Medical Geology of Africa: A Research Primer
Despite some appreciable developments in medical geology globally, Africa still faces significant issues that affect whole ecosystems and are often lost in more generic or geographically-focused work. This textbook is therefore a welcome publication for those who work in disciplines overlapping the natural world, medicine, human health and animal welfare on the continent.
Medical Geology of Africa highlights how geological materials and processes can help us to understand the geographical distribution of health issues, as well as how this can contribute to improved diagnoses and potential treatment strategies. Africa has a unique geoenvironmental system and because of this, understanding the interplay between geoscience and public health has direct applications. Chapters in the book provide summaries of investigations and case studies focused on the use of geochemical data and comparison to epidemiological records and public health statistics. In this endeavour, the reference list is reasonably up to date, which is not an easy task for a textbook.
The author’s 40+ year career in environmental geochemistry and medical geology comes through clearly in the extensive subject coverage and case studies selected, spotlighting the application of geological information to serious regional scale medical issues across Africa (and extrapolating to other parts of the world). Emphasis is also made to promote greater collaboration among medical scientists, geologists, geochemists, biologists, and other stakeholders involved in environmental health studies.
This volume is essential reading for those who work or conduct research in these fields and a solid basis for undergraduate teaching, not just in Africa but globally as well.
Review by Rob Bowell
DETAILS
BY: Theophilus Clavell Davies (2024) Elsevier, 700 pp. (pbk/ebook)
ISBN: 9780128187494
PRICE: $165 elsevier.com
