Geomedical Hazards Caused by Tozic Contaminants in Mining Areas: A Clinical Perspective
The fast-developing field of medical geology (geomedicine) which deals in part with the threat to health from natural silent poisons could help explain the toxicology of elements released or used in the mining areas. Since the focus in natural hazards work in almost exclusively on the effects on human, the introduction of geomedicine, with its extended concerns for animals and plants, might help balance anthropocentric attitudes toward the environment and, thus, to stress continuities within the biosphere. Different health problems such as ataxia, optic neuropathy, encephalopathy, cardiovascular disorders, kidney problems, infertility, cancer, skin diseases, partial paralysis, metal fever, osteomalacia and many others have been reported in mining communities. Most of them are linked to toxic contaminants such as mercury, cyanide, lead, arsenic, and uranium. The main source of these elements is the ore carrying the mined element/gem and the chemicals used to help separate the intended mineral/element from the ore. If improperly managed, the toxic elements get contaminated in water sources, soil, plants, and air. Through ingesting contaminated water, plant parts or breathing contaminated air at certain dosage, humans are poisoned. A comprehensive review on the source, rout/path and physiological abnormalities these elements cause in the human body is the focus of the paper. Understanding these facts, geomedicine, on a more practical level, may stimulate and provide guidelines to policy makers and planning authorities in their dealings with places where high or low natural background levels for chemicals released in mining areas to soil and water can harm humans, plants or animal health.
geomedical hazards tozic contaminants mining areas
Mohamed ZENGO
Geological Survey of Tanzania,P.O. Box 903,Dodoma-Tanzania
国际会议
2009 International Symposium on Environmental Science and Technology(2009环境科学与技术国际会议)
上海
英文
219-226
2009-06-02（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）