A Viewpoints on Geomedicine

Geomedicine is defined as the science dealing with the relationship between natural geological factors and health in man and animals, and understanding the influence of ordinary environmental factors on the geographical distribution of diseases health problems. Geomedicine studies can divide into 2 groups: Geogenic and Anthropogenic. In addition, in geomedicine, investigation of distribution, increases and decreases of elements in fauna diet is the most important subject. Furthermore, investigation of minerals and various elements usage to treatment of diseases is very important. In addition to elements and minerals usage in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, from foretime, rocks, minerals and salt caves were used directly in the diseases treatment. Because, in the geomedicine studies, investigation of the geochemical and hydro-geochemical behavior of the elements in the environment is the most important. In Iran, extension of elemental anomalies, elemental contamination in the agricultural soils and drinking water, distribution of loess deposits in many areas and high levels of hydrocarbon reserves, increased the importance of geomedicine.