Medical Geology of Africa

Theophilus Clavell Davies is a Research Professor (Medical Geology), a Chartered Geologist, and Environmental Consultant, currently based at the Mangosuthu University of Technology in South Africa. Formerly Council Member and Trustee of the Geological Society of London (1996 - 2000), he is presently Regional Councillor for southern Africa of the Association of Applied Geochemists (AAG), former member of the Supervisory Board of the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA), Member of the Scientific Committee of the UNESCO International Centre for Global-Scale Geochemistry (ICGG) and Former Member of the IUGS Commission on Geosciences for Environmental Management (GEM). Prof. Davies’ abiding interest centres around the role of geoenvironmental variables as causal co-factors in the aetiology of some obscure diseases (of unknown aetiology) in Africa. He has taught and carried out research, community engagement and consultancy in Germany, Great Britain, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Prof. Davies’ consultancy for the National Bank of Kenya in 1993 led to the discovery of huge gemstone deposits in the Tsavo National Park in southern Kenya, and the commissioning of a mine. Prof. Davies has published over 200 papers (peer-reviewed manuscripts, edited books and book chapters, abstracts, conference papers and reports) in course of these activities, some of which appear in the most reputable international geoscience journals. Prof. Davies is Associate Editor, Guest Editor or Reviewer for several high impact journals, including the Journal of Geochemical Exploration, GEEA and China Geology. He has singly or jointly edited six ‘Special Issues’ of these journals and is the author or co-author of chapters in the inaugural books: “Essentials of Medical Geology - Impacts of the Natural Environment on Public Health” (2005) and “Medical Geology - A Regional Synthesis” (2010). Prof. Davies currently holds the status of “Experienced Researcher” according to the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa ‘Rating System’. Major awards include two from the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany (1986; 1988) and another from the NMGS/Shell Petroleum Ltd. (2014) in recognition of “… persistent and consistent excellent research on the environmental geology of the African continent” [Sic].

"...studies the role of geo-environmental factors in the distribution of diseases in man and animals; and seeks credible ways to combat these diseases.... “Medical Geology of Africa: A Research Primer” provides a comprehensive account of Medical Geology of Africa and approaches the major themes and key topics from a variety of angles.... Overall, the book provides a good compilation of the most important topical areas of Medical Geology of Africa, is of high quality and is well worth the read for a wide range of academics and serves as a key background reference for Medical Geologists.... The text is richly illustrated with tables, figures, and maps. The figures are of an exceptionally high standard and easy to comprehend.... [W]ell-formatted, [and] has a professional ambience that is inviting, enticing readers to pick it up and explore its contents.... an essential source for generations of Medical Geologists for many years to come." --Professor Smart C. Obiora, Ph.D., FNMGS, FNSEG, COMEG Certified Geoscientist

• Part I Some topical issues in medical geology of Africa: current knowledge and research gaps1. General introduction2. Project selection, proposal writing and reporting (dissertation or thesis) in medical geology3. Geoenvironmental variables as causal co-factors of diseases of unknown aetiology in Africa4. Environmental health impacts of geogenic source pollution in Africa5. Combatting effects of ionising radiation exposure around uranium and gold mines in subsaharan Africa6. Geophagic practices in AfricaPart II An exposition of some geomedically important elements, with Africa case descriptions7. Introduction8. Medical geology of arsenic9. Medical geology of fluorine10. Medical geology of iodine11. Medical geology of lead12. Medical geology of manganese13. Medical geology of mercury14. Medical geology of selenium15. Medical geology of zincPart III Conclusion16. General conclusion17. Conclusion: medical geology in Africa - future perspectives and prospects