This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Abrahams, P. W. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Soil, geography and human disease: a critical review of the importance of medical cartography

Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, Wales, UK

Soils have a profound impact on the causation and geographical distribution of human disease and well-being. However, because of the multifactorial causes of illnesses, the impact of soils on health needs to be considered in light of the environment in its fullest sense. Since the nineteenth century, medical cartography has served as an epidemiological tool for investigating the links between soils and human well-being. Using examples, particularly the problems of soil-transmitted helminth infections, and iodine and selenium deficiency diseases, this paper shows how maps have been used to identify problem areas, stimulate the development of aetiological hypotheses, help in the planning and management of public health problems, and assess the impact of any beneficial strategies.

Key Words: human disease • iodine deficiency disorders • medical cartography • selenium deficiency • soil geography • soil-transmitted helminths

Progress in Physical Geography, Vol. 30, No. 4, 490-512 (2006)
DOI: 10.1191/0309133306pp493ra


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?