The field of Medical Geology in Africa has witnessed a phenomenal growth during the last decade because of the increasing awareness of the role of geoenvironmental variables as causal cofactors in the incidence of some common environmental diseases, including those of unknown aetiology (DUA). This relationship has triggered a surge of research projects on the Continent during the last decade, especially on aspects regarding decipherment of the nature of geochemical circulation of both nutritional and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the groundwater-soil-food crop continuum; and how this distribution shapes the nutritional quality of the African diet, and hence maintenance of the proper balance of micronutrients (and vitamins) in metabolic processes. A lot of success has been documented during the last decade in explaining these relationships; but admittedly, more research needs to be done. This chapter presents a cursory summary that encapsulates the book’s main features, focussing on gaps in knowledge that remain to be tackled and how this could be effectively done. Finally, a look is taken at future perspectives and prospects.

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Research Gaps in Knowledge and Future Perspectives on Medical Geology of Africa

  • T. C. Davies

摘要

The field of Medical Geology in Africa has witnessed a phenomenal growth during the last decade because of the increasing awareness of the role of geoenvironmental variables as causal cofactors in the incidence of some common environmental diseases, including those of unknown aetiology (DUA). This relationship has triggered a surge of research projects on the Continent during the last decade, especially on aspects regarding decipherment of the nature of geochemical circulation of both nutritional and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the groundwater-soil-food crop continuum; and how this distribution shapes the nutritional quality of the African diet, and hence maintenance of the proper balance of micronutrients (and vitamins) in metabolic processes. A lot of success has been documented during the last decade in explaining these relationships; but admittedly, more research needs to be done. This chapter presents a cursory summary that encapsulates the book’s main features, focussing on gaps in knowledge that remain to be tackled and how this could be effectively done. Finally, a look is taken at future perspectives and prospects.