNN_Medical_Geology_Fig_2.png|Figure 2]]).

===Biological classification of elements===

===Biological classification of elements===