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Investigation of the Possible Connection of Rock and Soil Geochemistry to the Occurrence of High Rates of Neurodegenerative Diseases on Guam and a Hypothesis for the Cause of the Diseases

By By William R. Miller and Richard F. Sanzolone

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-475

Version 1.0

This report is an investigation of the possible connection of rock and soil geochemistry to the occurrence of high rates of neurodegenerative diseases on the island of Guam. The results indicate that the geochemistry of the rocks and soils do not play a role in the occurrence of the high rates of the diseases, but a hypothesis is presented as to the cause of the diseases. The fresh water streams in the southern villages of Guam, which have high rates of the diseases, contain algae and possible cyanobacteria. It is postulated that neurotoxins are released to stream water by algae and cyanobacteria after algal blooms and is responsible for the occurrence of the diseases. Untreated stream water was used in the past for human consumption.


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OFR-02-475 PDF file (1.47 MB)
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