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Volcanism is another geologic process that poses potential harm to human health, ejecting tons of different poisonous gases and volcanic ash. These travel kilometers round the planet to be inhaled by people at different radii from the vent thereby causing diverse toxicity problems in the victims.<ref name=Skinner>Skinner, H. C. W., 2007, The Earth, a source of health and hazards: An introduction to medical geology: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 35, p. 177–213.</ref>

Volcanism is another geologic process that poses potential harm to human health, ejecting tons of different poisonous gases and volcanic ash. These travel kilometers round the planet to be inhaled by people at different radii from the vent thereby causing diverse toxicity problems in the victims.<ref name=Skinner>Skinner, H. C. W., 2007, The Earth, a source of health and hazards: An introduction to medical geology: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 35, p. 177–213.</ref>

In addition, dust from deserts is a source of health hazard to man. The harmattan season for example, comes with moments of increased asthma torments and various sorts of nasal difficulties such as catarrh as it has the potential to transport soil pathogens to distant regions. It has been confirmed that dust from the Sahara travels across the Mediterranean Sea to the hinterlands of Europe and to North America.<ref name=Sel2004>Selinus, O., 2004. Medical Geology: An Emerging Specialty. Terrae, 1(1), 8-15.</ref>

In addition, dust from deserts is a source of health hazard to man. The harmattan season for example, comes with moments of increased asthma torments and various sorts of nasal difficulties such as catarrh as it has the potential to transport soil pathogens to distant regions. It has been confirmed that dust from the Sahara travels across the Mediterranean Sea to the hinterlands of Europe and to North America.<ref name=Sel2004>Selinus, O., 2004: Medical geology: An emerging specialty: Terrae, v. 1, no. 1, p. 8–15.</ref>

Medical geology, therefore, is a developing multidisciplinary collaboration that curtails the health effects arising from the various geologic materials and processes of an area, because the environment in which man lives affects the health of man.<ref name=Sel2004 />

Medical geology, therefore, is a developing multidisciplinary collaboration that curtails the health effects arising from the various geologic materials and processes of an area, because the environment in which man lives affects the health of man.<ref name=Sel2004 />

However, the above-mentioned issues are not the total range of medical geology. It is also interested in the use of geologic materials to cure various kinds of diseases. This has led to researches into the use of clay minerals for therapeutic purposes. It has also launched profound research into the use of mineralized thermal waters for the treatment of various diseases. These efforts have yielded laudable results over many decades. Most prominent of its efforts is the introduction of iodized salt in most countries for the prevention of goiter<ref name=Bunnell>Bunnell, J. E., R. B. Finkelman, J. A. Centeno, and O. Selinus, 2007, Medical Geology: a globally emerging discipline. Geologica Acta, 5(3), 273-281.</ref>

However, the above-mentioned issues are not the total range of medical geology. It is also interested in the use of geologic materials to cure various kinds of diseases. This has led to researches into the use of clay minerals for therapeutic purposes. It has also launched profound research into the use of mineralized thermal waters for the treatment of various diseases. These efforts have yielded laudable results over many decades. Most prominent of its efforts is the introduction of iodized salt in most countries for the prevention of goiter<ref name=Bunnell>Bunnell, J. E., R. B. Finkelman, J. A. Centeno, and O. Selinus, 2007, Medical geology: A globally emerging discipline: Geologica Acta, v. 5, no. 3, p. 273—281.</ref>

Medical geology achieves these goals through a coordinated effort by various professionals from geology, geography, biochemistry and medical sciences.

Medical geology achieves these goals through a coordinated effort by various professionals from geology, geography, biochemistry and medical sciences.

In essence, ''medical geology is a multidisciplinary field of study in geology which studies the health effects of geological materials and processes on humans and animals with both good and, possibly, hazardous results.'' The Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning defines medical geology as, "the science dealing with the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems in man and animals." The goal of this field is to find the right balance and intake of elements/minerals in order to improve and maintain health<ref name=Fnklman2005>Finkelman, R. B., J. A. Centeno, and O. Selinus, 2005, The Emerging Medical and Geological Associations: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, 116, 155-165.</ref>

In essence, ''medical geology is a multidisciplinary field of study in geology which studies the health effects of geological materials and processes on humans and animals with both good and, possibly, hazardous results.'' The Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning defines medical geology as, "the science dealing with the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of health problems in man and animals." The goal of this field is to find the right balance and intake of elements/minerals in order to improve and maintain health<ref name=Fnklman2005>Finkelman, R. B., J. A. Centeno, and O. Selinus, 2005, The emerging medical and geological associations: Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association, v. 116, p. 155–165.</ref>

According to Finkelman et al,<ref name=Fnklman2005 /> the range and scope of medical geology include:

According to Finkelman et al,<ref name=Fnklman2005 /> the range and scope of medical geology include: