Kelsii Dana Department of Earth and Physical Sciences Western Oregon University

1. 2. Medical Geology: Introduction and Overview of an Emerging Discipline Kelsii Dana, Department of Earth and Physical Sciences Abstract Introduction Discussion In our changing and fast paced world, interdisciplinary communication is the norm. One example of this is medical geology, a re-emerging science at the crossroads of the diverse fields of earth science and public health. Medical geology is the study of how geologic processes and phenomena affect the health of living organisms, with an emphasis placed on the wellbeing of humans. Geologic impacts on human health may be traced back to both natural and anthropogenic sources. People all over the world are affected both negatively and positively by their geologic surroundings (Figure 2). The study of medical geology promises to increase the quality of life for generations to come. While the field of medical geology has made significant progress in recent years, there is still more to be made. More must be done to increase collaboration between medical and geologic professionals, and public outreach is crucial to promote the recognition and acceptance of this dynamic discipline. Medical geologists will play an increasingly larger role in the prevention and solving of local and global health problems (Figure 5). Education and training opportunities should be increased, as well as funding for beneficial and necessary research. With adequate support and appropriate action, the science of medical geology will continue to grow. • Medical Geology is an ancient and re-emerging field of science that combines elements of earth science and public health. The focus of medical geology is to decipher the impacts of geologic phenomena and other environmental factors on human health and quality of life (Figure 1). Significant issues in medical geology today include toxic and deficient levels of essential and nonessential minerals, exposure to radioactive elements, industrial contribution to toxic exposures, dust, and geologic events such as volcanic eruptions. The goals of medical geology are to identify sources of health hazards in the geologic environment and prevent or diminish their ill affect on humans. Figure 3. Clay, often used for medicinal purposes. www.keepufits.com Modern Medical Geology Medical geology today is focused on the prevention and minimization of geologic risks posed to public health. In support of this primary objective, a number of common goals exist in the medical geology field: • Identification of harmful geochemical anomalies, such as toxic or deficient element levels. • Establishment of baseline contaminate levels for continued monitoring (Figure 4). • Determination of environmental causes of health problems and the creation of solutions. • Identification of health benefits of geologic materials and processes. • Promotion of public awareness of geologic health hazards and how to mitigate them. In order to accomplish these goals a great deal of support and recognition is needed from public citizens and policy makers alike. The field of medical geology has made significant progress in this area during the past decade, particularly in the form of organizational support: • US Congress allocated funds for medical geology research. • The International Medical Geology Association was created in Florence, Italy in 2005. • The Geological Society of America created their own Geology and Health Division in Fall, 2005. Figure 5. A future medical geologist. www.littlegreenstar.com Figure 2. The Interaction between humans and their environment www3.uakron.edu Conclusion History of Medical Geology The field of medical geology has had a long and influential history in virtually every organized society. The positive and negative effects of geologic materials and processes are recognized as significant to human existence, and promise to play an influential role in the future. Medical geology is a highly significant and influential discipline and will continue to gain importance in modern society. The effect of geologic surroundings on human health has long been recognized by societies and individuals alike: • Medicinal clays may have been the first patented medicine and have been used as poison antidotes for thousands of years, as well as nutrition sources (Figure 3). • Hippocrates (460-377 BC) described arsenic containing minerals to be “…corrosive, burning of the skin, with severe pain.” • In many ancient cultures minerals were said to have healing and preventative powers as well as harmful properties. • Aristotle (384-322 BC) connected environmental factors with disease rates in Greece. • Texts over 2,000 years old describe 46 different minerals and their application to ailments, as well as potential negative effects of minerals. Medical geology is clearly not a new discipline, but rather a re-emerging one. As society becomes increasingly conscious of our environment and the dynamic role that it plays in our lives, the field of medical geology will gain notoriety and momentum. References • Berger, 2003, Linking Health to Geology, pp 5-7 • Bunnell, 2004, Medical Geology: Emerging Discipline on the Ecosystem–Human Health Interface, Ecohealth, vol 1, pp 15-18 • Bunnell et al, Medical Geology: A Globally Emerging Discipline, Geologica Acta, vol 5, no 3, pp 273-281 • Finkleman et al, 2005, Medical Geology: The Emergence of a New Discipline, Terrae, vol 2 pp 3-8 • Selinus, 2007, Medical Geology:An Opportunity for the Future, Ambio, vol 36, no 1, pp 114-116 Figure 1. Health and environment are closely connected. nohopedesigner.com Contact Kelsii Dana Department of Earth and Physical Sciences Western Oregon University kdana06@wou.edu (503) 709-7398 Figure 4. Collection of water samples for contamination testing. www.nps.gov