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====Dangers of Geophagy====

====Dangers of Geophagy====

Despite the various benefits of geophagy, it can be detrimental to human health. The cation exchange capacity and the adsorption potential of clay and shale can lead to the deficiency of certain elements in the body. For instance, in Turkey, iron-deficiency anemia has been linked to the consumption of clays especially sepiolite and montmorillonite of high capillary electrochromatography.<ref name=Abraham>Abraham, P. W., 2013, Geophagy and the Involuntary Ingestion of Soil. In: O. Selinus, Essentials of Medical Geology: Springer Netherlands, pp. 433-454.</ref> This is caused by the effectiveness of clays to adsorb iron. In addition, the consumption of clay has been confirmed to cause potassium deficiency–a condition known as hypokalemia. It is reflected by low concentration of potassium in the blood. In a situation whereby there is concurrent deficiency of iron and potassium, a disease known as cachexia Africana results. This can, however, be treated by iron and potassium supplementation programmes.

Despite the various benefits of geophagy, it can be detrimental to human health. The cation exchange capacity and the adsorption potential of clay and shale can lead to the deficiency of certain elements in the body. For instance, in Turkey, iron-deficiency anemia has been linked to the consumption of clays especially sepiolite and montmorillonite of high capillary electrochromatography.<ref name=Abraham>Abraham, P. W., 2013, Geophagy and the involuntary ingestion of soil, ''in'' O. Selinus, Essentials of medical geology: Amsterdam, Springer, p. 433–454.</ref> This is caused by the effectiveness of clays to adsorb iron. In addition, the consumption of clay has been confirmed to cause potassium deficiency–a condition known as hypokalemia. It is reflected by low concentration of potassium in the blood. In a situation whereby there is concurrent deficiency of iron and potassium, a disease known as cachexia Africana results. This can, however, be treated by iron and potassium supplementation programs.

In Turkey, the consumption of soil by women and children has been noted to cause the combined deficiency of iron and zinc.<ref name=Abraham /> According to a research conducted, deficiency of zinc leads to growth retardation and delayed puberty. Thus, for persons that have low concentration of zinc in the blood, geophagy helps to further lower the level of zinc in the blood. However, zinc supplementation programmes have been supremely effective in improving growth and normal puberty maturation in this region.

In Turkey, the consumption of soil by women and children has been noted to cause the combined deficiency of iron and zinc.<ref name=Abraham /> According to a research conducted, deficiency of zinc leads to growth retardation and delayed puberty. Thus, for persons that have low concentration of zinc in the blood, geophagy helps to further lower the level of zinc in the blood. However, zinc supplementation programs have been supremely effective in improving growth and normal puberty maturation in this region.

In an environment where the soil is contaminated with lead, geophagy could expose little children to lead poisoning. This could lead to damage to the developing brain and nervous system. Lead is particularly dangerous to young children as research has shown that there is no safe level for lead in children.

In an environment where the soil is contaminated with lead, geophagy could expose little children to lead poisoning. This could lead to damage to the developing brain and nervous system. Lead is particularly dangerous to young children as research has shown that there is no safe level for lead in children.