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Applied Sciences
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Environmental Geochemistry and Medical Geology
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Environmental Geochemistry and Medical Geology

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 6905

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carla Candeias

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GeoBioTec Research Unit, Geosciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: medical geology; clays and natural waters; environmental geochemistry; microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental geochemistry and medical geology are multidisciplinary units of the Earth sciences linked to the study of natural and anthropogenic materials and their potential direct and indirect impact on the environment and human and animal health. This covers a wide range of materials such as dust, gas (e.g. Rn), water, and soil, that may have a beneficial or detrimental influence. Published papers will deal with both beneficial and adverse outcomes of geogenic and anthropogenic materials and their association with environmental and health effects, through experimental and theoretical methods. The full experimental details must be provided so that results can be reproduced. This Special Issue is an opportunity to discuss recent advances in environmental geochemistry and medical geology by providing reports on studies conducted worldwide. Review papers are also welcome.

Dr. Carla Candeias
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental geochemistry
  • medical geology
  • Earth sciences
  • geogenic and anthropogenic materials

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3781 KiB  
Article
Geophagic Materials Characterization and Potential Impact on Human Health: The Case Study of Maputo City (Mozambique)
by Bernardino Bernardo, Carla Candeias and Fernando Rocha
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 4832; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104832 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2610
Abstract
This study aims to characterize and estimate risk assessment associated with geophagic materials consumption in Maputo city (Mozambique). Samples were collected in extraction mines, unprepared and prepared ones, and in Maputo markets. Fractions < 2 mm (total consumed material) and <63 μm were [...] Read more.
This study aims to characterize and estimate risk assessment associated with geophagic materials consumption in Maputo city (Mozambique). Samples were collected in extraction mines, unprepared and prepared ones, and in Maputo markets. Fractions < 2 mm (total consumed material) and <63 μm were analyzed to determine pH, EC, OM, chemical composition (XRF), and mineral phases present (XRD). The results revealed pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, and electrical conductivity ranging from 13 to 47 μS/cm in mine unprepared and prepared samples, while 264–465 μS/cm in sampled sold in markets. Organic matter content was <2.76%, except in one sample (8.14%), suggesting a potential risk of containing bacteria. Textural analysis revealed that sand-size particles were more representative in all samples (57.2–93.02%). Mineralogical phases identified in the consumed sample were ranked quartz (>60%) > Fe oxides/hidroxides > phyllosilicates (micas and kaolinite) > feldspars, suggesting a risk of dental enamel damage and perforation of the sigmoid colon. The chemical concentration of some elements was higher than recommended daily dose, suggesting a potential risk. However, geophagic materials’ chemical composition does not pose a carcinogenic risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Geochemistry and Medical Geology)
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19 pages, 1285 KiB  
Article
The Challenge in Combining Pelotherapy and Electrotherapy (Iontophoresis) in One Single Therapeutic Modality
by Carla Marina Bastos, Fernando Rocha, Nuno Gomes and Paula Marinho-Reis
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1509; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031509 - 30 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3275
Abstract
Pelotherapy and electrotherapy are therapeutic methodologies with proven success in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) and dermatology fields. The main purpose of these therapeutic modalities is to reduce pain, accelerate wound healing, alleviate muscle spasms, and improve mobility, and muscle tone. Their main [...] Read more.
Pelotherapy and electrotherapy are therapeutic methodologies with proven success in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) and dermatology fields. The main purpose of these therapeutic modalities is to reduce pain, accelerate wound healing, alleviate muscle spasms, and improve mobility, and muscle tone. Their main challenge is in the passage of some ionic species through the skin barrier. The use of drugs, such as diclofenac, corticosteroids or steroids, has gained widespread efficacy recognition in physical therapy and the therapeutic action of these drugs is widely studied in experimental and clinical trials. Unlike pharmaceutical and cosmetic clays, peloids are not subject to any prior quality control or subject to any specific European regulation. The dermal absorption values are an integral part of the risk assessment process for peloids. This work explores the converging points between these two transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) and the presentation of methodologies to achieve peloid safety compliance, especially concerning the potential and degree of toxicity arising from ion exchange and trace elements. TDDS is applied to the pharmaceuticals industry and drug is the generic term for the active substances released into skin tissues. The transdermal delivery of drugs or clay components with therapeutic properties is limited due to the excellent barrier function of the stratum corneum. The transdermal drug delivery of pelotherapy is enhanced by temperature and electrically by iontophoresis. The low voltage of iontophoresis and sweat phenomena with pore dilation driven by pelotherapy allows the use of the same pathways: hair follicles and sweat pore. The therapeutic integration of iontophoresis and pelotherapy focused on patient benefits and low safety-related risk may contribute to the outstanding physiological performance of pelotherapy, specifically, in the way the essential elements and exchange cations pass through the skin barrier. The validation of an innovative iontophoretic systems applied to pelotherapy can also promote future challenges in the obtaining of the ideal therapeutic control of peloids and the clinical validation of results with physiological efficacy recognition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Geochemistry and Medical Geology)
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