Calcium-to-Phosphorus Ratio in Geochemical Landscapes:
Implications for Human Health

S. M. Kravchenko

Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry (IGEM), Russian Academy of Sciences,
Staromonetnyi per. 35, Moscow, 109017 Russia

Received February 17, 1997

Abstract—Studying the calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca/P) ratio in natural waters, soils, plants, fertilizers, and
technogenic fluxes in order to compose appropriate geochemical maps is a first-priority objective for geochem-
istry. Data thus obtained should serve as a basis for special biomedical maps enabling scientists to collate
regional geochemical features with the distribution of bone-associated diseases. Comprehensive interdiscipli-
nary study (involving geochemistry, ecology, medicine, gerontology, pharmacy, etc.) is crucial for obtaining
new information on the etiology of bone and dental diseases, elaborating new criteria for environmental stan-
dards, and developing new approaches to the problems of gerontology and drug safety.