Geochemistry and the Environment. Volume II. The Relation of Other Selected Trace Elements to Health and Disease

摘要

The second volume of a trilogy continues the consideration of possible relationships between the geographic distribution of certain elements and patterns of disease. In the individual reports on trace elements related to health and disease, the elements beryllium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silicon, strontium, tin, and vanadium are critically evaluated in regard to geochemistry, occurrence, utilization, presence in plants, effects on health, biochemistry, conservation, excretion, metabolic studies, and deficiency in animals and humans. Analytical methods and research recommendations are discussed. Cause-effect relationships between the geochemical environment and disease are established by mathematically correlating features of the environment with the incidence of diseases. Topics included are interactions of trace elements; consequences of soil imbalances; disease patterns of southwestern Indians in relation to environmental factors; a Missouri study concerned with effects of trace substances in the environment on humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms; and World Health Organization studies. A display of data in map form on problems of compatibility and a national environmental specimen index system are provided.