Medical Geology Hazard: Impact of Geohazards on Human Health

This article explores the impact of geohazards on human health and the field of medical geology. It discusses the health risks associated with earthquakes, volcanic activity, and exposure to harmful substances in the environment. The article also highlights the importance of understanding geological structures in North Saudi Arabia, including the Waad Al Shamal region, and their influence on mineral deposits and the development of Al Shamal city.

Medical geology hazard
Earthquakes and volcanic activity, for example, may have a negative impact on a population's
health. When volcanic ash is released into the atmosphere, it may include naturally enhanced
concentrations of many minerals, metals, and compounds. These emissions may be examined to
evaluate potential health hazards.Because earthquakes shake the ground and create dust, which
may include toxic components discharged into the air and breathed in by the people, they may
have knock-on consequences on human health.Direct or indirect health effects on humans and
animals are possible as a result of geohazards. There are a number of substances that are harmful
to human health, such as fluorine, arsenic, molybdenum, and radon. These elements may be
found in the soil and in groundwater. Some of the health concerns that may be linked to exposure
to these traces of heavy metals include skin illness, reproductive issues, lung cancer, and
others.Natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanoes may inflict mass casualties and long-
term health problems. An developing multidisciplinary study known as Medical Geology may
help geologists better understand what steps need to be done to minimize the dangers associated
with geology health concerns.
Small amounts of trace elements may have a big influence on the food web. Iodine, fluorine, and
selenium are three well-known trace elements. Medical geologists can forecast deficiencies by
looking at where these minerals exist.As an example, iodine may be normally found in seaweed,
kelp, and shellfish, and it aids in thyroid gland health and fat metabolism
regulation.Hypothyroidism, caused by an iodine deficit, may result in weight gain, fatigue, and a
loss of mental clarity. An iodine supplement may be administered to a population that is at risk
of getting the condition due to a lack of iodine.

Geological Health Risks
Many methods exist for people to be exposed to earth's elements, and the following are just a few
of them. Volcanoes are a major conduit for the earth's hazardous material, transporting it to the
surface.These substances include arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, mercury, lead, radon, and
uranium, to name just a few. They are brought out in large quantities. Another major source of
exposure to these elements is rocks. The Earth's natural chemical elements are derived from
them.
Diseases Caused by Geohazards:
Selenium
Besides its antioxidant capabilities, selenium also has redox and thyroid hormone control
characteristics, making it an important trace element.A selenium deficit, on the other hand, has
been found to produce significant physiological impairment and organ damage, including a
juvenile cardiomyopathy and muscle anomalies in adults.
Iodine
In the case of iodine, the relationship between geologic elements and trace element shortage has
been extensively established throughout time. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) include goiter
(enlargement of the thyroid gland), cretinism (mental retardation with physical abnormalities),
lower intelligence quotient (IQ), miscarriages, and birth malformations, among other
manifestations
Human carcinogens include arsenic and arsenic compounds.Anthropogenic sources of arsenic
exposure may include mining, pesticides, medicines, glass and microelectronics, as well as most

typically natural ones like drinking water and drinking glass. Arsenic may be ingested, inhaled,
applied topically, or administered intravenously. Contaminated drinking water poses a serious
public health threat.
Fluorine:
Toxic effects in people and animals are caused by excessive exposure to trace elements in
geologic materials. Fluorine is a trace element that has received a lot of attention in this area. In
drinking water, at concentrations of at least 0.7 mg/L, the fluoride ion (F-) increases bone growth
while reducing dental cavities. On the other hand, too much fluoride exposure may induce
fluorosis (tooth mottling) and bone fluorosis.
Heart diseases:
Water hardness has often been implicated as a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease. In
order to have hard water, there must be magnesium in the water, as well as calcium. Of fact,
other studies have thrown doubt on this data and discovered that the more magnesium in the
water, the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease-related mortality.
3. Geological structure of North Saudi Arabia including Waad Al Shamal
Tectonic forces inside the ground create geologic formations. These forces fold, shatter, and
construct mountains.Unusual geologic structures may result from Earth's enormous tectonic
processes. As a consequence of these forces, rocks bend and break, forming mountains and deep
fractures.Metalliferous ores and petroleum are two examples of natural resources that are
dependent on geologic formations to develop (Stewart2015). As a result, uncovering new non-
renewable resource deposits will depend on knowing how these structures got their start.When a
force is applied to rocks at a great depth, they are put under stress. The effects of stress may be

examined when the rocks are exposed at the surface as a result of uplift and erosion. In stressed
rocks, the extent of strain may be seen by looking at the changes in volume and/or form of the
rock(Stewart 2015).
The Midyan Peninsula, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, provides an outstanding chance to
examine a complex interaction of rifting, salt tectonic plates, and strike-slip faulting in a very
small geographic area. Onshore 3-D seismic data, transition zone 2-D seismic data, and offshore
2-D seismic data have all been obtained recently in the region.Furthermore , continuous
exploration in the area and a drilling program have revealed fresh information about the region's
geologic past.During the Early Oligocene, continental rifting generally used pre-existing
basement fault patterns(Stewart 2015). Pre-rift sedimentation is characterized by deep half-
grabens filled with thick wedges of mostly continental sediments, with some evaporitic and
marine deposits.
The geology of North Saudi Arabia has attracted attention since the 19th century. Interest in
geological formation of structures in the region was orchestrated by mineral deposits that were
discovered in that region. Sedimentary rocks found in the region had been discovered in the
neighbouring regions like Egypt and the gulf of Suez. Sedimentary rocks founds in these regions
had similar characteristics. Geological maps from north Saudi Arabia were combined and
various conclusions were made with regard to the mineral deposits found in the regions.
Evaporite deposits are evident in north Saudi Arabia(Stewart 2015).
When Saudi Aramco was conducting hydrocarbon research in the area in 2007, they recorded a
2D reflection seismic line that just so happened to pass through the Jabal Rayah formation.There
is a 1.75 kilometer discrepancy in the junction. Despite being off-center, the section line passes

into and out of the surface-exposed ring structure, providing information on the ring's underlying
structure(Stewart 2015).
The figure shows a representation of Jabal Rayah formation:
Located at an elevation of around 1000 meters above sea level, Jabal Rayah is a noteworthy
geomorphological feature. It is a ring of hills about 1.5 km wide and 150 to 250 meters high that
forms a topographic ring encircling a 3 km circumference valley.More recent and softer
sediments make up the majority of the relatively low-lying ground, although the ring structure
exposes harder units almost continuously(Stewart 2015).Siluro-Devonian Qalibah Group
siliciclastics make up the region's geology, which dips northeasterly by around 1 degree.Spiral-
trend plan-view faults may form in centripetal-movement ring constructions.Synclinal hinges

increase structural dips towards Sharawra's base as the ring moves toward its center, reaching
45° at the contact with Qusaiba's base and always dipping away from that level's center to define
the dome(Stewart 2015).
The diagram below shows the formation of a cliff in Jebel Rayah region in north Saudi arabia
The diagram below shows the Saudi Arabian map and various regions of the country:

North Saudi Arabia has unique Paleozoic rocks that are exposed and penetrated in the Arabian
Basin. These rocks have a greater influence in the formation of minerals around that region and
this has been evident in the deposits of gas and oil found in the limestone rock layers found in
that region. However, the tectonic history of these rock plates has not been fully understood and
this is because there is no much research done about that region(Stewart 2015).
Waad Al Shamal is found in North Saudi Arabia were most valuable minerals like phosphorous
and sulphur are found. These minerals have long history on where formed. Tectonic movements
led to the formation of these limestone layers found in that regions. These limestone layers form
an ideal place where mineral deposits are found. Waad Al Shamal city is situated in a perfect

place where mineral deposits are found. Researchers analyzed data from wells dug in Waad Al
Shamal deserts to show how movements in the Paleozoic succession divided it into mega-
depositional cycles.Climate change and a sequence of tectonic events had a significant impact on
the succession(Stewart 2015).These factors led to the formation of an ideal place where Waad Al
Shamal could be established. The main rock deposits found in the Al Shamal region are
Paleozoic rocks that range from Cambrian to Precambrian mineral rocks that cover huge tracts of
land in the area.
Regional tectonic movements in the Al Shamal region led to a series of unique rock movements
called epirogenic contemporaneous movements. Depression systems in the city region are
examples of tectonic rock movements. These depressions were formed as a result of three
tectonic forces. These tectonic forces are hercynian, taconic and Caledonian tectonic forces.
Erosional forces in north Saudi Arabia led to the formation of an ideal place for Al Shamal city
project. Progressive erosions in the region were as a result of Acadian tectonic movements. Al
Shamal region had distinct layers of tectonic plates that could be easily eroded and this lead to
formation of rock layers that were as a result of continued erosion and deposition of rock
materials in the regions.
During the late carboniferous and middle Devonian ages, pulses of tectonic forces in Al Shamal
created stratigraphic breaks(Stewart 2015). These breaks led to formation of carbon deposits that
are still evident in the region today. These carbon deposits include petroleum and gas found
within limestone rock layers.
The figure below shows the deposits of rock minerals found in north Saudi Arabia including
Waad Al Shamal.

Conclusion
this report has provided an in depth analysis of various geological formations in Saudi Arabia
and the metropolitan development in Al Shamal city. This city’s development has been
influenced by various geological formations in the region which has led to researchers doing
investigations on the factors that led to the location of this city in north Saudi Arabia.

Reference List
Stewart, S.A., 2015. Circular geological structures outcropping in the sedimentary basins of
Saudi Arabia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. Available at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1367912015001297 [Accessed October
28, 2021].
Kodate, J. et al., 2020. (PDF) study of geological health hazards through medical geology.
ResearchGate. Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341494692_STUDY_OF_GEOLOGICAL_HEA
LTH_HAZARDS_THROUGH_MEDICAL_GEOLOGY#:~:text=The%20health%20risks
%20associated%20with,long%2Dterm%20chronic%20health%20conditions. [Accessed
October 28, 2021].