Medical Geology: A Global Opportunity for Collaboration between Geoscientists & Public Health Researchers

Medical Geology, the study of the impacts of geologic materials and processes on animal

and human health, is an emerging discipline of "Healthography", bringing together the geoscience,

public health and biomedical communities to solve a wide range of environmental health

problems.

During the past decade Medical Geology has gained broad global recognition.

The International Medical Geology Association (IMGA) has more than 300 members

from almost 80 countries and supports 22 national and regional chapters. Membership

in the IMGA and in the Geological Society of America’s Geology and Health Division

consists of geoscientists, public health researchers, and others collaborating on a range

of issues including exposure to naturally occurring, potentially toxic trace elements such

as arsenic, mercury, selenium, lead, and fluorine as well as health problems caused by

deficiencies of essential elements (e.g. selenium, iodine) reflecting the composition of the

underlying soils.

Other medical geology issues include respiratory problems caused by

inhalation of minerals such as asbestos, quartz, and pyrite. Researchers

also study the heath impacts of global dust transport including the relationship between

pathogens and host minerals, the medicinal use of clays and a wide range of other

health benefits of geologic materials and processes. Energy related issues include the

potential for health impacts caused by oil and gas production and by mining coal and

by commercial, domestic, and uncontrolled coal combustion. Medical Geology presents

an exciting opportunity for public health collaboration on a range of environmental

health issues that impact hundreds of millions of people across the globe.