"If you want to learn about the health of a population, look at the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the places where they live." Hippocrates, 5th Century BC.
We are constantly interacting with the environment around us, from the air we breath to the water we drink to the food we eat. These environmental interactions can affect our health, our quality of life and our lifespan. By studying the environment around us we can identify these risks and make moves to prevent any adverse effects on our health.
The geology of the area we live in is one of these environmental factors. Studying the type of rock an area is built on can give some indication of potential health risks such as radiation, studying natural aquifers can protect the quality of the water we drink and by examining soil samples we can identify any mineral deficiencies that may affect food chains in certain areas. The more we know about our environment the more we can do to keep ourselves healthy.
