Handbook of Clay Science

Edited by F. Bergaya, B.K.G. Theng and G. Lagaly

Developments in Clay Science, Vol. 1 623
r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chapter 11

CLAYS, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

F. BERGAYAa, B.K.G. THENGb AND G. LAGALYc

a
CRMD, CNRS-Université d’Orléans, F-45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France
b
Landcare Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
c
Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Universität Kiel, D-24118 Kiel, Germany

Because of their large propensity for adsorbing and immobilizing extraneous

species, clays and clay minerals can serve as materials for pollution control (Chapter
11.1), carriers of pesticides (Chapter 11.2), liners in waste disposal (Chapter 11.3)
and barriers in nuclear waste management (Chapter 11.4). The peculiar surface
properties of clays, such as the large specific surface area, layer charge, and swelling
capacity also make these materials generally beneficial to human health. The ability
of clays and clay minerals to serve as active principles, or excipients, in pharma-
ceutical formulations, spas, and aesthetic medicine is described in Chapter 11.5.
Being good adsorbents and mucostabilizers, clay minerals are also useful as drugs in
the treatment of intestinal disorders (Chapter 11.6).

DOI: 10.1016/S1572-4352(05)01019-6