Environmental geochemistry and geochemical hazards

Environmental geochemistry is concerned with the abundance, distribution, and mobility of elements at the Earth's surface. It is important for land use management and health protection because Earth surface geochemistry affects life. Through regional surveys and detailed studies, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) provides the key geoscience basis for managing environmental issues. This work shows the natural distributions and concentrations of elements for much of Canada. It tells us about their bedrock origins, mineral hosts, and chemical forms, and the dispersal processes associated with their distribution in the landscape. Natural background variations shown by GSC maps can be used to identify areas of potential geochemical hazard and to distinguish between natural and industrial sources. This synthesis shows the application of geoscience research to environmental geochemistry.