Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Historical perspectivesDefinition and scopeGeologic processes and healthGeologic materials and healthCase studiesCurrent status of medical geologyFuture prospects and challenges

““If you want to learn about If you want to learn about the health of a population, the health of a population, look at the air they look at the air they breathe, the water they breathe, the water they drink, and the places where drink, and the places where they live.”they live.”

― Hippocrates, 5th Century BC

Medical GeologyMedical Geology

Deals with the geologic factors that have a bearing on human, animal and plant health“Is the scientific discipline that examines the impacts that geologic materials and processes have on human and ecosystem health.” (Bunnell, 2004)Medical geology deals with the cause of the disease not its cure

________________________________________[Bunnell, J.E; 2204, Medical Geolgoy:Emerging Discipline on the Ecosystem-Human

Health Interface. EcoHealth, V. 1, p. 15-18]

Medical GeologyMedical Geology

Impetus from geochemical research after WW IIGeochemical data triggered interest of geologists and health care professionals to study possible relation between geochemical nature of an area and incidence of diseaseEarlier, during the 1930s and subsequent period, animal and plant scientists made much progress in studying health impact caused by excess or deficiency of trace elements in animals and plants

Scope of Medical GeologyScope of Medical Geology

(Illustration: Courtesy, Robert Finkleman, USGS, 2003)

Causes of DiseaseCauses of Disease

• Genetic• Behavioral• Environmental

Ultimately represents an imbalance between chemical elements and the body

Valley FeverValley Fever

Valley Fever-Clinical Presentation

7,500 new cases of Valley Fever occur annually in the U.S.A, with a cost in excess of $65 million a year.

Incidence of Valley FeverIncidence of Valley Fever

Northridge EarthquakeNorthridge Earthquake

6 10 14 18 22 26 30 4 6 12 16 20 24 28 4 6January, 1994 February March

2

Val

ley

Fev

er C

ases

Val

ley

Fev

er C

ases

00

1010

2020

3030

4040

5050

(Illustration: Courtesy, Robert Finkleman, USGS, 2003)

Mt. Pinatubo

June 15, 1991 Eruption

Mt. Pinatubo Eruption of June Mt. Pinatubo Eruption of June 19911991

20 million Mt of SO2 ~ 800,000 Mt of Zn 600,000 Mt of Cu 550,000 Mt of Cr 100,000 Mt of Pb 30,000 Mt of Ni 10,000 Mt of As 1,000 Mt of Cd 800 Mt of Hg

[Selinus et al. (ed.) Medical Geology, 2005, Elsevier]

Laki Eruption June 1783-Feb.1784

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/Gases/laki.html

Accessed 4/10/06

Acid volatiles:

SO2 120 Mt

HCl 7

HF 15

Basaltic Lava: 14.73 km3 over 565 sq km area

Laki Fissure Eruption 1783-1784

http://www.edjackson.ca/19thcenturyiceland/eruption/eruption1783.htm Accessed 4/10/06

A woman in India using aportable clay oven fueledby cow dung

A family in the Guizhou Province in China gathering by a fire in the night

AirAir

WaterWater

Source: Selinus, Olle, et al (ed.), 2004, Essentials of Medical Geology, Elsevier Academic Press, London, U.K; p. xi.

Trace Elements and Health

Three Well Studied Trace Three Well Studied Trace ElementsElements

1. Fluorine2. Iodine3. Selenium

IodineIodine

SourcesSources: alcohol, iodized table salt, seafood, kelp & other seaweed (raw or processed in items like ice cream)BenefitsBenefits: helps metabolize fats, produce energy, and keep thyroid glands healthyHazardsHazards: too little can result in hypothyroidism, causing weight gain, lack of energy, reduced mental focus, and in some cases goiter. Globally 2.11 million people suffer from goiter (WHO, 1990)

Global Iodine Nutrition

Source: Accessed April 7, 2006 http://indorgs.virginia.edu/iccidd/mi/regions/world_map.htm,

FluorineFluorine

SourcesSources: drinking water, seafood, teas. Regularly added to drinking water and toothpaste for its proven ability to reduce the formation of dental cavities by up to 70%BenefitsBenefits: required to maintain strong bones and teethHazardsHazards: excessive amounts can result in mottled teeth, too little can cause osteoporosis

SeleniumSelenium

SourcesSources: meats, seafood, brewers yeast, broccoli, grains, chicken, garlic, onions

BenefitsBenefits: strong antioxidant, produces antibodies, maintain tissue elasticity, the pancreas, and the heart

HazardsHazards: deficiency linked to leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiomyopathy, and fibrocystic breast disease; overdose may cause loss of teeth and hair, painful swelling of fingers, fatigue, and nausea. Locosis in animals

Medical Geology ArticlesMedical Geology Articles

International Association of Geochemistry and CosmochemistryInternational Association for Volcanology and ChemistryInternational Association of Hydrological SciencesInternational Society for Environmental Toxicity and ChemistrySociety for Environmental Geochemistry and Health: Environmental Geochemistry and Health

Recent Developments Recent Developments (1)(1)

1996 – IUGS approved creation of an International Working Group on Medical Geology (IWGMG)2000 – UNESCO approved the new project: IGCP # 54 Medical Geology in recognition of the importance of geological factors in human health

Recent Developments Recent Developments (2)(2)

March 2002 – IUGS gave “Special Project Status” to IWGMG

Olle Selius, GSS, Director Bob Finkleman, USGS, Co-Director Jose Centeno, USAFIP, Co-Director

Aug. 2004 – 32nd IGC, Italy150 participants from 71 countries approved creation of the International Medical Geology Association (IMGA)IMGA formerly launched, January 24, 2006

Education Committee

Specialty Conferences Specialty Conferences and Workshops (1)and Workshops (1)Several international meetings by the GSS and the USGSA number of workshops conducted by the IWGMW

2001: Zambia2002: Chile; Russia; Peru; Japan; China2003: Lithuania; Uruguay; U.K; Brazil; Australia & Malaysia2004: Hungary, S. Africa, Canada, India2005: Tanzania, Rumania, Argentina…

Specialty Conferences Specialty Conferences and Workshops (2)and Workshops (2) 31st IGC, Brazil, Aug. 2000: special session on Geology and HealthHealthy Ecosystems-Healthy People, June, 2002, Washington, DC; Int’l Soc. for Ecosystem HealthNatural Science and Health, Prescription for a Better Environment, April 2003, USGSGeology and Health, May 2004, NSF, NAGT…GSA

Northcentral Section, Kansas City, 2003Pardee Symposium, Denver, 2004

NAS: Research need and support in medical geology

BooksBooks

College CoursesCollege Courses

1978: Wichita State University, medical geology (1-credit), Prof. Douglas Schultz1979: 3-credit course in medical geology at CUNY by Dr. Lynn Savage1982: Dr. Savage developed a new (3-credit) graduate level course in geomedicine.1999: University of Akron, Ohio; 1-credit course by Dr. Lynn Chyi

What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name?

Medical Geology?

Geomedicine?

Ecomedicine?

IWGMG adopted Medical Geology in 1997 ISEH followed suite (2002)GSA chose “Geology and Health”

Building BridgesBuilding Bridges

Geosciences communityHealth Science

On-going communication Research collaboration Closer interaction

ConclusionConclusion

Sufficient body of knowledge Symposia and technical sessions at major conferences - national and internationalShort coursesTextbooksIMGA NSF, NAGT initiative for new college coursesProposed journal of medical geology

Questions?Questions?