Iron biominerals in medicine and the environment

The nature and function of iron biominerals, particularly ferrihydrite (5Fe (2)O(3). 9H(2)O) and goethite (alpha-FeOOH), in medicine and the environmen t are reviewed through three case studies: the tissue iron deposits formed in the iron overload associated with the genetic disease of thalassemia, a medical condition of global significance; the tissue iron deposits formed i n the liver of the endangered tropical marine mammal, the dugong Dugong dug on; the granules formed in the tissue of the freshwater mussel Velusunio an gasi. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.