GEO-MINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH- PERSPECTIVE APPROACH

摘要

Georesources play an important role in shaping the Geo-industrial development of a nation. No country including ours is self sufficient in all the mineral deposits. India is self sufficient in certain minerals like iron, manganese, limestone, chromite, bauxite, beach-sand, coal, and lignite and insufficient in minerals like bismuth, cadmium, nickel, zirconium, lead, zinc, copper, mercury and platinum group of minerals Appreciating the fact that, India posses numerous world-class mineral deposits and the geological scenario is favourable for the discovery of a large number of mineral deposits for exploration and exploitation presuming that the mineral extraction of materials viz. chemicals and metallic derivatives for the sustaining the quality of life. Observing that in order to develop these resources position, the industries based thereupon a sustainable basis India requires a massive injection of capital and appreciates technique and technologies. Noting that various liberalization measures by central and state governments will help in the Indian mineral sector to achieve a growth of certain of commensurate with potential of its resource endowment. Regional mineral exploration, exploratory mining and exploitation of minerals consequent upon it contribute towards building the national economy, but imperceptibly contribute towards environmental hazards that are being tackled by environmentalists today. These hazards include degradation (Development and Aesthetic), soil erosion, water pollution, deforestation, vibrations, noise pollution, and related socio-economic embargo. These environmental hazards affect the ecosystem, which leads to certain lasting impressions on human and or animal health hazards of both reversible as well as irreversible kind. These bizarre Geo-medical problems particularly lead and on mankind like 'Silicotuberculosis', ' Anthracosis', 'Aluminosis', 'Asbestosis', ' Bergkrankheite', 'Berylossis', 'Stanmosis', and 'Fluorosis'. The geologic and trace elemental aspect of Environmental influence on human society as well as animal kingdom has been recognized throughout the world and the status of a special sub discipline has been accorded to "Geo-medicine". Marginal deficiency and excess of Toxic metals like Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, Molybdenum, causes bizarre Geo-medical complications. "Iodine deficiency causes "Endemic Goitre" arid "Hyperthyroidism". Zinc and Manganese deficiency may cause "Lung Cancer". Iron 'deficiency may cause "Hypochronic microcitons anaemia". Molybdenum, Zinc, Chromium, Boron, Selenium deficiency may cause " Cardiomyopathy" and " Oesophagus Cancer". Lithium deficiency may cause mental disorders. Deficiency of Zinc and lead also cause night blindness. Advances in Immunodiagnostics, sophistication of modern analytical techniques and recent developments of extremely specific and sensitive analytical methods have added to our understanding of the role of human Pathogeny in relation to mining and trace elemental Geo-chemical environment. With the changed socio-economic scenario and rigorous dust control measures. Practically the Geo-mineral based industries today warrant that Geo-environmental Geologists has to play an utmost important role in the National Geo-industrial development. There is an urgent need to ensure that National development proceeds along sustainable lines in harmony with Geo-environment. Now it is absolutely necessary to have a co-ordinated approach between Mining Engineers, Geologists, Environmental Geologists and Environmentalists and others professionals like Veterinary doctors, Doctors, Ecologists to tackle specific health hazards caused due to mineral developmental activity.