367
Views
6
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Geophagic materials: the possible effects of their chemical composition on human health

Pages 177-182 | Published online: 14 Oct 2013

REFERENCES

  • Abbey, L.M. & Lombard, J.A. 1973. The etiological factors and clinical implications of pica: report of a case. Journal of American Dental Association 87: 885–887.
  • Abrahams, P.W. 2002. Soils: their implications to human health. The Science of the Total Environment 291: 1–32.
  • Amerson, J.R. & Jones, H.Q. 1967. Prolonged kaolin (clay) ingestion: a cause of colon perforation and peritonitis. Bulletin of Emory University Clinic 5: 11–15.
  • Arbiter, E.A. & Black, D. 1991. Pica and iron deficiency anaemia. Child Care Health and Development 17: 31–34.
  • Aufreiter, S., Hancock, R.G.V., Mahaney, W.C., Stambolic-Robb, A. & Sanmugadas, K. 1997. Geochemistry and mineralogy of soils eaten by humans. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition 48: 293–305.
  • Bateson, E.M & Lebroy, T. 1978. Clay eating by Aboriginals of the Northern Territory. Medical Journal of Australia Special Supplement: Aboriginal Health 10: 1–3.
  • Bisi-Johnson, M.A., Obi, C.L. & Ekosse, G.E. 2010. Microbiological and health related perspectives of geophagia: an overview. African Journal of Biotechnology 9(19): 5784–5791.
  • Black, D.A.K. 1956. A revaluation of terra sigillata. The Lancet 2: 883–884.
  • Bowman, C.A., Bobrowsky, P.T. & Selinus, O. 2003. Medical geology: new relevance in the earth sciences. Episodes. Journal of International Geosciences 26(4): 270–277.
  • Carlander, O. 1959. Aetiology of pica. Lancet 2: 569.
  • Carrettero, M.I. 2002. Clay minerals and their beneficial effects upon human health. A review. Applied Clay Science 21: 155–163.
  • Crosby, W.H. 1982. Clay ingestion and iron deficiency anaemia. Annals of Internal Medicine 97: 465.
  • Danford, D.E. 1982. Pica and nutrition. Annual Review of Nutrition 2: 303–322.
  • Dickens, D. & Ford, R.N. 1942. Geophagy (dirt eating) among Mississippi Negro school children. American Sociological Review 7: 59–65.
  • Dominy, N.J., Davoust, E. & Minekus, M. 2004. Adaptive function of soil consumption: an in vitro study modeling the human stomach and small intestine. The Journal of Experimental Biology 207: 319–324.
  • Dreyer, M.J., Chaushev, P.G. & Gledhill, R.F. 2004. Biochemical investigations into geophagia. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 97: 48.
  • Droy-Lefaix, M.T. & Tateo, F. 2006. Clay and clay minerals as drugs. In Bergaya, F., Theng, B.K.G. & Lagaly, G. (Eds), Handbook of Clay Science, Oxford, Elsevier, pp. 743–752.
  • Dunn, P.M. 1997. Avicenna (AD 980–1037) and Arabic perinatal medicine. Archives of Diseases in Childhood 77: F75–F76.
  • Edwards, C.H., Johnson, A.A., Knight, E.M., Oyemade, U.J., Cole, O.J., Westney, O.E., Johns, S., Laryea, H. & Westney, L.S. 1994. African American women and their pregnancies. Journal of Nutrition 124(6): 9545–9625.
  • Ekosse, G-I.E. & Jumbam, N.D. 2010. Geophagic clays: their mineralogy, chemistry and possible human health effects. African Journal of Biotechnology 9: 6755–6767.
  • Fubini, B. & Otero-Arean, C. 1999. Chemical aspects of the toxicity of inhaled mineral dusts. Chemical Society Review 28: 373–381.
  • Fuge, R. 2005. Soils and iodine deficiency. In Selinus, O., Allowa, B., Centeno, J.A., Finkelmann, R.B., Fuge, R., Lindh, U. & Smedley, P. (Eds), Essentials of Medical Geology: Impacts of the natural environment on public health. Amsterdam, Elsevier, pp. 417–433.
  • Fuge, R. 1996 Geochemistry of iodine in relation to iodine deficiency diseases. In Appleton, J.D., Fuge, R. & McCall, G.H. (Eds), Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Special Publication 113, London, The Geological Society, pp. 201–211. doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.1996.113.01.16.
  • Fuge, R. & Johnson, C.C. 1986. The geochemistry of iodine: a review. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 8: 31–54.
  • Galan, E., Liso, M.J. & Forteza, M. 1985. Minerales utilizados en la industria farmaceutica. Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Mineralogía 8: 369–378.
  • Geissler, P.W., Mwaniki, D., Thiong'o, F. & Friis, H. 1998a. Geophagy as a risk factor for geohelminth infection: a longitudinal study of Kenyan primary school children. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 92(1): 7–11.
  • Geissler, P.W., Mwaniki, D., Thiong'o, F., Michaelsen, K.F. & Friis, H. 1998b. Geophagy, iron status and anemia among primary school children in Western Kenya. Tropical Medicine & International Health 3(7): 529–534.
  • Geissler, P.W., Shulman, C.E., Prince, R.J., Mutemi, W., Mnazi, C., Friis, H. & Lowe, B. 1998c. Geophagy, iron status and aneamia among pregnant women on the coast of Kenya. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 92(5): 549–553.
  • Geissler, P.W., Shulman, C.E., Prince, R.J., Levene, M., Poda, C., Beckerleg, S.E., Mutemi, W. & Shulman, C.E. 1999. Perception of soil eating and anaemia among pregnant women on the Kenyan coast. Soil Science & Medicine 48: 1069–1079.
  • Goldsmith, D.F. 1994. Health effects of silica dust exposure. Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical & Geochemistry, 29: 545–606.
  • Gomes, Celso De Sousa, F. & Silva, J-B.P. 2007. Minerals and clay minerals in geology. Applied Clay Science 36: 4–21.
  • Guthrie Jr, G.D, & Mossman, B.T. 1993. Health effects of mineral dusts. Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, DC, 28: 458.
  • Halsted, J.A. 1968. Geophagia in man: its nature and nutritional effects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 21: 1384–1392.
  • Harvey, P.W.J., Dexter, P.B. & Darton-Hill, I. 2000. The impact of consuming iron from non-food sources on iron status in developing countries. Journal of Public Health, & Nutrition 3: 375–383.
  • Higgs, F.J., Mielke, H.W. & Brisco, M. 1999. Soil lead at elementary public schools: comparison between school properties and residential neighbourhoods of New Orleans. Environmental Geochemistry & Health 216: 27–36.
  • Hooda, P.S, Henry, C.J, Seyoum, T.A, Armstrong, L.D. & Fowler, M.B. 2002. The potential impact of soil ingestion on human mineral nutrition. Environmental Geochemistry & Health 24: 305–319.
  • Horner, R.D, Lackey, C.J, Kolasa, K. & Warren, K. 1991. Pica practices of pregnant women. Journal of American Dietetic Association 91: 34–38.
  • Hunter, J.M. & De Klein, R. 1984. Geophagy in Central America. Geographical Review 74: 157–169.
  • Johns, T. 1986. Detoxification function of geophagy and domestication of the potato. Journal of Chemical Ecology 12: 635–646.
  • Johns, T. & Duguette, D. 1991. Traditional detoxification of acorn bread with clay. Ecology of Food & Nutrition 25: 221–228.
  • Johnson, B.E. & Stephens, R.L. 1982. Geomelophagia, an unusual pica in iron-deficiency anemia. The American Journal of Medicine 76: 931–932.
  • Key, T.C, Horger, E.O. & Miller, J.M. 1982. Geophagia as a cause of maternal death. Obstetrics and Gynecology 60: 525–526.
  • Konta, J. 1995. Clay and Man: clay raw materials in the service of man. Applied Clay Science 10: 275–335.
  • Lanzkowsky, P. 1959. Investigation into the aetiology and treatment of pica. Archives of Disease in Childhood 34: 140–148.
  • Lindh, U. 2005a. Biological functions of the elements. In Selenus, O., Alloway, B., Centeno, J.A., Finkelman, R.B., Fuge, R., Lindh, U. & Smedley, P. (Eds). Essentials of Medical Geology: Impacts of the natural environment on public health. Amsterdam, Elsevier, pp. 115–160.
  • Lindh, U. 2005b. Uptake of the elements from the biological point of view. In Selenus O., Alloway, B., Centeno, J.A., Finkelman, R.B., Fuge, R., Lindh, U. & Smedley, P. (Eds). Essentials of Medical Geology: Impacts of the natural environment on public health. Amsterdam, Elsevier, pp. 87–114.
  • Livingston, D. 1870. The last journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa from 1865 to his death. 2: 1869–1873 continued by a narrative of his last moments and sufferings, p. 1346.
  • Lourie, R.S., Layman, E.M. & Millican, F.K. 1963. Why children eat the things that are not food. Children, 10: 143.
  • Luoba, AI., Geissler, W.P., Estambale, B., Ouma, J.H., Alusala, D., Ayah, R., Mwaniki, D., Magnussen, P. & Friis, H. 2005. Earth-eating and reinfection with intestinal helminths among preganant and lactating women in western Kenya. Tropical Medicine and International Health 10(3): 220–227.
  • McDonald, R. & Marshall, S.R. 1964. The value of iron in pica. Pediatrics 34: 559–562.
  • Mahaney, W.C., Milner, M.W., Mulyono, H.S., Hancock, R.G.V., Aufreiter, S., Reich, M. & Wink, M. 2000. Mineral and chemical analyses of soils eaten by humans in Indonesia. International Journal of Environmental Health Research 10: 93–109.
  • Mascolo, N., Summa, V. & Tateo, F. 2004. In vivo experimental data on the mobility of hazardous chemical elements from clays. Applied Clay Science 25: 23–28.
  • Minnich, V.M.S., Okcuoglu., A.M.D., Tarcon., Y.M.D., Arcasoy., A.M.D., Cin., S.M.D, Yorukogly., O.M.D, Renda., F.M.D. & Demirag., B.M.D. 1968. Pica in turkey: Effects of clay upon iron absorption. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 21: 78–86.
  • Murray, H.H. 2000. Traditional and new applications for kaolin, smectite, and palygorskite: a general overview. Applied Clay Science 17: 207–221.
  • Oliver, M.A. 1997. Soil and human health: a review. European Journal of Soil Science 48: 573–592.
  • Prasad, A.S., Miale, A., Farid, Z., Sandstead, H.H. & Schulert, A.R. 1963. Zinc metabolism in patients with the syndrome of iron deficiency anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, dwarfism, and hypogonadism. Journal of Laboratory Clinical Medicine 61: 537–549.
  • Reilly, C. & Henry, J. 2000. Why do humans consume soil? Nutrition Bulletin 25: 141–144.
  • Shapiro, M.D. & Linas, S.L. 1985. Sodium chloride pica secondary to iron deficiency anemia. American Journal of Kidney Diseases 5: 67–68.
  • Shellshear, I.D, Jordan, L.D., Hogan, D.J. & Shannon, F.T. 1975. Environmental lead exposure in Christchurch children: soil lead a potential hazard. The New Zealand Medical Journal 81: 382–386.
  • Smith, B., Rawlins, B.G., Cordeiro, M.J.A.R., Hutchins, M.G., Tiberindwa, J.G., Sserunjogi, L. & Tomkins, A.M. 2000. The bioaccessibility of essential and potentially toxic trace elements in tropical soils from Mukono District, Uganda. Journal of the Geolological Society of London 157: 885–891.
  • Singh, S., Ravishanker, R., Singhi, P. & Nath, R. 2003. Low plasma zinc and iron in pica. Indian Journal of Pediatrics 70(2): 139–143.
  • Solien, N.L. 1954. A cultural explanation of geophagy. Florida Anthropologist 7: 1–9.
  • Tateo, F. & Summa, V. 2007. Element mobility in clays for healing use. Applied Clay Science 36: 64–76.
  • Tateo, F., Summa, V., Bonelli, C.G. & Bentivenga, G. 2001. Mineralogy and geochemistry of herbalist's clays for internal use. Simulation of the digestive process. Applied Clay Science 20: 97–109.
  • Tateo, F., Summa, V., Giannossi, M.L. & Ferraro, G. 2006. Healing clays: mineralogical and geochemical constraints on the preparation of clay – water suspension ‘argillic water’. Applied Clay Science 33: 181–194.
  • Thompson, C.J.S. 1913. Terra sigillata, a famous medicament of ancient times. 17th International Congress of Medicine. History of Medicine 23: 433.
  • Vermeer, D.E. 1979. Geophagia in rural Mississippi: environmental and cultural contexts and nutritional implications. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 32: 2129–2135.
  • Von Homboldt, A. 1985. Vom Orinokko zum Amazonas. Wiesbaden, FA Brockhaus, p. 341.
  • Wang, J.S., Luo, H., Billam, M., Wang, Z., Guan, H., Tang, L., Golgston, T., Afriyie-Gyawu, E., Lovett, C., Griswold, J., Brattin, B., Taylor, R.J., Huebner, H.J. & Phillips, T.D. 2005. Short-term safety evaluation of processed calcium montmorillonite clay (NovaSil) in humans. Food Additives and Contaminants 22(3): 270–279.
  • Wedeen, R.P., Mallik, D.K., Batuman, V. & Bogden, J.D. 1978. Geophagic lead nephropathy: case report. Environmental Research 17: 409–415.
  • Wiley, A.S. & Katz, S.H. 1998. Geophagy in pregnancy: a test of a hypothesis. Current Anthropology 39: 532–545.
  • Wilson, M.J. 2003. Clay mineralogical and related characteristics of geophagic materials. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29: 1525–1547.
  • World Health Organization (WHO) 1996. Trace Elements in Human Nutrition and Health. Geneva, World Health Organization, p. 343.
  • Woywodt, A. & Kiss, A. 2002. Geophagia: the history of earth-eating. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 95: 143–146.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.